Wärtsilä to provide power plant for copper-gold mine in Pakistan

Technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to supply a 204MW power plant solution for the Reko Diq copper-gold mining project in Pakistan.

The power plant, which will operate with 12 Wärtsilä 50 engines and auxiliaries, will provide a reliable and economical power supply, enabling mining operations to function more efficiently.

The project site is located in a remote region of Balochistan, Pakistan, making a reliable power source critically important.

According to Wärtsilä, Reko Diq is one of the largest undeveloped copper-gold projects in the world, and is a globally significant mining initiative.

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The power plant will be delivered under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract, and will include technological provisions to enable the engines to be converted to operate with alternative fuels in the future.

In addition to engines, the contract scope includes full heat recovery boilers to support the addition of Flexicycle (Steam Turbine).

The plant is designed to integrate renewable energy sources and includes provisions for a future grid connection.

Energy Business director at Wärtsilä Energy, Alexandre Eykerman, commented: “Mining is a key sector with one of the largest growth potentials for Pakistan's future. Projects like Reko Diq, with large gold and copper reserves, are crucial for unlocking the sector's potential and helping Pakistan to improve its GDP. The country possesses vast untapped mineral resources, including copper, gold, lithium, and rare earth elements, which are crucial for global energy transitions and technological advancements.”

The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled to be delivered commencing in late 2026.