Launched in October 2001 as a commitment by the leaders of the continent to its people, the New Economic Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) aims to place the continent on an accelerated but sustainable growth path, eradicate widespread and severe poverty and halt Africa's marginalisation in the globalisation process.
As evidence of the company's commitment to this initiative, Siemens sponsored the NEPAD conference in Berlin, Germany, at the end of January, where Koos Smit, executive director at Siemens Energy & Industry outlined the synergies that exist between NEPAD and Siemens.
Smit said that as an enabler of development on the continent, Siemens has laid the groundwork for innovative public-private sector partnerships and forged close links with governments and industry across the continent in order to act as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth. "Recent projects in South Africa included installations and upgrades for Foskor in Richards Bay, the Durban Metropolitan Council and Majuba Power Station in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as Kendal Power Station in Gauteng," said Smit. "In the rest of the continent, Siemens has rehabilitated power lines in Lusaka, Zambia; improved power supply to consumers in the Quelimane, Nampula and Nacala in Mozambique."
Other projects included installing new equipment in Gaberone, Botswana to power new areas of the city with reliable, high quality electricity distribution; completing a World Bank-funded contract to upgrade two units at Zimbabwe's Hwange Power Station; delivered five transformers to meet the rapidly growing demand for power on Mauritius; and provided project management, engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning of 200 kilometres of overhead power lines from Auas power station in Windhoek to the Omaere Power Station in Namibia.
"Siemens also provided the electrical component for the Manda Hill Shopping Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, and supplied power to Anglo American's Skorpion Zinc Mine and smelter in Rosh Pinah, some 300 kilometres from Luderitz in the south of Namibia," said Smit. "When the Mtwara Corridor development in Tanzania is given the go ahead, Siemens will be responsible for the first phase of the Mchuchuma Project. This involves constructing and commissioning a 400 MW power station, an open cast coal mine, a transmission system connected to the national grid, as well as a village and related infrastructure."
From the time Siemens installed the first telegraph line from Cape Town to Simonstown in 1860, the company has been actively involved in the provision of both fixed line and mobile telecommunications infrastructure on the continent. "Siemens has entered into a two year contract for maintenance and network support of Tanzania's Vodacom cellular network," continued Smit.
Siemens also invests heavily in training, with HIV/AIDS knowledge programmes contributing towards improved healthcare, while gender equality and empowerment initiatives assist in the creation of a skilled, economically empowered workforce. Siemens corporate citizenship activities and social responsibility programmes also go a long way in addressing issues surrounding poverty as well as the preservation and development of environmental resources.
Smit added that with companies and representation in twenty-seven African countries and regional centres in South Africa, Ivory Coast, Morocco and Cameroon, Siemens can help strengthen cooperation between countries across the continent. "Our diverse portfolio of products and services coupled with extensive knowledge and experience gained in Africa allows us to wholeheartedly support NEPAD's aims and objectives as the way forward to a brighter future for the continent and its people."
For more information contact Keshin Govender, Siemens Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 652 2412, [email protected], www.siemens.co.za
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