Maximum Power: Mega Trends in the GCC Regional Temporary Power Industry

From smart solutions to energy efficiency, the value addition curve for rental power plants is always on the rise. Altaaqa Global shares its insights about mega trends that the regional temporary power industry must align itself with. 

• What is you overview of the current Genset market in the GCC?

The temporary power industry is largely dependent on the prevailing market situation and activities. In the context of the GCC, the rental power market is conditioned by several factors, including:

• Utility shortages, particularly in KSA and Kuwait, especially during peak summer months 
• The gradual recovery of the construction industry in UAE and Saudi Arabia
• Absent or unreliable electricity connection in various areas in the region
• Regional growth in population and improvement in the standards of living
• The availability of diesel, and the nascent increase in the supply of natural gas
• Large industrial customers/companies turning to rental power to maintain the effectiveness/productivity of their operations in times of power interruptions or peak shaving
• Opportunities for infrastructure rebuilding and development 

KSA, Qatar and the UAE have consistently been the biggest market for gensets in the region, be it for rental or for sales, as they have been demonstrating high economic growth rates buoyed by industrial and commercial development. At present, however, we see a slight decline in the interest on temporary power services owing to the suppressed prices of oil and other commodities.

• What are the new trends shaping demand for Gensets (across all types)? What is your projection of the region’s Gensets market in the next five years?

We are noticing the gradual expansion of the natural gas and dual-fuel genset markets, particularly where inexpensive natural gas is available. The growth of such markets are supported by the increase in unconventional gas resources and by stringent emission regulations in effect in many countries around the world.

Fuel availability and the costs of installing safe and reliable fuel delivery infrastructure have traditionally posed limitations on the growth of the natural gas generator market. Today, gas is becoming increasingly available and gas generation technology progressively finds application in bigger and longer-duration projects. The availability of dual-fuel generators (which significantly simplifies the transition from diesel-run to gas-run generators), is helping overcome these installation and operational obstacles.

• How is your company geared up to meet the new demand trends?

The temporary power services that we offer vary from industry to industry and site to site.
In recognition of the changes in the market’s demands, we will continue to offer the most fuel efficient, reliable and technologically advanced generators and power systems to our clients to reduce their overall operating costs. We will combine it with consistent technical support and expert advice on equipment selection.  

The diesel generator market will continue to grow in the next several years, so we will continue to have diesel generators readily available in our fleet. As natural gas becomes increasingly available, and gas power generation technologies progressively find application in bigger and longer-duration projects, we will ensure to offer natural gas generators where it is appropriate.

• What is the region’s uptake on smart technologies? What solutions does your company offer to that end? What are some of the latest innovations in Gensets to enhance user experience?

There is an intense interest in the GCC in technologies that aid in the provision of reliable and efficient electrical power, resource conservation and environmental stewardship. The relevance of such technologies cannot be overstated in the GCC’s modern environment, which sees high levels of power consumption that takes a toll on the generation, transmission and distribution facilities.

In this light, here are some of the smart technologies available in our power generations systems:

• Our generators are equipped with state-of-the-art control and protection systems that allow them to change operational modes (island, grid or standby) in just a push of a button. Because of this, our generators can provide the precise electrical power at the exact time it is needed, in whatever mode required. 
• Our generators are also equipped with local control systems that provide power metering, protective relaying, and engine and generator control and monitoring. They are integrated with digital voltage regulators, which works to enhance system monitoring. They offer the ability to view and reset diagnostics of all networked controls, eliminating the need for separate service tools for troubleshooting. They also have real-time clocks which allow for date and time-stamping of diagnostic and events.
• To enhance user experience, our generators are equipped with engine operator interface featuring graphical display with positive image, transflective LCD and adjustable white backlight/contrast. Additional features include engine cool-down times, engine cycle crank, three engine control keys and status indicator (run/auto/stop), lamp test and alarm acknowledgement keys. It has warnings/shutdowns with indicating text for low oil pressure, high oil temperature, emergency stop, over speed and over crank, on top of an emergency stop push button and shortcut keys for engine and generator parameters. 

