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Rockwell strengthens presence
in Asia-Pacific
An agreement By Rockwell Automation to purchase the assets
of medium voltage drives business, Harbin Jiuzhou Electric,
for approximately US$83 M (R683 M), is expected to close
in October 2012. The acquisition will strengthen Rockwell
Automation’s presence in the Asia-Pacific motor control
market by adding significant capabilities in design, engineer-
ing and manufacturing of medium voltage drive products. It
also provides access to grid-tie inverter technology. Jiuzhou
has successfully served as Rockwell Automation’s contract
manufacturer for seven years, in addition to serving its own
well-established customer base. Jiuzhou serves customers
in the electric power, petrochemical, steel, metallurgy, mu-
nicipal, cement and construction industries. Its medium volt-
age business will be aligned with the Rockwell Automation
Control Products and Solutions operating segment.
Enquiries: Jeff Sandison. Email jksandison@ra.rockwell.com.
Intergraph and Siemens
Energy extend Global Alliance
Agreement
Intergraph and Siemens Energy have extended their Global
Alliance Agreement which was first signed in 2005 to stand-
ardise worldwide on Intergraph’s SmartPlant Enterprise suite
of software and engineering integration technology. In the
last years, Siemens has successfully delivered more than 30
projects (worldwide) with applications ranging from Smart-
Plant Foundation for information and workflowmanagement
to engineering design tools.
Enquiries: cristina.gonzalez@intergraph.com.
Aggreko opens service centre in
Walvis Bay
Aggreko, has officially opened its new service centre in
Walvis Bay. The facility is the sixth service centre in Aggreko’s
Southern and East African network and is the first operation
to be based in Namibia. The depot will service the country’s
rapidly growing mining industry and other industrial users
throughout the country. Located next to the Port of Walvis
Bay, the facility is strategically positioned to support Na-
mibia’s shipping and fishing industries. Commenting on the
new depot opening, James Shepherd, Aggreko’s managing
director for Southern and East Africa, said: “Aggreko’s ex-
pansion into Namibia is a major step in our strategy to build
local presence in the key industrial hubs of Southern and East
Africa. As the region continues its strong growth, Aggreko
is well placed to support this growth through the provision
of the world leading temporary power and temperature
control services.”
Enquiries: Email nicholas.vansanten@aggreko.ae.
I
nsufficient power supply and infrastructure are damaging the growth of many
African economies, but driving the revenues of diesel and gas generator (genset)
manufacturers, finds a new report by business intelligence experts GlobalData.
According to the company’s latest research, the inability of countries across
the African continent to meet the power demands of their expanding industries
is resulting in the large scale employment of electricity gensets, with Nigeria at
the forefront of the market.
Despite reassurances by President Goodluck Johnson over a year ago, Africa’s
most populous country still suffers from twomajor issues regarding power supply.
Firstly, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the governing body for
the use of electricity in the country, generates insufficient power to meet usage
levels. Secondly, transmission and distribution (T&D) networks in the country are
poor and sorely in need of improvement.
Only 45% of Nigeria’s population has access to electricity, and only 30% of
demand is currently being met. 90% of industrial customers, and a considerable
percentage of residential and non-residential customers, have their own means of
power generation.The corresponding unavailability of power has led to consum-
ers turning to diesel and gas gensets – exhibited by a 2011 market value of $450
M. Climbing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8,7% over the period
2012 - 2020, this figure is predicted to reach $950,7 M by 2020.
As the reliability of electricity in many African countries is low, and the demand
for power high, other nations including SouthAfrica, Egypt, Angola andAlgeria are
also expected to display strong genset growth in the future.The telecom, manu-
facturing and commercial sectors of these countries are currently experiencing
robust growth and increasing the need for continuous power.
GlobalData
predicts that if little is done to improve power networks acrossAfrica,
the continent could become the next major growth destination for international
genset manufacturers.
Enquiries: Email GlobalData pr@globaldata.com.
T
he
SouthAfrican FlameproofAssociation (SAFA)
will be hosting its annual
Awards Dinner and Symposium in Johannesburg this year.The theme for
this year is ‘Technology and Legislation –An update for hazardous areas’.With
an outstanding programme lined up, this promises to be an informative event.
The South African Flameproof Association is a non profit body and has
members from companies involved in explosion prevention/protection
techniques for equipment used in hazardous atmospheres in industry and
mining. It comprises of almost 200 member companies which include both
end users and manufacturers, as well as relevant government bodies and
equipment testing houses.
Dates: 7 November 2012: (awards dinner); 8 November 2012 (Symposium)
Venue: Emperors Palace, Johannesburg
Enquiries: Tel. 011 061 5000 or email safa@vdw.co.za. Visit www.flp.co.za.
Telephone: (011) 061 5000 or Fax: (086) 688 7005
Electricity reliability low in Africa -
with high demand for power
SAFA Symposium and awards evening
63
September ‘12
Electricity+Control