Fortuna Mining’s Diamba Sud Gold Project in Senegal will receive dedicated power infrastructure after an order was placed for five Wärtsilä 32 engines to support a 14MW power plant at the remote gold mining site. The captive power plant will serve as the sole source of electricity for the project, which is located in an off-grid area of eastern Senegal.
Africa Power Services, a France-based engineering, procurement and construction contractor, placed the order on behalf of Fortuna Mining. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2026, with equipment delivery scheduled for March 2027. The 14MW power plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2027.
Wärtsilä to Supply 14MW Power Plant
The scope of supply covers five Wärtsilä 32 engine generating sets along with basic engineering, engine-specific auxiliary units, and the engine control and monitoring system. Wärtsilä will also provide advisory support during the installation and commissioning phases of the captive power plant.
The Wärtsilä 32 engine has built a track record of reliability over 30 years of operation, delivering more than 8,000 MW of energy to customers worldwide. Its fast-starting flexibility supports the future integration of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into power systems.
“Operating a remote, off-grid mine requires reliable power, as any unscheduled downtime carries financial and operational risks. Wärtsilä’s engines deliver the continuous performance required for such demanding conditions. Selecting them for Diamba Sud ensures we mitigate operational risks from day one, while building a power foundation that can seamlessly integrate renewable energy assets as the mine evolves,” said Cedric Fernandez, Managing Director at Africa Power Services.
Marc Thiriet, Energy Business Director for Africa at Wärtsilä Energy, noted that deploying multiple smaller engine generating sets instead of a single large unit enables the 14MW power plant to match fluctuating load demands with high precision, maximising fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. He added that the engines feature the starting flexibility required to balance the intermittent nature of solar or wind power, complementing Fortuna Mining’s future plans to introduce renewables to the microgrid.
Power Infrastructure Supports Diamba Sud Development
The Diamba Sud Gold Project is located in the Kenieba–Koudougou Inlier, a geologically significant area that hosts several major gold deposits in eastern Senegal and western Mali. Fortuna Mining acquired the project in September 2023 and is currently developing the site.
Given the remote location of the mine, the 14MW power plant will be essential to providing the reliable electricity supply needed for mining operations. The captive power plant represents a key piece of mining infrastructure for the project, ensuring that the site can sustain continuous operations once the facility is commissioned.
Fortuna Mining has indicated its intention to add renewable energy to the microgrid in the near future. The fast-starting capability of the Wärtsilä 32 engines is designed to support such integration, allowing the 14MW power plant to balance variable renewable generation alongside conventional power output.
The development of dedicated power infrastructure at Diamba Sud reflects the broader challenge facing remote mining operations across Africa, where reliable captive power generation remains a critical requirement for project viability. With the 14MW power plant scheduled for commissioning by late 2027, Fortuna Mining is positioning the Diamba Sud Gold Project with the energy foundation needed to support its planned operations.