• What are the latest innovations on Bi-fuel portable generators? 

Our dual-fuel power generators are specifically developed to reduce fuel costs and decrease emissions. They are equipped with a dynamic gas-blending technology that optimizes output, while being environmentally considerate. Our bi-fuel generators automatically adjust to changes in fuel quality and pressure to allow engines to run on a wide variety of fuels, including associated gas and vaporized LNG, with no loss of performance integrity. Owing to this, no customer input or gas analysis is required during operation, and no re-calibration is needed when the equipment is moved or the gas supply changes.

• How will the shift towards renewable energy impact the Gensets market in the GCC?

Owing to the rapid depletion of the world’s fossil fuel resources, in addition to greater requirements in carbon reporting, many countries around the world are looking to diversify their energy mix to encourage long-term energy security. A crucial component of this initiative are renewable energy sources.

While renewable energy technologies are being optimized, continued dependence on traditional sources of electrical power is needed to bridge the power gap and maintain a continuous and reliable supply of electricity. Temporary power solutions, for instance, can work in tandem with renewable energy sources to help mitigate the issues of unpredictability and intermittency.

Aside from supporting renewable energy facilities in producing electricity, temporary power plants can also provide power to renewable plants throughout their life cycle. Temporary power plants can provide supplemental power to renewable facilities during planning, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, operations and maintenance. Temporary power plants can help ensure that renewable energy plants are constructed and delivered on time and as planned, and that they remain efficient, reliable and in optimum condition at all times.

• Comment about the market for Genset spare parts?

In addition to our own in-house capabilities, as an authorized Caterpillar dealer, Altaaqa Global has access to the wide range of technical, engineering, logistical and service/maintenance resources of other Caterpillar dealers around the world.

In mobilizing for a project, for instance, we may tap the power generation resources, technical & engineering expertise and logistical facilities of the local Caterpillar dealers where we operate, or of any Caterpillar dealer around the world. We also have access to locally available parts and can call for local maintenance service or technical support. Thanks to this synergy, we are able to provide for a quick and efficient installation of power plants and ongoing support for projects anywhere in the world.

• What are the major challenges in the GCC Gensets industry? How is the slump in oil prices impacting the market?

While the fact that the prevailing oil price makes generators cheaper to run is an advantage in theory, we have to remember that the requirement for generators is proportional to the rate of economic activity. At present, the prices of oil and commodities are suppressed, and this is having a negative impact on the interest on power generation services. We, however, expect the industry to rebound quickly as and when economic conditions improve.

• How is the 5% VAT proposed by GCC countries likely affect the Gensets market?

The introduction of VAT in the region was largely prompted by the drop in revenues in the face of plummeting oil prices. With VAT, businesses and industrial companies must grapple with increased production and higher capital costs. Economists, however, predict that the benefits of VAT to the region will outweigh the financial burdens that come with it.

One positive scenario we see is that with the introduction of VAT, governments in the GCC can have additional revenues that they can use to build additional infrastructure, refurbish existing facilities, and overall improve services to their citizens. These represent excellent business opportunities for temporary power providers. As we have mentioned above, the temporary power industry is conditioned by the prevailing market situation and activities, and if GCC countries intensify their economic and social activities, the industry will continue to thrive in the region.

• With competition in the market growing, what will industry players need to do to retain their clients and also win over new ones? What steps are you taking towards driving efficiency? How is this likely to give you a competitive edge? What is your company doing to have a competitive edge?

As an authorized Caterpillar dealer, we work closely with the Caterpillar product development team to share perspectives of customer requirements in the power rental business. We continually work on improving the efficiency and reliability of our equipment, and we constantly revisit our procedures and processes with the aim of improving the way we do things in every project.

