F NO 01.2017
▶ Compelling theoretical sessions at the MAN PrimeServ Academy in Saint-Nazaire.
For any successful operation, the right technology is no doubt fundamental. But no matter how efficient the ma maenchinery, a well-qualified workforce is just as essential to en sure maximum capacity and availability. With 13 MAN contiPrimeServ Academies in nine countries and on four conti nents, MAN Diesel & Turbo has established a network of
KNOW THY POWER To reach what is possible in terms of efficiency and reliability, a comprehensive understanding of technology is crucial. Empowering its customers, MAN Diesel & Turbo provides essential knowledge through its MAN PrimeServ Academies.
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training centers to help customers further develop the skills of their employees in operation and maintenance pro processes. “We are committed to acting local but thinking global,” explains Wayne Jones, MAN Diesel & Turbo’s Chief Sales Officer. An approach that is welcomed by the 37 participants currently undergoing turnkey training specifically developed by MAN Diesel & Turbo for the state-owned Société de Patrimoine du Gabon. “Our customer’s wish is to increase the expertise of its personnel for operations and maintenance of its power plant,” emphasizes Jérôme Louis, Head of Project Sales and Execution at MAN PrimeServ in France. The program’s purpose, therefore, is to enable future personnel to take over duties at the Cap Lopez power plant near Port-Gentil, Gabon’s second-largest city. This supports national self-sufficiency projects, in terms of both generating electricity as well as tapping energy sources. Along with the Alénakiri power plant in Libreville, also equipped and commissioned by MAN Diesel & Turbo, the Cap Lopez power plant will supply a substantial 20% of the 600 MW installed in Gabon.
CUSTOMIZED TRAINING
At the MAN PrimeServ Academy in Saint-Nazaire, the
Gabonese trainees gain an intimate knowledge of the machinery they will be working with every day. The Cap Lopez power plant has three 18V51/60 dual-fuel engines manufactured in Saint-Nazaire and running primarily on natural gas. “We have set up and adapted our training program with those units in mind,” explains the project manager. The availability of a natural-gas-fueled test bench in the assembly hall of MAN at Saint-Nazaire allows for hands-on training on genuine equipment. A crucial point, considering