Aggreko commissions 30MW power rental project in Ethiopia
- Severe drought in Ethiopia caused
hydro power shortages in 2008
- Aggreko
commissioned a 30MW rental power project in Nazaret within two
months
- The rental
power package will assist the local utility to meet demand despite
temporarily limited capacity
Nazaret, Ethiopia, March
2009 - Aggreko, the global leader in the provision of temporary
power and temperature control services, has successfully designed,
mobilised, installed and commissioned a 30MW power project
for the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO). Due to power
shortages in the country, additional capacity was urgently needed,
and Aggreko was able to complete the project within two months of
contract signature.
Power in Ethiopia is
almost exclusively generated by hydro-electric power stations; at
present, hydro accounts for 95% of the country’s power capacity.
However, severe droughts in 2008 reduced water levels at many dams,
causing the power stations to operate at lower efficiencies and
resulting in power shortages and vastly increased power demand.
Currently EPPCO is in the process of constructing four additional
hydroelectric power stations, but the stations are not due to be
completed for several years. In order to limit the impact of the
power shortfall, EEPCO contracted Aggreko to provide the 30MW/15kV
rental power package.
The power package is
connected directly to the EEPCO national grid and is a turn-key
operation, which will be staffed 24 hours a day by Aggreko
technicians. All design, engineering, mobilisation, installation
and commissioning was performed directly by Aggreko. The company is
also providing all operations and maintenance servicing during the
life of the project, in addition to project decommissioning when
the additional capacity is no longer needed.
Steve Aitken,
Managing Director of Aggreko Africa, commented on the
project: “The project marks Aggreko’s first contract in
Ethiopia and we are very pleased to further expand our presence in
East Africa. Although the time-scale was very short, we worked
closely with EEPCO to ensure that the power package was up and
running as soon as possible.” He added: “Aggreko always
strives to ensure that the local community benefits from our
presence in country and the same will be applicable in Ethiopia.
Aggreko has already recruited local technicians whom we have sent
to our centre of excellence for specialist training.”
Mr. Melaku Mano,
EEPCO Executive Officer, Power Generation, commented:
“Aggreko has provided an excellent turn-key service. We were
convinced to award the first 30MW diesel power generation plant to
Aggreko because of their proven record of supplying rapid turn-key
power projects to countries such as Kenya, where the additional
capacity generated by Aggreko has enabled industry in the country
to continue to expand. Now that the plant at Adama is running at
full capacity, we are able to ensure that our country has the
capacity needed to meet power demands.”