2016-10-28Staff Report 2 Windhoek A global leader in the energy sector, APR Energy says it could transform Namibia into the regional hub for electricity supply to countries within the southern African region, where per capita consumption was estimated to be more than 153 kWh per year per person in 2015. Namibia alone can only meet 40 percent of its power needs, leaving a massive deficit of more than 600MW. Following President Hage Geingob’s working trip to the United States of America (US), which included meetings in which potential investors were engaged, APR Energy’s chief executive officer, John Campion, jetted into the country to discuss the idea of tackling Namibia’s and the region’s electricity needs. Speaking to New Era yesterday, APR Energy spokesperson Alan Chapple stressed that the American-based company, which is a world leader in providing fast-track mobile turbine power, has been in discussion within Namibian leaders in the energy sector for some time now. “We’ve been very interested in Namibia and we met your minister of energy in the US, where he indicated that there is probable a need for additional power in Namibia,” explained Chapple. “They informed us that Namibia currently has 400MW of power installed and that there is a demand for 600MW.” According to Chapple, there are vast opportunities for Namibia to become a hub for electricity generation, to the benefit of countries with the southern African region. “We want to help President Geingob with his Harambee Prosperity Plan, in which he wants to build 20 000 new homes, which will all need electricity. We want to help Namibia grow by providing access to electricity.” Chapple said the building of a power plant requires careful planning and financing, but they offer a flexible and fast way to provide electricity and grow the economy. According to the company’s website, with an available inventory of mobile technology, regional distribution hubs near its key markets, and advanced engineering, logistics and installation processes, they can commission a power plant within weeks – often within 30 days or less. “With approximately 1.25GW of power generation capacity, we have the benefit of one of the largest mobile fleets in the industry, including mobile gas turbines, and diesel and natural gas power modules,” the company website indicates. “Our high power-density, mobile turbines offer customers a unique advantage in that they can be cost-effectively shipped by air and rapidly installed to deliver up to 25MW per turbine,” it says. APR Energy’s mission is to provide cost-efficient and reliable electricity on a fast-track basis anywhere in the world. 2016-10-28Staff Report 2
