Kinetiko successfully demonstrates gas-to-power project in South Africa

Australia’s Kinetiko Energy on May 14 announced the successful demonstration of power production from a gas well at the Amersfoort project in South Africa, in collaboration with FFS Refiners. 

On May 5, natural gas from the Korhaan-1 well, located near Amersfoort in Mpumalanga province, powered a gas generator linked to a newly constructed gas train. The gas generator, boasting a 1.2MW output, was containerised and supplied by Barloworld of Johannesburg. Following a four-day trial, the gas generator was dismantled and returned to Barloworld.

“We obtained respected, professional engineering and equipment suppliers to support this project and we are absolutely thrilled to have become the pioneers of onshore gas to power (GTP) from a local, conventional source,” Kinetiko CEO, Nick de Blocq, commented. 

The success of this demonstration paves the way for Kinetiko’s plans to develop an LNG production cluster comprising approximately 30 wells at this site, in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC).

With the proof-of-concept GTP completed, Kinetiko and FFS Refineries intend to progress in their collaboration to develop an LNG production field, with FFS having an existing relationship with the micro-LNG containerised production group Galileo Technologies.

Kinetiko Energy is focused on tapping into advanced shallow conventional gas and coalbed methane opportunities in Southern Africa. Following the acquisition of a 51% interest in Afro Energy from joint venture partner Badimo Gas last year, Kinetiko now holds 100% of Afro Energy's issued capital and exploration rights to the flagship Amersfoort gas project.