Case Studies: Operations and Maintenance
Rolls Royce Cummins power plant O&M
Long-Term O&M Delivery for Remote Mining Power Infrastructure
| TYPE: | Operations & Maintenance |
| LOCATION: | Mali |
| CLIENT: | Mining Operation |
| CAPACITY: | 100+ MW |
| TECHNOLOGY: | 15 x CAT CM32 reciprocating engines (8CM32, 12CM32, 16CM32) |
| RESULT: | 95% plant availability achieved; 66% cost reduction per engine |
THE CHALLENGE
The Morila Gold Mine is an open-pit gold mine located near the community of Sanso in Mali’s Sikasso Region. It operates as a joint venture, with Firefinch Limited holding an 80% stake and the Government of Mali owning 20%. The power station, comprising Rolls Royce and Cummins engines, needed to be rebuilt and O&M support. Remote operations introduced challenges related to skills availability, logistics, maintenance execution, and operational continuity.
The Solution
USP&E supplied full-time, on-site technical expertise to the power station at Morila Mine. Our scope included successfully rebuilding the engines, troubleshooting, and operating and maintaining the power station from 2020 to 2022.
The Outcome
USP&E brought much-needed stability to the output of the plant and to the availability of the equipment. The power plant is no longer considered a significant risk to mining operations.
Client Reference
“Since taking over operations in the plant USP&E has brought much needed stability to the output of the plant as well as to the availability of the equipment. The power plant is no longer considered a significant risk to mining operations and USP&E is an important part of the team which has brought this about.” – Alternate Engineering Manager
Built for the Frontier
This project demonstrates Grit and Ownership in action: USP&E embedded on-site to rebuild and stabilise a power plant that was putting mining operations at risk. Entrepreneurial speed. Engineering credibility. That is what Powering Possibility means.
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