Using the most efficient generators with a low running cost, Mantrac supplied a 16 MW biogas solution that integrated with the company’s existing dual fuel gensets and covered 60% of the power plant's needs.

2 million m3

Waste water treatment capacity at the plant

60%

Coverage of electricity needs with Mantrac's solution

18 months

Project turnaround time, including supply, installation and operation

The promise of economic growth with the power of natural gas

With little national grid connectivity and rain-dependent hydroelectric power sources, the Mtwara and Lindi regions of southern Tanzania often face power blackouts and brownouts. Artumas Group set out on the mission to boost the power accessibility for the commercial development and the quality of life for residents. Given the limited electric power generation and distribution infrastructure, Artumas Group designed a comprehensive gas-to-power project. This initiative involved the construction of 27 km of marine and terrestrial pipelines. With Mantrac as a partner for state-of-the-art Cat® gas generator solutions, the power project came online with six Cat G3520C gas generators in 2007.

This system was linked to the existing power distribution infrastructure, management of which transferred from Tanzania Electric Supply Company Ltd. to the Artumas Group. This gave the company the recognition as Tanzania's first privately supplied electric power franchise. Small shops and retailers started operations and began setting up and making profits. "Ice cream, which was never heard of in the region, is now booming," said Peter Gathercole, Director of Business Development for Artumas. In 2013, three more Cat G3520C gensets were added to keep up with the domino effect of power demands. In 2020, the project ordered two more gensets the Cat G260-16 of 4.3 MW each, which Mantrac expects to deliver, install and commission by the end of the year.

“We consider our generators to be a key part of our operations, providing 70-80% of the electricity needed at the plant. We needed to reduce fuel consumption to achieve savings not only with electricity, but also fuel.”

Hesham Mostafa Zaki

Branch Manager, JV Acciona-Passavant

“We provided a solution with a key advantage; treat the wastewater to extract the methane burned in the generators, reducing consumption of electricity from the public grid.”

Mahmoud El Shendidi

Project Management Engineer, Mantrac

“We provided an excellent and highly efficient system of generators, which has a low fuel and oil consumption compared to the competition and will run smoothly for about 3,000 to 4,000 hours. The maintenance cost is significantly lower as well and is likely to reach 64,000 hour overall. Many of our competitors cannot achieve that.”

Ahmed Aly

Group Gas Segment Manager, Mantrac