Madagascar: Symbion plans new power plants

US developer Symbion Power signed a protocol d’accord on 24 July with Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, including a framework deal to develop seven new generation plants with combined capacity of 180MW and a transmission line in partnership with local investor Vision Madagascar (ViMa). The power plants comprise a 116MW heavy fuel oil (HFO)-fuelled plant in Tsimiroro, a 10MW solar unit in Mahajanga and biomass plants producing up to 5MW each at Nosy Boraha, Nosy Be, Antsiranana and Toamasina. In a separate Power Purchase Agreement signed on 29 July with JIRAMA, Symbion will restore and operate the under-performing 40MW capacity HFO unit at Mandroseza from state utility state water and electricity utility Jiro sy Rany Malagasy (Jirama).