Francois Pienaar inaugurates Aggreko’s first service centre in
South Africa
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Aggreko officially opens first service centre in South
Africa
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Aggreko's initial investment in South Africa will be worth over
R85m
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Aggreko makes donation to Pienaar’s ‘Make A Difference’
Foundation
South Africa, 4th May 2009 –
Aggreko, the global leader in the provision of temporary power and
temperature control services, celebrated the opening of its first
service centre in Midrand, Johannesburg on the 4th May 2009.
The depot was officially
inaugurated by Francois Pienaar, captain of South Africa’s Rugby
World Cup winning team, at an event which gave media and local
business people the opportunity to tour the facility. The service
centre represents an initial investment by Aggreko of R85 million
and underlines Aggreko’s belief that economic growth in South
Africa will result in strong demand for temporary power in the
country. The depot will provide temporary power for manufacturing,
shipping, process industries, mining and construction industries,
as well as for major sporting events. It will also be ready to
support utility power projects.
Aggreko has a long track record of
providing power to major sporting events worldwide. In the last
twelve months, Aggreko has delivered over 160 MVA of temporary
power to the Beijing Olympics, powered the European Football
Championships, and has been selected to supply the power for the
2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In January, Aggreko supplied the
power for the Inauguration of President Barack Obama,
During the opening ceremony, Rupert
Soames, Group Chief Executive of Aggreko plc, introduced the
company and discussed the reasons behind its decision to open a
service centre in the region. Also speaking at the event, Steve
Aitken, Managing Director of Aggreko Africa, highlighted the
company’s previous decade of experience in Africa where it is
currently supplying nearly 1,000 MW of power across 17
countries.
Soames commented, saying: “The fact
that we are making what is by any standards a significant
investment in South Africa, underlines the confidence we have in
the future development of the economy, and we intend to use our
base here as a hub from which we can support our operations
throughout Southern Africa.”
In a goodwill gesture signifying a
long term commitment to South Africa, a cheque for was presented to
Francois Pienaar to support his foundation, ‘Make A Difference’,
which helps to provide education for disadvantaged youths in South
Africa.