8 MW of prime power for LNG and helium plant in South Africa

Himoinsa Southern Africa has supplied rental equipment with 8 MW of prime power for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) and helium plant in Virginia, Free State, South Africa.

Helium is required worldwide to manufacture semiconductors, and fiber optic cabling and provides deep cryogenic cooling for the superconducting magnets that are critical components in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices.

The project has required the installation of eight fully synchronized generator sets, neutral earth transformers, fuel tanks and a control room to run the site. A 200kVA unit was also provided for temporary use during the construction phase.

Equipment supplied includes:

• 4 x HRYW1275 Yanmar engines
• 4x HRMW1270 MTU engines
• 1 x HRFW200 Iveco engine
• 2 x 33 000 L Fuel Tank
• 2 x TRANSFORMERS 400V/11kv 11kV

Renergen’s wholly owned subsidiary, Tetra4, is the holder of South Africa’s first onshore petroleum production right. Tetra4’s Virginia Gas Project is situated in the Free State of South Africa. The project will produce LNG (liquified natural gas) and liquid helium.

Himoinsa Southern Africa has supplied rental equipment with 8 MW of prime power for an LNG and helium plant, required worldwide to manufacture semi-conductors, fibre optic cabling and provides deep cryogenic cooling for the superconducting magnets that are critical components in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices. (Image: Himoinsa)

The plant is Sub-Saharan Africa’s first helium facility, making South Africa one of only eight countries globally to produce and export liquid helium and South Africa’s first onshore LNG operation.

During the construction process, no electrical connection was available, necessitating Renergen to proceed with a self-build electrical connection to the Eskom grid infrastructure and, in the interim, ensure they had a temporary, prime power solution to ensure timely commissioning of the Phase 1 Virginia gas Project.

Local utility Eskom would not be able to provide the dedicated power supply required to the site for a minimum of eight months. The Himoinsa team installed and commissioned a fully functioning power plant within three weeks of the site being ready.

Eight, fully synchronized generator sets, neutral earth transformers, fuel tanks and a control room, were installed to run the site at 8 MW Prime capability, compliant with all health and safety requirements. A 200kVA unit was also provided for temporary use during the construction phase.

As the massive compressors used for the manufacturing process have large step-loads, it was vital to ensure these did not cause power tripping which would interrupt production capability. The 8 MW, 11kv voltage solution ensured sufficient power redundancy.