“Energyst came through for us, delivering
reliable primary power and dedicated people”
Ibrahim Talba Malla, Chief Executive Officer, SONARA
“Energyst came through for us, delivering
reliable primary power and dedicated people”
Ibrahim Talba Malla, Chief Executive Officer, SONARA
As a growing industry with an ever-increasing potential, energy is an important part of the Cameroon economy. SONARA (Société Nationale de Raffinage) owns and operates the only crude oil refinery in the country. Founded in 1973, the company produces butane, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil and distillate. With a capacity of over two million tons a year, their products are consumed in the national market and exported to international markets. Ibrahim Talba Malla, Chief Executive Officer at SONARA: “Due to the critical nature of production and supply, it is imperative that we have a reliable source of electricity. To supplement the grid power, we installed 3.5 MW of diesel generators over the past few decades. However, these units had reached the end of their life cycle, requiring major overhauls.”
To avoid costly downtime and consequent difficulties in production, SONARA embarked on building a new electricity production unit, in order to increase capacity and maximise the reliability of the entire refinery. “As a temporary measure, we went to the market to seek a reliable partner to provide us with a 4 MW primary power solution whilst our new power plant was being built”, Alain Wa Lonla, Director of Maintenance at SONARA explains. “After a rigid evaluation process, we decided to appoint Energyst as our preferred partner in this high-stakes project, convinced they would ensure maximum production opportunities.” Since all Sub-Saharan business is carried out from the Energyst office in Johannesburg, South Africa, Operations Manager Jacob Maree was assigned to manage the account: “Through strong collaboration with the local Caterpillar dealer, we were well supported to delivering an uncompromised local service. This included the use of local staff to ensure that the local community would benefit from the project as much as possible.”
Alain Wa Lonla
Director of Maintenance at SONARA
As soon as all requirements were determined and SONARA accepted the proposal, the equipment – diesel generators as well as transformers and ancillaries – was shipped to the site and went into operation within a few weeks, using a 100% local staff. With the project well underway and Energyst’s equipment fully meeting the refinery’s electricity needs, SONARA and Energyst are constantly looking for ways to further strengthen the partnership. Jacob Maree: “During the complete term of our contract, we have a permanent team of local engineers and technicians on site to operate the power plant. Thanks to our Cameroon team, we are able to perfectly understand our client’s needs and respond accordingly.” Ibrahim Talba Malla adds: “Since the final commissioning of Energyst’s power solution, SONARA has had a production of 100% without any power interruptions. That’s what we call Real Energy!”
“Energyst’s successful approach is twofold”, says Alain Wa Lonla. “Firstly, they went to extremes to set up a reliable, temporary power solution. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, they showed their commitment by fully understanding our production process. On a day-to-day basis, this means that their team adapts scheduled maintenance and daily check-ups to SONARA’s production schedules, which results in a highly efficient workflow and a steady uptime. We can – literally and figuratively – feel the energy!”
“Since the final commissioning of Energyst’s power solution, SONARA has had a production of 100% without any power interruptions. That’s what we call Real Energy!”
Ibrahim Talba Malla
Chief Executive Officer at SONARA
With a growth from 3.5 to 4 MW, the production of electricity is more reliable than ever. Energyst’s smart custom power solution has an impressive impact on the complete construction process of the new power plant. SONARA’s Ibrahim Talba Malla: “Energyst came through for us, delivering reliable primary power and dedicated people. They demonstrate their technical expertise daily through a high level of personal attention and collaboration. On this relatively small but very satisfying high-impact project, everything comes together perfectly. Thanks to Energyst, the future shines bright for SONARA!”
To find out more about our design and engineering expertise, or to ask our advice on power, heating or cooling, contact your nearest Energyst rental location or simply call 00800 3637 4978. We will put all our energy into helping you find the right solution.