Aggreko Expands Technical Training Programme in West Africa
Aggreko, the world leader in the provision of temporary power and temperature control services, has announced that it’s highly successful ‘Aggreko University’ technical training programme has been expanded beyond Ivory Coast to now draw students from across seven Central and West African countries. The programme is widely regarded by students, academia and industry as the leading private sector training-to-employment scheme in the West African utility sector.
Fourteen students from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad and Ivory Coast had been selected to progress into the programme’s Summer Module. They were chosen from more than 400 applicants following a series of assessment centres carried out across the seven countries throughout May and June. The group assembled in Yamoussoukro in July for a four-week intensive classroom based programme in which they covered advanced technical, engineering and project operations modules. They were also introduced to the Aggreko business and the fundamental aspects of operating and working within an Aggreko facility.
The students were officially recognised at a formal celebration held in Abidjan on Friday 17th October in the presence of top academia from local universities, representatives from the local energy sector and senior management from both Aggreko and CI-Energies, the state utility of Ivory Coast. Upon completion of the programme, graduates will be eligible for fast-track employment opportunities within Aggreko in technical and project operations positions across Aggreko’s network of international power projects.
“Aggreko takes its commitment to Africa very seriously. By identifying high-potential local talent and fast-tracking them through the Aggreko University programme we are able to provide opportunities and future prospects for the students and ensure we have a source of highly competent future leaders for our projects business. It is also an essential element in developing a strong local workforce and giving back to the communities in which we operate,” commented Yan Pardailhe-Galabrun, Director of Human Resources, Aggreko Europe, Middle East and Africa.
“The Aggreko University continues to be a great initiative that is helping to build a solid base of well trained and experienced electrical and mechanical technicians across West Africa,” commented Tanoe Bile Operations Director, CI-Energies. “We are proud to be a key partner with Aggreko in the delivery of the programme and offer our full support to ensure its ongoing success, both for the students themselves and for the development of the West African energy sector.”
“As one of West Africa’s leading engineering schools we take great pride in supporting the education and employment of talented, young Ivoirians, along with our young brothers and sisters from neighbouring countries,” commented Dr Yao K. Alphonse, Director of Mines and Geological Engineering School, Institut National Polytechnique – Houpouét Boigny. “The Aggreko programme is a fantastic initiative that is adding real value by giving experience and employment to the future leaders of the West African utility sector.”
“This programme will see Aggreko, CI-Energies and INP-HB working together to develop West Africa’s next generation of energy industry professionals,” added Serge Mevo, General Manager, Aggreko West Africa. “This close cooperation and mutual desire to add value to the wider region is testament Ivory Coast’s support in developing the regional utility sector.”
With more than 1.3 GW currently installed across 25 African countries, Aggreko is the largest supplier of fast-track temporary power to the continent. Aggreko first entered the African market in 1995 and since then has established a presence across the continent with service centres located in Lagos, Luanda, Dar es Salam, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Walvis Bay, supported by regional hubs in Dubai and Paris. Across its African operations Aggreko employs in excess of 700 people with more than 90% of this workforce being African nationals.