Karpowership
{{Short description|Turkish powership manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Karpowership
| trading_name =
| logo = KARPOWERSHIP.jpg
| type = Private
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people =
| industry = Energy, Powership
| products =
| parent = Karadeniz Holding
| website = {{URL|www.karpowership.com}}
}}
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).{{Cite web|url=https://www.karpowership.com/about|title=About Us|website=Karpowership|access-date=26 August 2023}}
Karpowership executes all its activities in-house, including design, construction, site preparation, commissioning, fuel supply and electricity delivery.
Powership
File:MV Karadeniz Powership Doğan Bey, Freetown, Sierra Leone.jpg, Sierra Leone (2024) ]]
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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.presidency.gov.gh/2015sonabook.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319050035/http://presidency.gov.gh/2015sonabook.pdf |archive-date=2015-03-19 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ee.co.za/article/power-ships-real-solution-south-africas-short-term-energy-needs.html|title=Power ships: a real solution to South Africa's short-term energy needs - EE Publishers|date=2015-04-20|website=EE Publishers|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-08}}
In 2007, Karpowership developed a project named "Power of Friendship", which supplies electricity to shortage-stricken countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.powermag.com/of-floating-power-barges-and-ships/|title=Of Floating Power Barges and Ships|date=2010-02-01|website=POWER Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-08}}
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/irak-in-petrolu--font-color-red-varsa----font-/ekonomi/ekonomidetay/10.12.2009/1172155/default.htm|title=Türkiye'den Irak'a "yüzer elektrik santrali"|website=MÝLLÝYET HABER - TÜRKÝYE'NÝN HABER SÝTESÝ|access-date=2016-06-08}}
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.
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.metal-supply.dk/?id=40836|title=Nyheder - Metal Supply DK|website=www.metal-supply.dk|access-date=2016-06-08}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iss-shipping.com/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=4624|title=Inchcape Shipping Services - News|access-date=2016-06-08|archive-date=2016-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625012635/http://www.iss-shipping.com/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=4624|url-status=dead}}
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".{{Cite web|url=http://www.maritimedirectory.com.mt/newsread.asp?l=e&ID=794|title=Malta Maritime Directory :: Bureau Veritas classes powerships|website=www.maritimedirectory.com.mt|access-date=2016-06-08}}
= Operations =
Karpowership 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.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
= Ships =
= South Africa =
In 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.{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Cronje|date=20 April 2021|title=Energy Department says 20-year contracts for floating powerships will keep prices down|url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/economy/energy-department-says-20-year-contracts-for-floating-powerships-will-keep-prices-down-20210420|agency=News24|access-date=5 October 2021}} Accusations of corruption in the tendering process have led to legal challenges and ongoing judicial inquiry.{{cite web|first=Carin|last=Smith|date=9 September 2021|title=DNG granted postponement in Karpowership case - judge 'between rock and hard place'|url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/dng-granted-postponement-in-karpowership-case-judge-between-rock-and-hard-place-20210909|agency=News24|access-date=5 October 2021}} 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.[https://mg.co.za/environment/2022-08-12-creecy-shoots-down-karpowership-appeal-but-extends-a-lifeline-to-the-project/ Creecy shoots down Karpowership appeal but extends a lifeline to the project] 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.{{Cite web |last=Nyathi |first=Mandisa |date=2023-06-06 |title=Karpowership: Contract to be negotiated amid heavy fuel oil fears |url=https://mg.co.za/environment/2023-06-06-karpowership-contract-to-be-negotiated-amid-heavy-fuel-oil-fears/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Karpowership to donate game farm for gas plant approval |url=https://dailyinvestor.com/energy/30187/karpowership-to-donate-game-farm-for-gas-plant-approval/}}
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.{{Cite web |last=Comrie |first=Susan |date=2023-10-06 |title=Karpowership: failed interdict unearths ‘State Capture on steroids’ agreement |url=https://amabhungane.org/stories/karpowership-failed-interdict-unearths-state-capture-on-steroids-agreement/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=amaBhungane |language=en-ZA}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.africaintelligence.com/central-africa/2024/10/28/gabon-s-ailing-power-utility-desperate-to-unplug-crippling-karpowership-contract%2C110332353-gra Gabon's ailing power utility desperate to unplug crippling Karpowership contract], Africa Intelligence, 28 October 2024 (requires free registration)