Aggreko, the world leader in the provision of temporary power and temperature control, is pleased to announce that, following a public tender, it has signed a contract with the Kenya Electricity Generating Company to supply all 140MW called for in the tender. This will involve the installation of an additional 80MW at Aggreko’s existing site at Embakasi, outside Nairobi, and 60MW at a new site near Naivasha. The minimum period of the contract is 12 months, and the value of the award is estimated to be over $30 million.

Kenya’s requirement for additional power is a result of low rainfall in parts of the country. This drought has resulted in reduced output from the country’s hydro-electric power stations leading to power shortages, which are having a damaging effect on the country’s economy. A critical consideration in the tender evaluation process was speed of delivery. Aggreko has undertaken to supply the first tranche of 40MW within five weeks of the contract becoming effective and the balance a few weeks later.

Aggreko is already supplying KenGen with 150MW of temporary power from sites at Embakasi and Eldoret, and once the additional capacity is installed Aggreko will be able to despatch 290MW to the national grid. Aggreko operates a training centre and engine refurbishment facility at Embakasi, both of which help train and transfer valuable skills and knowledge to the 137 locally employed Kenyan workforce. In addition, Aggreko supports the local community by providing books for schools, sponsoring student’s education and helping to fund work in the Aberdares National Forest, which supports water conservation. Aggreko is currently supplying around 1,000MW of temporary power in 20 countries in Africa.

Rupert Soames. chief executive of Aggreko, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by KenGen to provide them with this additional temporary power, which is a testament to the good experience they have had with Aggreko as a supplier over the last few years. A 140MW 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.”