The role of temporary power has evolved from being a local, short-term, transactional activity to a major global project-based industry. To keep abreast of the opportunities in the coming years, we will continue to hone a highly skilled, motivated & experienced, world-class, power projects team. At Altaaqa Global, we strive to lead the evolution of the industry, and to be recognized as the premier source of innovative technical solutions and the highest level of customer service and support.

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Altaaqa Global

Tel: +971 56 1749505

rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com

How much does it cost to operate and maintain a permanent power plant?

Whatever the energy source, be it fossil fuel, nuclear or renewable, expenses for operation and maintenance (O&M) form a vital part of the life cycle cost of power plants. Though O&M cost differs among various forms of power generation, it plays an important part of any power plant’s business case. Guided by the information provided by the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Investment Outlook 2014, we present an overview of the estimated average O&M costs for six of the most common power generation methods.

1. Gas Turbine (USD 20 per kW)

Gas-fired power generation is popular for having a relatively low O&M cost compared to other power generation procedures. For instance, power plants installed with simple-cycle combustion turbines have been shown to have an average annual O&M cost of just around USD 20 per kW, making such technology the most economical O&M option in the power industry. The maintenance of an effective lubrication system for gas turbines plays an integral component of O&M expenditure in gas-fired power plants.

2. Large-scale solar photovoltaic (USD 25 per kW)

Thanks to the ongoing development of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, large-scale PV installations are among the most economical power generation technologies for O&M, at just about USD 25 per kW. Because solar PV is a relatively simple technology, maintaining it often only involves cleaning and removing debris from PV cells, together with monitoring of inverter units and AC subsystems.
Concentrated solar power (CSP), on the other hand, being a more sophisticated and complex technology, demands a much higher O&M cost, estimated at USD 290 per kW.

3. Subcritical coal power (USD 43 per kW)

O&M costs for coal vary depending on the type of plant. For instance, the cheapest subcritical plant has an O&M cost of approximately USD 43 per kW, even higher for supercritical and ultrasupercritical coal combustion technologies, and about USD 88 per kW in the case of integrated gasification combined cycle plants. A major component of the O&M costs of coal-fired power plants is monitoring and servicing the numerous moving parts involved in the generation process, including turbines and generating sets, coal yard conveyors and handling systems.

4. On-shore wind power (USD 46 per kW)

There is a notable disparity between O&M costs for onshore and offshore wind farms, mainly owing to access-related issues. While O&M costs for onshore wind power sites are almost at part with those of the simplest coal technologies, and are even expected to fall below those of coal by 2020, O&M expenditure for offshore wind technologies are approximately four times as much, sitting at around USD 181 per kW.

5. Large-scale hydropower (USD 53 per kW)

Large-scale hydroelectric power is considerably cheaper to operate and maintain compared to smaller-scale projects. However, the O&M costs for maintaining large installations like dams and barrages are predicted to increase in the future, matching those of small-scale hydro by 2035. At present, the O&M costs for small hydro projects stands at USD 70 per kW. According to IEA, ageing equipment in need of replacement at hydroelectric dams, on top of the complexity of running and maintaining new equipment along with dated components may be factors that contribute to the predicted increase.

6. Nuclear power (USD 198 per kW)

Nuclear power plants do not only command a hefty capital expenditure, they are a long shot from being cheap to operate and maintain. Major contributors to the steep O&M cost include the processing, enrichment and fabrication of uranium into fuel elements; waste disposal; and maintenance of a large number of pumps, valves, cables, circuit breakers and other mechanical and electrical components.

When permanent power plants become less efficient and less reliable...

Naturally, O&M costs, as illustrated in our discussion on large-scale hydropower facilities, are expected to increase as power plants age and become less efficient and less reliable. When old power plants continually shut down or become increasingly expensive to operate and maintain as they age, power utilities may be compelled to do a major refurbishment on existing power plants or build new ones as they rest the old ones.

While permanent power plants are being optimized or new ones are being constructed, power utility providers can turn to reliable and fuel-efficient temporary power solutions for supplemental electricity.

