PCM starts natural gas power generation in Chad

PetroChad Mangara (PCM), Perenco’s wholly owned Chad subsidiary, has announced the start-up of natural gas-generated power at the Moundou Power Station in Chad.

Seven months after independent hydrocarbon producer Perenco entered Chad as operator of the Badila and Mangara fields in the Doba Basin in southern Chad, PCM is now successfully generating electricity from natural gas for Chad’s second city, which previously had limited electricity generation and relied on diesel fuel generators. This is as a result of successfully increasing production from the Badila and Mangara fields towards their combined potential of approximately 16,000 bopd.

PCM worked closely with Perenco’s technical department to deliver this outcome, as well as in close coordination with Société des Hydrocarbures du Tchad (SHT) and Chad’s Minister of Hydrocarbons. In addition to its role in helping provide Moundou with electricity, PCM has also been involved in the repair of a number of water wells close to its operations.

Speaking to African Review, Eric Josseron, general manager of PetroChad Mangara, commented, “As a group, and in keeping with our gas strategy, we are always looking for the best use for associated gas, in order to ensure the most sustainable approach to our operations. Using gas for power generation not only makes sense from an environmental perspective but in the case of Moundou, Chad’s second city, it brings much needed power to homes and industry. This is therefore extremely positive for the local community and reflects our commitment to making a positive impact in Chad.

“Work on this facility had begun some years prior to Perenco’s entry into Chad, but it had never been completed. We quickly identified it as a project which would have a positive impact in Moundou, as well as giving us an outlet for the gas which meets our plans to have a reduced carbon footprint.”

The project was not without its challenges, however. As Josseron explained. “Since the project had been initiated eight years ago, key pieces of equipment (such as the generator itself) had suffered as a result of the long storage time. In addition, the electrical network of Moundou city had changed a lot. A thorough electrical study was therefore necessary in order to properly calculate the safety parameters.”

Commenting on the project’s progress and future prospects, Josseron said, “We have quickly brought the Badila field back into production and Mangara is now in the final stages of restarting production. These are important steps in achieving our near-term goal of 16k bopd. Further out, we also look forward to progressing the work programme at the Krim field, an undeveloped discovery also in the Doba basin.”