In January 2027, Perseus Mining expects to pour first gold at its Nyanzaga Gold Project in north-western Tanzania. Every week between now and then counts. And on a remote greenfield mine, few risks can stall a carefully sequenced ramp-up faster than a loss of power.
That is why 28 MW of emergency backup power now sits on site at Nyanzaga, supplied by Johannesburg-headquartered power engineering firm USP&E in partnership with ECG, the Perth-based electrical and automation engineering consultancy serving as EPCM on the project.
A mine the region is watching
Nyanzaga, in the Sukumaland Greenstone Belt in Igalula Ward, is one of East Africa's most closely followed gold developments. ASX-listed Perseus Mining holds an 80% interest. Once in production, the mine is expected to sustain output above 200 000 ounces a year for its first 14 years, placing it among the region's next generation of major gold producers.
Construction has already engaged more than 4000 people, most of them Tanzanian, and the project has logged over 11 million work hours without a lost-time injury.
When the grid is not an option
For mines far from dependable grid supply, backup power is not an afterthought. Process plants, pumping, ventilation, and safety systems cannot simply pause. A single unplanned outage can mean lost ounces, damaged equipment and, in the worst case, people at risk.
USP&E's scope at Nyanzaga is a complete, engineered emergency power system rather than a line of generators. It comprises 28 Cummins KTA50G3 1 MW containerised generator sets, six 72 000-litre bulk fuel tanks, three pump skids, and 28 day tanks. Containerisation keeps installation fast and the footprint compact, while the fuel system is sized so the plant can carry the mine through an extended event.
Speed, without cutting corners
Greenfield mines run to tight timelines, and long OEM lead times can put first production at risk. USP&E's engineering team specified, integrated, and delivered the Nyanzaga package within the client's budget and timeline expectations, working alongside ECG so the EPCM team had one less critical-path item to worry about.
"Nyanzaga is a strong example of what USP&E does best: powering mines in frontier markets, where conditions are tough. We step in as a trusted partner to EPCM contractors and mine owners, source the right equipment quickly, and deliver on budget and on schedule," said Matthew Fredericks, MD and Co-Founder, USP&SE (Sustainable Energy).
"We don't just supply assets. We walk the road with our clients through every challenge, which is what real partnership in frontier markets looks like."
What comes next
With the backup plant in place, attention turns to commissioning and the first pour in early 2027. For USP&E, which designs, builds, and operates power plants across Africa and beyond, Nyanzaga adds to a growing body of work powering mines in some of the continent's most demanding locations.
