Karpowership is a Turkish builder, operator, and owner of a fleet of powerships. Since 2010, 36 powerships have been completed with their total installed capacity exceeding 6,000 MW and further capacity under construction (or scheduled).[1]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy, Powership |
| Headquarters | Istanbul, Turkey |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | Karadeniz Holding |
| Website | www |
Karpowership executes all its activities in-house, including design, construction, site preparation, commissioning, fuel supply and electricity delivery.
Powership
edit
Powerships are barge- or ship-mounted floating power plants, and they can operate on heavy fuel oil (HFO), diesel fuel, and/or natural gas. Karpowership's powerships are available under electricity-generation services contracts, power-rental contracts, energy-conversion works contracts or power-purchase agreements.[2][3]
In 2007, Karpowership developed a project named "Power of Friendship", which supplies electricity to shortage-stricken countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.[4]
The freighter Melpomeni was acquired in 2009 by Karpowership with the purpose to turn her into a floating power plant sailing under the Liberian flag. She was renamed Karadeniz Powership Doğan Bey after Nuri Doğan Karadeniz, the COO of the company.[5]
In May 2009, the Sedef Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul, was commissioned with the task to convert a cargo ship into a Powership by installing the needed engine generators, transformers, and the electric switchboards on board.[5]
Karadeniz Powership Doğan Bey is the first of its kind, a Powership with dual-fuel diesel engines capable of operating on natural gas as well.[6] Aboard the vessel, twelve 10.53 MW generator units are installed. Three units are present in each one of the ship's four holds, with the fans and funnels being mounted on deck.[7]
Bureau Veritas, an international certification agency with experience in overseeing both shipbuilding and power plant development, classified the vessel following its conversion as a "special service-floating power plant".[8]
Operations
editKarpowership has offices and is operational in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Karpowership's International Projects operate out of Istanbul, from where they can supply floating power plants to overseas locations.
Ships
edit| Name | IMO | Converted | Class | MW(E) | Location | Previous | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karadeniz Powership Doğan Bey | 8117031 | 2010 | 126 | Sierra Leone | Basra, Iraq | [9] | |
| Karadeniz Powership Rauf Bey | 7925522 | 2010 | 179 | Sudan | Basra, Iraq | [10] | |
| Karadeniz Powership Kaya Bey | 7925546 | 2011 | 216 | Pakistan | Basra, Iraq | [11] [12] | |
| Karadeniz Powership Alican Bey | 2011 | 104 | Pakistan | ||||
| Karadeniz Powership Irem Sultan | 8222252 | 2012 | Shark | 114 | Nacala, Mozambique | Basra, Iraq | [13] |
| Karadeniz Powership Fatmagül Sultan | 2013 | Orca | 202 | Beirut, Lebanon | |||
| Karadeniz Powership Orhan Bey | 7942582 | 2013 | Orca | 202 | Beirut, Lebanon | ||
| Karadeniz Powership Esra Sultan | 9116967 | 2015 | 235 | Beirut, Lebanon | Tema, Ghana | [14][15] | |
| Karadeniz Powership Zeynep Sultan | 8116051 | 2015 | Shark | 125 | Amurang, Indonesia | ||
| Karadeniz Powership Osman Khan | 9189158 | 2016 | Khan | 470 | Tema, Ghana | ||
| Karadeniz Powership Onur Sultan | 9248514 | 2016 | Khan | 470 | Belawan, Indonesia | ||
| Karadeniz Powership Gökhan Bey | 9214563 | 2016 | Shark | 125 | Kupang, Indonesia | ||
| Karadeniz Powership Yasin Bey | 9214551 | 2016 | Shark | 125 | Ambon, Indonesia | ||
| Karadeniz Powership Mehmet Bey | 9232785 | 2018 | Shark | 126 | XXXX, Indonesia | ||
| Karadeniz Powership Nezih Bey | 9034781 | 2018 | 37 | Ambon, Indonesia | |||
| Karadeniz Powership Koray Bey | 9086203 | 2018 | 36 | Gambia | |||
| Karadeniz Powership Baris Bey | 9166546 | 2019 | Seal | 36 | Cuba | [16] | |
| Karadeniz Powership Ibrahim Bey | 9216638 | Shark | |||||
| Karadeniz Powership Orka Sultan | Khan | ||||||
| Karadeniz Powership Orhan Ali Khan | 9248514 | Khan | |||||
| Karadeniz Powership Aysegul Sultan | Orca | 235 | Dakar, Senegal | Ghana, Lebanon | |||
| Karadeniz Powership Filiz Sultan | Mermaid |
Corruption allegations
editKarpowership and its parent company Karadeniz have faced corruption allegations in several countries. In Lebanon, Karadeniz is accused of corruption and faces a potential $25-million fine.[17]
In Pakistan, a Karadeniz subsidiary allegedly paid middlemen to secure a $565 million government contract. The Supreme Court voided the contract in 2012 and launched a corruption investigation. It was resolved in 2019 through political negotiations between Pakistan and Turkey.[18][19]
South Africa