Temporary power plants can be swiftly transported from and to anywhere in the world, and can be installed in a matter of days as soon as the power equipment arrived at the site. Rental power plants do not require a huge capital expenditure and major civil works before they can be installed, and have been proven to deliver exceptional performance and outstanding fuel efficiency. Power utilities can pay for the “hired” electricity from their OPEX,

Rental power plants are scalable in that power utilities can choose to increase or decrease the power plants’ power output depending on the existing requirement. This means that in case the power requirement rises, they do not have to build another permanent power plant to satiate the demand. Once the need for additional electricity passes, power utilities can simply end the contract, and the temporary power plants will be demobilized, leaving no permanent facility idle or requiring continuous maintenance.

Temporary power plants are operated and managed by a team of certified and expert engineers, so clients can rest assured that the power plants will be running smoothly and will be providing sufficient electricity anytime it is needed.

For more information on temporary power solutions, visit www.altaaqaglobal.com

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Altaaqa Global

Tel: +971 56 1749505

rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com

Temporary Power Can Put Ghana’s Economy Back on Track

A tipping point is a critical moment in a situation, process or system beyond which a significant effect or change takes place. It is the point at which a particular idea, product or event crosses a verge and gains notable momentum. As Malcolm Gladwell, author of book The Tipping Point sums it, it is the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.

For Ghana, it was 2011 – when oil began flowing, and when the country’s economic growth zoomed above 14%. In the previous years, Ghana had already been showing impressive GDP growth numbers, as reported by the International Monetary Fund, chalking up an estimated eight per cent in 2008, five per cent in 2009, and seven per cent in 2010. But, it was in 2011 that the country reached the proverbial tipping point, making it one of Africa’s leading economic success stories.

The notable economic growth resulted in a significant improvement in the lives of Ghanaians. The country saw the emergence of a new middle class, which demanded a staggering amount of energy to power its lifestyle. Unfortunately, the Ghanaians’ requirement for electricity could not be fulfilled by the available power supply. This was admitted by then Ghana’s Power Minister Kwabena Donkor, when he said in an interview that Ghana’s power supply had not caught up with the surge in power demand prompted by the country’s exponential growth.

The shortage of electricity is threatening to rein in the economic momentum that Ghana had gained in recent years. In 2015, economic reports showed that Ghana’s growth forecast was down to 3.9 per cent, in the face of higher public spending and suppressed commodity prices. The power demand in the country, however, remained high, and this fact could pose a serious hindrance to further growth.

A solution to Ghana’s power challenges 

Ghana is no stranger to bouts with power insufficiency. Yet, the current power crisis has a particularly pronounced impact because of the heightened reliance on electrical power on the part of Ghana’s modern and developing economy. In fact, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calls Ghana’s power crisis “the single-most important risk” to helping Ghana put its economy back on the strong path to growth.

To avoid further economic complications of Ghana’s power crisis, the country urgently needs a power solution that can be immediately delivered, installed and operated. In the face of issues of intermittency and unreliability among Ghana’s traditional power sources, the country needs a power solution that can guarantee a continuous and reliable supply of electricity anytime and anywhere it is needed.

Multi-megawatt temporary power solutions can open doors to a definitive resolution of Ghana’s power crisis.

The installation of temporary power plants does not call for extensive site preparation nor for the refurbishment of transmission and distribution grids. As soon as the generators and other power equipment arrive on site, they can be immediately installed, commissioned and powered on within days. In a matter of days, Ghana will be supplied with a consistent and reliable electricity supply.

Ghana’s government, power utility providers, nor industries and businesses need not spend scarce financial resources on capital expenditure, which is usually the case when procuring large-scale power equipment of building permanent power facilities. The government and other industry stakeholders can conveniently pay for the rented electricity from their operating revenues. As industry activities grow and the requirement for electricity increases, they can simply choose to add more power modules to the temporary power plant, precluding the need to buy additional equipment or build other permanent facilities. By the same token, in case the power requirement decreases, the load of the temporary power plant can be proportionally adjusted.

