CMS Energy Corporation Achieves Commercial Operation at Jorf Lasfar Power Plant in Morocco

Strategic Insights -

CMS Energy Corporation's independent power unit, CMS Generation Co., has announced the commercial operation of Unit 3 at the Jorf Lasfar facility in Morocco, the largest independent power plant in Africa. The $1.5 billion coal-fueled plant, which began supplying commercial power to Office Nationale de l'Electricite (ONE) on June 9, 2000, has a generating capacity of 348 megawatts. The completion of Unit 3 brings the total capacity of the plant to 1008 megawatts, with a fourth unit scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2000, adding an additional 348 megawatts and bringing the total capacity to 1356 megawatts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Jorf Lasfar power plant is the largest independent power plant in Africa, with a total capacity of 1356 megawatts upon completion of the fourth unit.
  • The plant is owned jointly by CMS Energy Corporation and ABB, with CMS holding 50% ownership through its subsidiary CMS Generation Co.
  • The plant is sold to the Moroccan national utility, Office Nationale de l'Electricite (ONE), under a 30-year purchase agreement.
  • CMS Generation Co. has achieved consistently high levels of plant availability and output since assuming operating responsibility for Jorf Lasfar in September 1997.
  • The plant's completion of Unit 3 was accomplished within the originally announced schedule, and construction of Unit 4 continues on schedule.
  • CMS Energy Corporation has interests in 9300 megawatts of generating capacity from 32 power plants in operation or construction worldwide.
  • The company has annual sales of more than $6 billion and assets of about $15 billion.

Statistics:

  • Total capacity of the Jorf Lasfar power plant: 1356 megawatts upon completion of the fourth unit.
  • Generating capacity of Unit 3: 348 megawatts.
  • Total capacity of Units 1 and 2: 660 megawatts.
  • Total capacity of Unit 4: 348 megawatts.
  • Amount invested in the Jorf Lasfar facility: $1.5 billion.
  • Annual sales of CMS Energy Corporation: more than $6 billion.
  • Assets of CMS Energy Corporation: about $15 billion.
  • Number of power plants in operation or construction in which CMS Energy Corporation has interests: 32.
  • Total generating capacity of these power plants: 9300 megawatts.

Sources:

  • "CMS Generation Co. Achieves Commercial Operation at Unit 3, Jorf Lasfar Power Plant in Morocco." PR Newswire, August 1, 2000.