German industrial group Siemens has set its eyes on the East Africa’s energy industry
“The smart money is on East Africa,” said Lukas Duusema, CEO, Siemens Eastern Africa.
He believes Africa’s new economic powerhouse is taking root in Eastern Africa, with Ethiopia and Kenya taking the lead, and Tanzania and Uganda reinforcing this emerging regional cluster of more than 300 million people.
“Ethiopia for example is fast becoming a regional powerhouse. There are huge opportunities in renewable energy, especially in wind, thermal and hydro and demand is increasing for efficient and sustainable infrastructure to support skills development and job creation,” said Duusema.
Siemens has been active in the region for decades to grow a more inclusive economy.
“We are in Africa as an investor, employee and supplier of efficient technologies. Right now, for instance we are helping to increase the reliability of energy supply through an interconnector being built between Kenya and Ethiopia.”
Johan Helberg, the Siemens Country Manager for Kenya said the HVDC transmission link is one of the largest infrastructure measures in East Africa.
“The roughly 1,000 kilometers-long direct current transmission line, known as the Ethiopia-Kenya Power Systems Interconnection Project, will transmit environmentally friendly hydroelectricity from Ethiopia to Kenya,” said Helberg.
Earlier this year, Siemens signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Uganda to cooperate in the areas of power supply, industry, transportation and healthcare and to focus on infrastructure investments and partnerships between public and private sectors.
“We are also in the process of setting up and expanding our East African footprint by making Ethiopia the HQ of our operations,” said Duursema.