Temporary power providers offer a full range of services, including operating and maintaining the power plants. Temporary power providers have well-trained, expert engineers that will ensure that the power plants run at the optimal level all the time.

As Ghana’s eases through its power challenges, and as soon as the requirement for supplemental electricity passes, the government or the power utilities can simply choose to end the temporary power contract. The entire temporary power plant will be demobilized, leaving no idle power equipment nor permanent power plants running on part-load and requiring constant maintenance, servicing and upgrades.

Path to strong growth

Ghana is one of Africa’s biggest success stories. The country’s economic growth in recent years has been nothing short of astounding. Modern and industrializing economies, such as that of Ghana, need an efficient and reliable supply of electricity to sustain their activities and take off. Temporary power solutions can provide Ghana with the much needed boost in power supply, making inroads into a sustainable and viable economic recovery.

Spotlight on Africa’s power sector at the AEF 2016

The development of Africa’s power sector was in focus at the 2016 Africa Energy Forum (AEF 2016), in late June in London, UK. Altaaqa Global is proud to have taken an active role in the event, which had thrown the spotlight on the latest innovations that drive the growth of Africa’s energy sector, including temporary power technologies. Altaaqa Global had the opportunity to talk to various industry stakeholders about its multi-megawatt rental power plants, and how it can help African countries gain access to reliable electricity.

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The 10 Biggest Power Outages Ever Recorded

Power outages can cause severe economic and social distress. A prolonged disruption of electric power, particularly on a larger municipal, district or regional scale, can have immense adverse effects on health, safety, and commerce & industry, so power utilities should be prepared to respond to cases of wide-spread power interruption.

We have trawled the Web to trace the 10 biggest power outages recorded in history. Here is what we found out…

1. July 2012, India

In what could be the biggest power outage in the world, the blackout in India in July 2012 left an estimated 620 million people without electricity. The outage was ascribed to the tripping of a circuit breaker, owing to a spike in electricity consumption during one of the hottest seasons ever recorded.

2. January 2001, India

In January 2001, almost 230 million people lost power due to a fault in the transmission system in one state, which caused a cascading failure throughout the other states in India’s northern region.

3. November 2014, Bangladesh

A failure of a power transmission line from India to Bangladesh caused a power outage that left more than 150 million people without electricity.

4. January 2015, Pakistan

Eighty per cent of the country, or 140 million people, was left without electricity after an explosion at a power plant caused a backward surge of electricity to the facility. This caused the tripping of power lines, leading to a cascading effect throughout the country’s grid.

5. August 2015, Indonesia

Caused by a major transmission line failure, and the consequent disengaging of several power plants, the power outage of August 2015 in the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java left more than 100 million people without electricity.

6. March 1999, Brazil

Ascribed to a lightning strike that caused cascading failure throughout Southern Brazil’s power infrastructure, the largest power outage in the history of Brazil left 97 million people without electricity.

7. November 2009, Brazil and Paraguay

When transmission lines from the power station at Itaipu were tripped by a major thunderstorm, 87 million people from Brazil’s most populous states and the entire country of Paraguay were left without electricity.

8. August 2003, US and Canada

Known as one of the “Northeast Blackouts” of the past century, the power outage of 2003 affected 55 million people. The outage was blamed to a technical error that caused the control room alarm system to fail to alert controllers about overloaded transmission lines, leading to widespread grid distress.

9. September 2003, Italy

With the exception of the island of Sardinia, the entire country of Italy lost electricity, leaving 55 million people in the dark. The investigation revealed that the outage was caused by a system overload following a storm damage to a power line coming in from Switzerland. This consequently tripped power lines running in from France.

10. March 1978, Thailand

A generator failure in a single power plant caused a nationwide grid shutdown for an entire day, causing inconvenience to more than 40 million people.


