MDT Image Magazine

Diesel power plants are ideal to reliably serve even remote or slightly developed areas such as islands with electricity.
As in the rest of the world, the importance of natural
gas as a commodity will increase further in
Africa too. The north in particular has plentiful
reserves and the distribution infrastructure is
growing. Large gas deposits also exist in the south
of Nigeria, while further deposits are being explored
or have already been tapped on parts of the
east and west coast. “The customer potential for
our gas and dual fuel engines in Africa is growing
in parallel with the expansion of the transport
infrastructure,” explains Hans-Jürgen Wio, Head
of the Power Plants Business Unit. “For regions
without suitable links and particularly remote regions
in which mine operators are often active, for
example, HFO engines (heavy fuel oil) are a better
option.”
As the business grows, so the company’s local
presence is also increasing. In addition to sites in
South Africa, Kenya and Senegal, the sales network
is being developed further. Plans are in hand to
open a sales office in Nigeria this year. “With an
estimated number of 160 million inhabitants and
a growing middle class, the need for power is constantly
increasing in Nigeria. While the south of
the country is rich in gas and therefore a promising
market for gas engines in the future, the north
tends to prefer power generation based on HFO,”
says Dr Markus Ostermeier, an expert on Africa
in the Business Development department of the
Power Plants Business Unit.
Apart from its own organization, MAN is also exploiting
further inroads into the African market.
“We are working with various EPC partners (engineering,
procurement, construction) on the continent.
Many globally active EPCs are already superbly
positioned in Africa,” says Hans-Jürgen Wio.
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