Aggreko wins 140 MW contract in Kenya

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has contracted Aggreko to provide an additional 140 MW of temporary power. Aggreko, which is already supplying 150 MW of power to the utility company, said the minimum 12 month contract was valued at over US$30 million.

The contract will involve the installation of an additional 80 MW at Aggreko's existing site at Embakasi, outside Nairobi, and 60 MW at a new site near Naivasha.

Aggreko said the increased power was required because of low rainfall that has reduced the output from Kenya's hydro-electric power stations. Around 40 MW of the additional capacity will be supplied within five weeks of the contract becoming effective, with the balance supplied a few weeks later.

Rupert Soames, chief executive of Aggreko, said the company was delighted to have been selected by KenGen; "A 140 MW permanent power plant would take several years to finance, build and commission, but Aggreko can deliver this capacity in a matter of weeks, and this flexibility means that customers can respond quickly to maintain power supplies.'

Aggreko operates a training centre and engine refurbishment facility at Embakasi, where training is carried out for the 137 strong Kenyan workforce.

The Glasgow-based rental company currently supplies around 1000 MW of temporary power in 20 countries in Africa.