Aggreko wins contract for huge power plant in Southern Africa

Temporary power and temperature control firm Aggreko has won contracts to supply 122 megawatts (MW) of gas-fuelled power to utilities in Mozambique and Namibia from the largest cross-border interim power plant in the world.

The company announced on Thursday that it has signed Tri-Party Power Purchase Agreements (TPPA) with Electricidade de Moambique (EDM) and NamPower to provide them with power from its plant located in Gigawatt Park at Ressano Garcia, Mozambique.

The installed capacity of 122 MW will be split between the two utilities, with EDM using up to 32 MW and NamPower up to 90 MW.

Aggreko's facility at Ressano Garcia was built last year in an attempt to become the first cross-border, interim independent power provider to the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The company said: "The combination of Aggreko's industry-leading technical expertise and its extensive gas-powered generation fleet has enabled it to offer this solution to help satisfy the growing power demands of Southern Africa."

The plant, which also generates power for South African utility ESKOM, is able to supply power generated in Mozambique to Namibia, more than 1,500 kilometres away, as well as locally. All three utilities (ESKOM, EDM and NamPower) work together to deliver the power to one another.

"This new project will make Ressano Garcia the world's largest cross-border interim power plant, with over 232 MW of gas-fuelled power generation," said Aggreko Chief Executive Rupert Soames.

"It underlines the immense potential of the SAPP to be a real conduit of cooperation and development among the countries of Southern Africa. The fact that three national utilities are collaborating to support each other's energy requirements is testament to the benefit of working together for the common good."