Multi-megawatt rental power plants are the ideal solution to stabilize the grid and support power networks. They are immediately available, can be deployed at a moment’s notice to anywhere in the world. They can be easily installed and are capable of continuously supplying reliable electricity in a matter of days. Temporary power plants can be easily connected to existing power infrastructure, and can generate electricity in sync with the local power generation plants or as a standalone system. They are flexible in power and voltage, and their output can be scaled up or down to meet varying electricity demands.

In hiring rental power plants, utility companies need not worry about capital expenditure; in fact, they will have significant savings in the operation and maintenance of the temporary power plants, owing to their reliability and fuel efficiency.

The effects of power outages to people, businesses, industries and social services can be devastating. Without electricity many of the most important needs of the modern society will go unmet. Because electricity plays such a vital role in our daily lives, its reliable and continuous supply is of utmost importance.

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Altaaqa Global

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rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com

Power Leads to Economic Resilience

Africa is intensively pushing to build and grow its economy on the back of increased domestic demand, aggressive infrastructure construction activities and economic interconnection among countries in the continent. In fact, in a recent annual meeting in Rwanda, the African Development Bank (AfDB), presenting its African Economic Outlook 2014, reported that the continent’s economy was expected to grow by 4.8% in 2014 and 5.7% in 2015, approximating its growth figures pre-economic downturn.

The ongoing economic efforts in the continent will, naturally, have to be supported by energy. Gone are the days of organic economies, where economic growth could be achieved through mere human and animal strength. In this day and age, almost all economies rely on power to sustain their activities and produce tangible results. Power has become an integral component of any economy or society that outages and blackouts could bring about devastating consequences.

Africa’s power scenario   
To support Africa’s ambition to achieve economic sustainability, diversity and viability, it will primarily need to boost its infrastructure to support the growth of its various industries. To achieve that, the continent will require massive amounts of power. Does it, however, have enough energy to sustain this power-intensive phase?

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) sounded a warning that an escalating power supply deficiency in Africa may hamper the projected economic growth. It has been documented that some 25 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa were facing an energy crisis, evidenced by rolling blackouts, and that some 30 countries in region had suffered acute energy crises in recent years. While the Key World Energy Statistics by the International Energy Agency reported that electricity generation in Africa rose from 1.8% in 1973 to 3.1% in 2011, the continent still remained to have the smallest share globally, despite being the second most populous continent.

With Africa’s population expected to double to approximately 1.9 billion people by 2050, and with the continent’s industries projected to require power at almost full capacity, the World Bank said that a much higher investment would be needed to at least double Africa’s current levels of energy access by 2030. In fact, it is estimated that the Sub-Saharan region would require more than USD 300 billion in investments to achieve total electrification by 2030.

The power instability: The bigger picture
Sub-Saharan Africa was observed to have absorbed much of the blow of the recent power crisis. Blackout brought cities to a standstill and spelt terminal financial losses to small- and medium-scale companies. Mining, one of the region’s pillar industries, was severely affected, even prompting mining companies to shelve expansion plans and curtail local power usage.

Nigeria, for instance, a country that has three times the population of the Republic of South Africa (South Africa), only has one-tenth of the power generation capacity of the latter, and business in the country are reportedly starting the feel the effects of power interruptions in their daily turnover.

In Tanzania, a blackout that lasted for almost a month was experienced in Zanzibar when the underwater cable lines supplying power to the archipelago failed, owing to a huge surge in demand. As a result, residents needed to shell out USD 10 daily to run diesel-powered domestic generators, while businesses requiring refrigeration or heating had to suspend operations until power was restored.

In Angola, the occasional recession of the water level in some of the rivers affects power production, distressing allied services, like water distribution. Luanda’s water supply firm, EPAL, cited that various areas in the city experienced water supply shortage, owing to challenges related to power distribution.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), touted to be Africa’s biggest copper producer, in May 2014 advised mining companies in the country to suspend any project expansion that would require more power, amidst a power shortage that, the government said, would take years to resolve.

