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 rental 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.”