Technology firm Wärtsilä has signed an expanded Operations and Maintenance (O&M) agreement with mining company QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) – a subsidiary of mining group Rio Tinto – for a power plant situated at QMM’s ilmenite mineral sands mine at Fort Dauphin in Madagascar. The renewed deal incorporates a Decarbonization Agreement to further reduce emissions by optimizing renewable energy at the mine’s mini-grid system.  

The extension will optimize energy assets at QMM’s 24 MW engine power plant at the mine, enhancing renewable energy use and reducing costs by utilizing Wärtsilä technology. Key components include the optimized dispatch of six Wärtsilä 32 engines, battery energy storage and renewable assets using Wärtsilä’s GEMS Digital Energy Platform – software which leverages machine learning to maximize renewable energy utilization.

“This agreement strengthens our long-lasting partnership with QMM. By working in close cooperation with the customer, we are able to ensure a reliable and sustainable power supply to the mine,” said Kenneth Engblom, Vice President, Africa & Europe at Wärtsilä Energy.

Wärtsilä signed the initial O&M agreement in 2008 for the mine’s power plant. The hybrid power plant supplies electricity to both the mine and the nearby town of Fort Dauphin.

“The reliability and efficiency of the power plant are critical to our operations,” stated Jean-Francois Richer, Director Integrated Operational Services at QMM. “The renewed agreement allows us take advantage of Wärtsilä’s competence in power system optimization and use renewables in the most efficient way, supporting Rio Tinto’s decarbonization objectives and sustainable mining vision.”