Wärtsilä will supply the equipment to enable an efficient, reliable and independent power source for the Najmat Al-Samawa cement factory in Iraq. The 20MW engine power plant is being built by Al Shumookh Lucky Investments Ltd, a joint venture company of Lucky Cement Ltd and a limited liability company registered in the United Arab Emirates.

The power plant will operate on two Wärtsilä 32 engines running on locally-available heavy fuel oil (HFO) with diesel as a back-up fuel. The engine is designed to deliver high efficiency with reduced fuel and water consumption in hot temperatures.

"It is important that large cement producers operate with maximum efficiency to reduce their operating costs. For this a reliable and price predictable supply of electricity, independent from the grid, is essential. We have always had excellent support from Wärtsilä, and their power generating technology provides the certainty of supply that is needed," commented Intisar Haqqi of Lucky Cement.

"There is no greater endorsement of customer satisfaction than repeat orders. This is the seventh order received from Lucky Cement Ltd, which indicates the success of Wärtsilä’s engine power plants in meeting our customers’ expectations, regardless of extreme climatic conditions," said Pierpaolo Mazza, regional director, Wärtsilä Energy Business.

The equipment is scheduled for delivery towards the end of 2019 and the plant is expected to become fully operational during the 3Q20.