editIn April 2021, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in South Africa entered into a 20-year power supply agreement with Karpowership to address the ongoing energy crisis.[20] Accusations of corruption in the tendering process have led to legal challenges and ongoing judicial inquiry.[21] On 1 August 2022, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment denied the appeal by the South African subsidiary to continue their project to deploy three ships with a total capacity of 1220 MW due to lack of consultation, unconvincing environmental reports and "questioned the need and desirability of the proposed project". The minister has allowed the company 180 days to address gaps and defects in their submission for reconsideration.[22] Minister of Electricity sought to decrease the 20-year contract to a 5-year one as it was revealed heavy fuel oil was also to be used.[23]
In 2023, Karpowership bought and gifted a game farm to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in exchange for not objecting to mooring a 450 MW ship-mounted power plant at Richards Bay Harbour.[24]
On 26 February 2023, as one of the last acts as Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula granted Karpowership a Section 79 permit; one of two outstanding permits. This came after Karpowership parent company, Karadeniz, broke off an existing agreement with a BEE company and signed a secret MOU to partner with Anna Mokgokong in an attempt to acquire the Section 79 permit. Mokgokong's company Tamasa Investment Holdings was to also build an onshore regasification terminal at the Port of Ngqura and required the Section 79 permit.[25]
References
edit- ^ "About Us". Karpowership. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Power ships: a real solution to South Africa's short-term energy needs - EE Publishers". EE Publishers. 2015-04-20. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Of Floating Power Barges and Ships". POWER Magazine. 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ a b "Türkiye'den Irak'a "yüzer elektrik santrali"". MÝLLÝYET HABER - TÜRKÝYE'NÝN HABER SÝTESÝ. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Nyheder - Metal Supply DK". www.metal-supply.dk. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Inchcape Shipping Services - News". Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Malta Maritime Directory :: Bureau Veritas classes powerships". www.maritimedirectory.com.mt. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ Germany, vesseltracker.com GmbH, Hamburg. "Kpsdoganbey - Type of ship: Cargo Ship - Callsign: A8TB7 - vesseltracker.com". www.vesseltracker.com. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Germany, vesseltracker.com GmbH, Hamburg. "photo of the "Karadeniz Ps Raufbey" by Chiefe - vesseltracker.com". www.vesseltracker.com. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Germany, vesseltracker.com GmbH, Hamburg. "Kps Kaya Bey - Type of ship: Other Ship - Callsign: TCZP4 - vesseltracker.com". www.vesseltracker.com. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Pakistan to plug into the world's largest floating power station". the Guardian. Associated Press. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Turkish 'powership' docks in Nacala to generate 114 MW for Zambia - Zitamar". Zitamar. 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ Adjorlolo, Ruth Abla. "1.8407975". gbcghana.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Yüzen santraller Ayşegül Sultan Gana'ya, Zeynep Sultan Endonezya'ya uğurlandı". Deniz Haber. Retrieved 2016-06-08.
- ^ "Sailing to Cuba Comes Power Plant Manufactured in Turkey". plenglish.com. Prensa Latina. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
- ^ Daily Sabah with Agencies (12 May 2021). "Turkey's Karadeniz tells Beirut 'end court action or face power cut'". Daily Sabah. Daily Sabah. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Staff Writer (4 November 2019). "Pakistan saved from paying $1.2bn penalty as Karkey dispute 'amicably' resolved: PM Imran". Dawn. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ amaBhungane team (19 June 2021). "Powership company trails corruption claims in its wake". News24. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Cronje, Jan (20 April 2021). "Energy Department says 20-year contracts for floating powerships will keep prices down". News24. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Smith, Carin (9 September 2021). "DNG granted postponement in Karpowership case - judge 'between rock and hard place'". News24. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ Creecy shoots down Karpowership appeal but extends a lifeline to the project
- ^ Nyathi, Mandisa (2023-06-06). "Karpowership: Contract to be negotiated amid heavy fuel oil fears". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "Karpowership to donate game farm for gas plant approval".
- ^ Comrie, Susan (2023-10-06). "Karpowership: failed interdict unearths 'State Capture on steroids' agreement". amaBhungane. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
External links
edit- Gabon's ailing power utility desperate to unplug crippling Karpowership contract, Africa Intelligence, 28 October 2024 (requires free registration)