Construction crane moving at transformer at FOB Dwyer
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Forward Operating Base Dwyer 5 MW Power Plant | Afghanistan

WSP successfully designed and installed a 5 MW power plant at Forward Operating Base Dwyer base in just 45 days for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Location

  • Afghanistan

Client

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Reliable power for U.S. military's most remote Forward Operating Base

Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dwyer is a U.S. Marine Corps base and airfield located in Helmand Province in southwestern Afghanistan. Marines posted there provide logistical, air, ground and communication support to U.S. and Coalition forces in the area.

Challenge
WSP with joint venture partner Cummins was engaged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide safe and reliable power on the U.S. military’s most remote remaining Forward Operating Base while meeting its growing power demands.

Solution
WSP and its joint venture partner Cummins designed and installed a 5 MW power plant, expandable to 7 MW. The plant was successfully commissioned in just 45 days, which required seven Ilyushin IL-76 air charter flights originating from Dubai and various in-country flights and line haul ground missions originating from Bagram Airfield and Kabul directly into FOB Dwyer. To perform aircraft offloading at Dwyer, WSP personnel mobilized dedicated material handling equipment flown in from Kandahar. WSP is currently ensuring safe operations and maintaining the power plant and the base-wide primary electrical distribution system.

This facility marks the 15th power plant project for the joint venture in Afghanistan since 2011, bringing the total in-country portfolio to 200 MW.

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