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Analysis of The Technical, Environmental, and Economic Indicators of A Diesel Power Plant: Case of A Cement Manufacturing Plant in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Gaël Lassina SAWADOGO, Drissa OUEDRAOGO, Yacouba CAMARA, Sory Ibrahim Mickaelou OUEDRAOGO, Serge Wendsida IGO
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21013/jas.v21.n1.p1
Abstract
This work focused on analyzing the technical, environmental, and economic performance of a diesel power plant supplying a cement manufacturing plant located in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, from 2023 to the first half of 2025. The objective was to evaluate the energy efficiency, environmental impact, and profitability of electricity production in a context of high dependence on fossil fuels. The methodology is based on the collection of operational data (power output, energy generated, diesel and lubricant consumption, operating time), the analysis of historical technical data, and the calculation of key indicators such as specific consumption (L/kWh), the CO₂ emission factor (kgCO₂/kWh), and the specific production cost (FCFA/kWh). The results show a specific consumption generally between 0.20 and 0.35 L/kWh, with a notable deterioration in 2024 marked by peaks exceeding 0.5 L/kWh, reflecting partial load operation and maintenance constraints. CO₂ emissions vary according to the production level, but the emission factors reveal occasional malfunctions, particularly in September and November 2024, when they exceeded 1.4 kgCO₂/kWh, indicating a significant decrease in energy efficiency. Economically, the average specific production cost amounts to 343.70 FCFA/kWh in 2023, 377.48 FCFA/kWh in 2024, and 358.64 FCFA/kWh in the first half of 2025, values significantly higher than the cost of electricity from the national grid (approximately 160 FCFA/kWh). The study highlights an inverse relationship between the load factor and the unit cost of production, emphasizing that the overall performance of the power plant depends heavily on the quality of its operation, maintenance, and the alignment between installed capacity and actual demand. It concludes that optimizing control, strengthening energy monitoring, and the gradual integration of a hybrid solar-diesel solution are essential levers for improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and enhancing the economic viability of the system.
Keywords
Diesel power plant, technical indicators, environmental indicators, economic indicators.
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