MAN Energy Solutions with China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) has commissioned a 200MW power plant near the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, and handed it over to national utility, Electricité du Cambodge
The power plant consists of 11 MAN 18V51/60DF engines and covers the average energy requirements for around 70,000 households. CHMC was responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the power plant, while MAN Energy Solutions took care of the supply and commissioning of the 11 engines and related plant auxiliaries.
In the dry seasons, the country’s national grid has faced stability issues due to the inability of its hydropower plants to operate at full capacity. As a result, the Cambodian government launched an emergency programme in 2019 to stabilise the supply system through flexible generation capacity.
Martin Höhler, head of power, Asia Pacific Region at MAN Energy Solutions, said, “For three months in the spring of 2020, our supervisors were only able to monitor the assembly of the plant remotely. However, thanks to digital tools, a special effort by all sides and our excellent cooperation with CHMC, we were able to make up this time and maintain the ambitious schedule.”
The power plant will initially run on heavy fuel oil, however, it will be possible to operate the dual-fuel engines with much lower emission natural gas in the future.
“The plant is located directly on the banks of the Mekong River in the Lvea Aem district in Kandal Province, with the potential to add an LNG terminal at a later date. Our engines are designed for natural gas and can switch seamlessly from one fuel type to another during operation,” Höhler explained.
