BW Kudu (Proprietary) Limited has formally applied for generation and transmission licences from the Electricity Control Board, marking a major advancement in the Kudu Gas project’s development.
According to the application, the project, located at Lüderitz in the //Kharas Region, Namibia, will feature a 400kV transmission line with a Guyed Compact Delta Cross Rope Suspension (CD-CRS) lattice tower structure, ensuring robust and reliable electricity transmission from the generation station.
The transmission infrastructure will include a 15/400kV GIS substation and horizontal freestanding lattice angle towers.
BW Kudu’s application also includes a generation licence for a 420MW power plant, utilising gas engines.
Klaus Endresen, General Manager of BW Kudu, said that “the project is currently in the feed stage and is expected to start commercial production in 2027. The final investment decision (FID) will be approved in 2025.”
The Kudu Gas project is a collaborative effort between BW Energy and NAMCOR, with NAMCOR holding a 5% share in the project and BW Energy owning a 95% stake.
Endresen noted that the partnership aims to fast-track the development concept for the project, involving a two-phased gas-to-power solution for domestic consumption and regional export.
The project’s infrastructure includes three highly deviated wells connected to an Offshore Floating Production Facility (FPF) via a subsea flexible flowline and control umbilical.
The FPF will be linked to a 195-kilometre pipeline to Elizabeth Bay, where the gas will be processed and fed into a Nearshore Power Plant (PP), targeting at least 420MW of power generation in its first phase.
The Kudu Gas Field, located offshore in the northern Orange sub-basin, covers an area of 4,567 square kilometres with a water depth of approximately 170 metres.
The produced gas will be transported through a 170-kilometre pipeline to a power station at Uab Vlei, approximately 25 kilometres north of Oranjemund, known as the Kudu 800MW CCGT Power Station.
BW Energy’s involvement in the Kudu Gas project began in 2017 with a farm-in agreement for a 56% operating interest, later increased to 95% through a farm-up agreement in 2021.
The integrated development plan aims to supply competitive power to the growing African market, holding significant potential for regional energy security and economic growth.