Even the Republic of South Africa, the region’s largest economy, was not exempt from power-related woes. In a communiqué in June 2014, Eskom, supplier of 95% of the country’s electricity, warned residents of a rolling blackout due to load-shedding, which, it said, was necessary to protect the electricity grid from total blackout. Eskom said it had begun scaling down maintenance to prepare for winter, but in the face of a rising energy demand, particularly during peak hours, it appealed to the public to reduce power consumption by at least 10%. If the power demand does not decline, then, the company said, load shedding would be the last resort to avoid a total power shutdown.

At present, solutions are underway – but these, naturally, will not come without a hefty price and cannot be completed within days or weeks. Economic reports indicated that, at the prevailing growth rate of the demand from industries and residents, the region would have to double its power generating capacity by 2025, at an approximate cost of USD 171 billion in South Africa alone.

In order to sustain this projection, the governments in Africa have identified potential sources of funds, such as power rate hikes and foreign investment. Yet, power hikes could stir social unrest and could prompt industrial entities to cut down on operations, putting jobs and production at risk. Foreign investment agreements, on the other hand, could take time to materialize, and the planning, designing, installation and commissioning of permanent power generation projects may entail several years, if not decades.

How temporary power plants can help
Power is indeed a fundamental element for any economy to function, as every sector of the modern society, be it domestic, commercial or industrial, is, in a way or another, dependent on electricity. Nowadays, a power interruption affecting critical facilities, like hospitals, airports, telecommunications towers, data centers, mining facilities and oil & gas installations, has the potential to put an entire country, region or city to a standstill, and in light of globalization and economic integration, the consequences could spill over regional, national or even continental borders.

Hiring interim power plants to bridge the gap between the demand and the supply of electricity yields many advantages, particularly when there is a foreseeable delay in the construction of permanent power generation facilities or while waiting for the permanent power plants to be completed.
When time is of essence, rental power companies, like Altaaqa Global CAT Rental Power, are capable of providing solutions as needed, when needed. Utility companies in the region, like Eskom in South Africa, Kenya Electricity Generating Company, Tanzania Electric Supply Company, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, the Concelho Nacional de Electricidade in Mozambique, the Empresa Nacional de Electricidade in Angola and the Société nationale d'électricité in DRC, among others, can hire temporary power plants in times when the demand outpaces the supply, when the electrical grid becomes unstable due to a spike in electricity requirement or when power distribution networks are unavailable, like in the rural areas. This will allow them to bridge the supply deficit immediately. Hiring power generators can prove to be a viable solution to power supply inefficiency, bridging the power gap while the permanent power solution is still in progress.

With an immediate solution on hand, the governments and the utility companies can avert resorting to raising the prices of electricity or curtailing the supply of power during peak hours. On a greater scope, an instantaneous resolution of Africa’s escalating energy supply challenges will preclude social and political instability and massive financial losses to businesses and individuals.

The power to go further
The continent that was once regarded as a tail-ender in terms of development, is now making an aggressive move towards economic stability and viability. To sustain the economic growth that Africa is now enjoying, it is imperative that the governments in the continent address the critical issue of chronic power shortage, which could hamper the development of various industries in the countries. The effort that the African governments are putting to address this predicament is commendable, but there exist other entities that can help them to further alleviate the situation. Rental power companies propose solutions that address the issues of urgency, cost-efficiency, reliability, energy-efficiency and environmental safety. It is advisable that utility companies provide for a contingent power solution in cases of power interruption that may lead to operational delays and, ultimately, negative social, political, economic and financial consequences.

The foregoing articles was originally published in the October 2014 issue of IMIESA, published by 3S Media, South Africa.

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PRESS INQUIRIES

Robert Bagatsing

Altaaqa Global

Tel: +971 56 1749505

rbagatsing@altaaqaglobal.com