Africa is ready to provide enough energy to achieve the most ambitious of goals, and it can do it while maintaining all environmental targets.
We believe careful planning of power systems towards more sustainable and diversified energy supply portfolios can save billions and rapidly reduce CO2 emissions. We create value through our extensive power system knowledge and experience from integrating different generating assets.
On this page, you may find our best materials and proceedings in energising and decarbonising the continent of Africa.
of engine power plant capacity installed
African countries with active customers
Wärtsilä engines installed across the continent
customers across the continent
With more than 650 employees and service hubs located in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal, Wärtsilä is proud to have contributed to many industry firsts. These include Africa’s largest gas engine power plant on the Kribi coast of Cameroon with 216MW capacity, as well as Africa’s highest installation, the 175 MW power plant in Sasolburg, South Africa, sitting at 1,700 meters above sea level.
Another first, the KivuWatt power plant in Rwanda, is the first ever power plant to use the naturally occurring methane from lake Kivu to generate electricity and reduce the environmental risks associated with such high concentrations of gas. Today’s power output is 25 MW but future planned expansions to this project will increase capacity by an additional 75 MW.
Wärtsilä has achieved Level 4 score as a contributor to South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) integration programme. This recognition was given as a result of Wärtsilä’s company restructuring in 2020, whereby its South African operations were separated from its activities in other southern African countries. The ownership structure was certified by a SANAS B-BBEE verification agency in December 2020.Among the major measures taken, Wärtsilä has established an Engineering Studies Ownership Trust as a black South African shareholder in Wärtsilä South Africa, and actively supports education in South Africa in line with the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility values.
B-BBEE is a programme actively promoted by the South African government. It provides a legislative framework for advancing the economic transformation of South Africa’s economy and enhancing the participation of black citizens in it. Government tenders in South Africa, such as the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Procurement Program (RMIPPP), require level 4 certification and a minimum black South African shareholding of 25 percent. As part of the B-BBEE Act and its Codes of Good Practice, plus to fulfil the requirements for RMIPPP compliance, Wärtsilä has also increased its use of South African suppliers and sub-contractors, and has increased its locally-hired workforce.
“The level 4 certification enables us to remain an active and committed contributor to the future development of the South African economy. Our partnerships and cooperation with the likes of Nelson Mandela University that date back to 2014, show that as a company, we are deeply invested in the development of our people and communities,” says Mr Tord Johnsson, General Manager Strategy and Growth Projects, Africa & Europe at Wärtsilä Energy.
”We see the establishment of the Engineering Studies Ownership Trust as an opportunity to further stimulate and encourage engineering studies for the benefit of all involved, including our industry and Wärtsilä South Africa as a company. We have recruited additional personal and competences and will continue to do so as our business grows,” commented Feroza Cassim, Managing Director of Wärtsilä South Africa.
Wärtsilä has been operating in South Africa since 1994 and has an extensive and successful track record throughout Africa, having supplied power plants to almost every country of the continent representing a total capacity of over 7000 MWe. One of the biggest power plants in Africa with Wärtsilä’s technology is the 175 MWe power plant in Sasolburg, delivered in 2012 to South Africa. More than 25 percent of the national electricity supply in more than 25 of the continent’s countries is produced by Wärtsilä technologies. Wärtsilä has an office in Johannesburg, and a service office and workshop in Cape Town in South Africa. Wärtsilä currently employs 40 people in South Africa.
Media contact for more information on this release:
Mirja-Maija Santala
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Wärtsilä Energy
Mob: +358 400 793 827
mirja-maija.santala@wartsila.com
Image: One of the biggest power plants in Africa with Wärtsilä’s technology is the 175 MWe power plant in Sasolburg, delivered in 2012 to South Africa.© Wärtsilä
All Wärtsilä releases are available at https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded.
Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers unlock the value of the energy transition by optimising their energy systems and future-proofing their assets. Our offering comprises flexible power plants, energy management systems, and storage, as well as lifecycle services that ensure increased efficiency and guaranteed performance. Wärtsilä has delivered 72 GW of power plant capacity in 180 countries around the world.
https://www.wartsila.com/energy
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2020, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 4.6 billion with approximately 18,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 70 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com
South Africa
4 Powerful Street,
Paarden Eiland
7405,
Cape Town
Tel. +27 21 5111 230
Nigeria
Wärtsilä Marine and Power Services Nigeria
23 Oba Akinjobi Street
Ikeja GRA, Lagos
Nigeria
Tel. +234 907 808 0936 - Marine enquiry
+234 8057217049 - New Builds enquiry
+234 708 624 3992 - After Sales enquiry
E-mail: Sales/Services equiries WNG@Wartsila.com
Kenya
ABC Towers - 7A, ABC Place
Waiyaki Way
Nairobi
Tel. +254 20 7602 400 (Pilot)
E-mail: info.wea@wartsila.com
Senegal
Wärtsilä West Africa
Immeuble Le Thiargane 7ème étage, Mermoz Place OMVS
B.P. 21861 Dakar-Ponty, Dakar - Senegal
Tel + 221 33 865 41 00
Fax + 221 33 864 42 72
E-mail: West.africa@wartsila.com
Madagascar
Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro)
QMM Madena, Fort Dauphin, 614
Madagascar
Tel. +261 20 224 3267
Fax: +261 20 224 3253
Cameroon
Wärtsilä Central Africa
Wärtsilä Base, Essengue
Douala, Cameroon
Tel +237 33 50 54 00
Fax +237 33 50 54 99
wcm@wartsila.com for general information
wcmsales@wartsila.com for commercial issues