Francois Pienaar inaugurates Aggreko’s first service centre in
South Africa
- Aggreko officially opens first service centre in South
Africa
- Aggreko's initial investment in South Africa will be worth over
R85m
- 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 was presented to Francois Pienaar to support his
foundation, ‘Make A Difference’, which helps
to provide education for disadvantaged youths in South Africa.