Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Somanga Thermal Power Station to come online 2018


The Somanga Fungu (or Kilwa) plant that is being built in the Aminex back yard is going to be operational in 2018...and it's a whopper.

The 320MW Somanga Fungu plant (that’s bigger than Kinyerezi I or II) to be built near Songo Songo island.

As it is expected to be operational next year!!! "This is a massive opportunity for Aminex";


TANESCO website recently published a document that gives an updated view on the timing and status of major power projects: http://www.tanesco.co.tz/index.php/projects/donor-funded/148-new-on-going-power-projects-1 (Bottom page two - top page 3)

It shows that Somanga Fungu is next in line after Kinyerezi II and expected to be online in 2018!!

In an article about hydropower "Tanzania has discovered more than 55 trillion cu ft of natural gas. Two gas-fired power plants, Kinyerezi II and Kilwa, ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION and will add 240 MW and 300 MW of new generation, respectively, by the end of this year. It is not clear what impact the gas-fired power projects will have on the implementation of the ambitious Stiegler's Gorge hydroelectric scheme. Experts note that, compared to hydro-energy plants, planning construction and planning periods for the gas plants are relatively short, with more reliable cost and scheduling estimates."

Tanzania has an electricity generation capacity of under 1,500 MW and an annual power demand growth rate of 15%.”  Quoted from the bottom of this article: http://www.enr.com/articles/42607-tanzania-revives-2100-mw-hydro-power-project

The new 320MW Kilwa plant will be "near or at" the same location as an existing much smaller plant which is hooked up to Songo Songo (the existing power plant operates on natural gas sourced from Songo Songo Island via pipeline). Obviously Aminex's Kiliwani well supplies gas to Songo Songo. See info here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somanga_Thermal_Power_Station

"This is potentially huge news for Aminex!  It also probably explains why Aminex has recently announced that they are looking at new drilling targets around Songo Songo...it all links up."

Edited and adapted from an original post by Leaflessclover on the LSE Chat boards