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Africa: We Work Towards Making AES Sonel a Role Model - Regional President
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The Post (Buea)
4 April 2008
Posted to the web 4 April 2008
Joe Dinga Pefok
The President of Europe, Africa and the Community of Independent States, CIS, of AES Corporation, John McLaren, has declared that AES SONEL is not only committed in providing quality services to the country, but also in making the company a role model in Africa.
He made the declaration in an address he presented during the recent launching ceremony of the 86 MW Yassa Thermal Power Plant project on the outskirts of Douala.McLaren was at the head of a delegation of AES Corp top-ranking executives that came for the launching ceremony, which Cameroon's Prime Minister, Ephraim Inoni presided at.
McLaren expressed AES Corp gratitude to the Cameroon government, for giving it the opportunity to serve Cameroonians as a strategic partner in the electricity sector.
"Our commitment to Cameroon is strong and we trust that our partnership will help promote the industrial, social and economic policies of the government," said McLaren.
He recalled that following the agreement with Cameroon in 2001, AES Corp took over SONEL with the ambition and commitment to provide safe and reliable electricity to Cameroonians, and to support efforts to build a strong economy. But he admitted that the beginning turned out to be rather difficult.
"We were soon confronted with difficulties ranging from the worst drought ever experienced by the country that led to near-empty reservoirs, coupled with aging equipment and facilities and a lack of investment in the sector, to name a few. In the face of this, AES had to look for urgent solutions to address the situation.
"Things Are Improving"
McLaren cited a number of projects, like the Limbe Thermal Power Plant that have been realised in the last four years as part of relentless efforts to increase the energy production capacity of AES SONEL.
"We have increased AES SONEL's installed capacity by 22 percent in the last four years, from 763 MW to 934 MW, refurbished and extended some facilities across the country, with some projects still ongoing".
He added that with the support of their lenders like EBI, SFI, ADB, PROPARCO, BDEAC, and FMO, "with whom we contracted a US $ 300 million loan in 2006, we have, since 2007, been executing a $ 500-million investment programme that will be completed by 2013."
He expressed the conviction that through these activities, the power network will be reinforced and extended.
McLaren was happy to note that the nightmare of the ugly and difficult period which the AES Corp faced at the beginning of its operation is now a thing of the past, and that all is being done to prevent a reoccurrence of such an ugly situation.
He said today the population's access to power is being increased as well. "In this year alone, 57,000 new households will be connected to the grid."As regards the FCFA 52 billion Yassa Thermal Power Plant, McLaren noted that the project will further reduce the electricity generation's dependence on the weather.
It is worthy to note that the Yassa Power Plant will be owned by the Kribi Power Development Corporation, KPDC, which is a sister company of AES SONEL.McLaren also saw the presence of the Prime Minister at the launching ceremony as a strong testimony of the importance which the Head of State attaches to the energy sector and the efforts AES SONEL has been making in the development of the economy.
"Our First Value Is Safety"
One of the issues the Regional President laid emphasis on was safety, stating that the company attaches paramount importance to the safety of its employees as well as the safety of the communities it serves.
McLaren as well said AES Corp participates in and contributes to community programmes worldwide, by conducting business in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
"We invest in our people by developing their skills and putting the right people in the right jobs.
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The respect of business ethics has also been our hallmark," he said. He also saluted the efforts and determination of the AES SONEL staff under Jean David Bilé.AES Corp, which is an American private and global energy company, is currently present in 26 countries in five continents and has a man power of some 30,000 people. The revenues of AES Corp in 2006 stood at US $ 11.6 billion.
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