WALVIS BAY – Aggreko, a global player in energy generation solutions and temperature control services, has opened a U$3 million (about N$25 million) service centre in Walvis Bay.

The Walvis Bay centre will serve as the regional hub that will also provide support services to neighbouring countries such as Angola and Botswana. Aggreko is currently involved in a number of energy-generation projects in Southern Africa, with contracts from various energy utilities.

The expansion into Namibia is a major step in the company’s strategy to establish a local presence in the key industrial hubs of Southern and Eastern Africa, said managing director for Southern and Eastern Africa, James Shepherd. “As the region continues its strong growth, Aggreko is well placed to support this growth through the provision of the world’s leading temporary power and temperature control services,” said Shepherd. The company says the need for energy-generation solutions is due to the growth of African economies and the lack of rainfall having a detrimental effect on the production of hydropower.

The Walvis Bay service centre is the sixth centre in Aggreko’s Southern and Eastern African network. The company has been providing power generation in Africa for over a decade. Globally Aggreko had recently completed the contract to power the just ended Olympic event in London, having been contracted to supply primary power to the Olympic Stadium. The Namibian operation will provide much needed support to the country’s rapidly growing industries in the mining, fishing and shipping sectors, as well as other industrial users throughout the country.

Aggreko energy generation solutions, along with powerful generator rental services, helps to stabilise the local utilities’ power grids and provide additional energy to support local industries and communities that may be suffering from insufficient power supplies. Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Willem Isaack, said that it is evident that Namibia continues to provide a conducive environment for international investors.

He said such investments enable the government to deliver in terms of economic growth and job creation and to reduce the income gap among Namibians. “To deliver these objectives as part of the national development dream is no small achievement. We are excited that Aggreko has joined the Namibian government by creating jobs and business opportunities for Namibia,” said Isaack.

Head of local businesses for Southern and Eastern Africa, Martin Foster, said Aggreko is highly committed to the development of the communities they operate in. “We take very seriously the progress of our local Aggreko people and will hire and train a strong local workforce to support the new facility. The long-term success of our business is directly linked to a highly capable and well-trained Namibian workforce,” Foster said.