Aggreko wins 140 MW contract in Kenya

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.