Shanta Mining Co Ltd (SMCL) and Inglett & Stubbs International (ISI) have implemented a structured training and development program that will enable day to day operation and maintenance of the 7.5 MW Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) power station at SMCL’s New Luika Gold Mine (NLGM) O&M to be undertaken by Tanzanian mine employees from January 2019 onwards, a full 14-months sooner than initially planned.

The HFO power station, which was engineered and constructed by ISI, has operated with over 99.93% availability since commissioning by the company in February 2017, greatly reducing SMCL’s unit cost of energy compared to the previously rented diesel power plant. NLGM is not connected to the national grid and, together with a 0.7 MW solar photovoltaic plant the HFO power station provides all of the mine electricity.

ISI is discontinuing on-site services at the conclusion of 2018 but will continue to provide specialized technical support services in the future as needed.

Ian Fielding, SMCL Consulting Engineer, commented, “Upskilling our local operating and maintenance employees will complete the successful upgrading of NLGM unique power supply needs during a period of increasing electricity demand from underground mining operations and we acknowledge ISI’s experience and effective support in achieving this objective.”