Technology group Wärtsilä says it will supply a 204 MW power plant solution for the Reko Diq copper-gold mining project in Pakistan.
The power plant will operate with 12 Wärtsilä 50 engines and auxiliaries, with the order placed by Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC), operated by Barrick Mining.
The Wärtsilä solution will provide a critically needed reliable and economical power supply, enabling mining operations to function efficiently, it says.
Reko Diq, meanwhile, is one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold projects in the world, and a globally significant mining initiative. The project site is located in a remote region of Balochistan, Pakistan.
Tim Cribb, Project Director at RDMC, said: “We are pleased to have a reliable and collaborative partnership with Wärtsilä on this considerable project. Wärtsilä’s technical expertise and strong local presence in Pakistan are highly valued.”
Wärtsilä Energy Energy Business Director, Alexandre Eykerman, said: “Mining is a key sector with one of the largest growth potentials for Pakistan’s future. Projects like Reko Diq, with large gold and copper reserves, are crucial for unlocking the sector’s potential and helping Pakistan to improve its GDP. The country possesses vast untapped mineral resources, including copper, gold, lithium and rare earth elements, which are crucial for global energy transitions and technological advancements.”
The power plant will be delivered under an engineering, procurement and construction contract, and will include technological provisions to enable the engines to be converted to operate with alternative fuels in the future. In addition to engines, the contract scope includes full heat recovery boilers to support the addition of Flexicycle (Steam Turbine). The plant is designed to integrate renewable energy sources and includes provisions for a future grid connection. The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled to be delivered commencing in late 2026.