Gas turbine projects across Africa often stall not on the turbine but on the gas: supply that is promised but not contracted, pressure that drops at peak, quality that changes from one field to the next. Confirm the gas first, and the rest of the project gets much easier.
The gas checklist for every enquiry
- Volume: firm daily and peak quantities, and how they grow with your load.
- Pressure: delivery pressure at your fence, and whether you need compression.
- Quality: composition, heating value, contaminants and how much they vary.
- Reliability: interruptibility, maintenance outages and what happens when supply stops.
- Metering and contracts: who measures, who pays and what is guaranteed.
When dual-fuel or a liquid bridge is the right call
If gas is not yet firm, plan for it. Dual-fuel turbines and engines can start on diesel and switch to gas when supply is proven. A diesel bridge can carry your load while the pipeline or LNG supply is completed. The key is designing the bridge and the permanent plant together, so the switch is planned rather than improvised.
Site conditions still decide the turbine
Grid code, frequency, heat and altitude all shape the right turbine for your site. Most African grids run at 50 Hz. Hot, high sites reduce output, so the station must be sized to the derated curve, not the nameplate. USP&E engineers run these numbers before recommending equipment from USP&E gas turbine inventory.
Two critical paths: gas and grid
Gas supply and grid connection often run on separate timelines, and either can delay commissioning. Plan them side by side, with clear owners and dates, and make sure your operators are trained on gas systems, not only on liquid fuel.
Plan your growth phase with FX-45
If your load will grow in phases, plan the later blocks now. FX-45 is USP&E’s new modular gas turbine, built for hyperscale and industrial growth: 45 MW in open cycle and 108 MW in a 2×1 combined-cycle block, configurable for 50 Hz or 60 Hz, with capacity slots from 2028.
Start on available equipment today, reserve the pad, interconnection and fuel capacity, and the FX-45 phase plugs in instead of starting over. See FX-45 at a glance.
Why owners choose USP&E
USP&E is a full-service engineering, EPC and O&M company, not a broker. One team designs, builds and runs your plant, so nothing falls between contracts.
Common questions
Can we order turbines before the gas contract is signed?
You can, but it is a risk. If timing forces it, choose dual-fuel equipment and plan a liquid-fuel bridge so the plant can run before gas arrives.
Is trucked LNG a substitute for pipeline gas?
It can work for smaller loads or as a bridge, but trucking adds logistics risk, storage and cost. USP&E compares the options for your site and load.
What gas data does USP&E need?
A gas analysis, delivery pressure, firm volumes and any known interruptions. With those, our engineers can recommend suitable turbines or engines.
Facing a power challenge in Africa?
Tell us your load, fuel and timeline. An engineer will come back with options, not a sales pitch.