[2019-06-03] Angola converts diesel-fired thermal power plants to natural gas

Source: Macauhub

Angola’s diesel-fired power stations will be converted to operate with natural gas within three years, under a programme already underway, announced the president of the National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG).

Paulino Jerónimo said that this programme began at Soyo’s combined cycle power station and another associated with the Angola LNG project and added that it will initially cover the country’s entire coastline.

The programme is coordinated by the Ministry of Energy and Water, with the support of the Ministry of Mining Resources and Oil, and its main coordinator was previously the current president of the ANPG.

This initiative makes use of the 125 million cubic feet of natural gas to which Angola is entitled under Angola LNG, an integrated natural gas exploration project, with a processing plant, a maritime terminal and loading facilities, as well as the possibility of developing non-associated gas.

The shareholders of Angola LNG Limited are Angola’s Sonangol, with 22.8%, US group Chevron (36.4%) and BP, Itay’s ENI and France’s Total, with 13.6% each.

The ANPG president, who spoke during the 2nd Edition of the Business Forum of the America-Angola Chamber of Commerce (Amcham), said that this conversion will allow a saving of around US$750 million, currently spent on the production of electricity using diesel.