- January 16, 2020
- louisa olaniyi
- 0
· Liverpool engineers help African nations shift towards clean energy
· International Development Minister opens new engine repair
workshop at Clarke Energy and announces extra UK aid to help develop
innovative solar products
· Visit comes ahead of UK-Africa Investment Summit which will
bring together UK and African leaders and businesses to create new
partnerships
people and businesses across Africa and the UK.
He made the statement during a visit to Clarke Energy in Merseyside,
Liverpool Wednesday (15th January), where he opened a new engine repair
workshop at the engineering company, to make power plants across
Africa, including in Nigeria, more efficient and support Africa’s
drive for clean energy.
Opening the workshop, Minister Murrison met the Overhaul and Repair
Centre Manager, Dave Nicholls, to see first-hand how high efficiency
gas engines are being repaired in Knowsley in Merseyside and sent back
to African nations. Similar units being deployed across Nigeria,
Kenya, Tanzania and Cameroon will improve the reliability of power to
businesses and communities, helping to keep the lights on and power
flowing in countries with unstable energy systems.
During the visit he heard how the engineering company will provide
10MW in electrical output in Kano and has secured contracts with
Nigerian companies Mamuda Group, a conglomerate with over 7,000
employees in the region, and a beauty and personal care & home care
firm Aspira Nigeria. By supplying natural gas engines, this will help
reduce costs, lower emissions and benefit whole communities.
Dr Murrison also announced a new DFID-funded testing lab for solar
products ensuring that solar panels and appliances meet global
standards and households have access to good quality, reliable clean
energy.
Following his visit, Minister Murrison said:
“Clarke Energy is just one great example of how UK businesses –
including those from Liverpool – are already leading the way in
investing in Africa.
“Clarke Energy’s investment in Africa shows how UK expertise,
technology and innovation are improving access to cleaner forms of
energy, which can be replicated by businesses across the UK and
Africa.“
Touring the engineering company, Minister Murrison learned more about
the business’s ambition to change the future of Africa’s energy
supplies and the use of green energy across the continent.
Alex Marshall, Director for Marketing and Compliance at Clarke Energy said:
“The knowledge the UK Government has both locally in the North West of
England and across Africa is outstanding and helped us to navigate
what can be a tough market with political considerations, language and
cultural differences.
“Being part of what’s set to be the world’s third largest mosque is a
key milestone in our exporting journey and our work with the UK
government has been core to that success. If a business from Knowsley
can export on such a large scale, with the right support and hard
work, anyone can make a success of trading overseas.”
The visit comes ahead of the UK-Africa Investment Summit, held in
London on 20 January 2020, which will bring together UK and African
leaders, businesses, and entrepreneurs.
By 2050, more than 2 billion people will live in Africa and 1 in 4
global consumers will be African. Businesses like Clarke Energy are
ensuring that the British economy is seizing this opportunity and are
investing in the trading partners of the future today.
At a Media Briefing last Monday in Lagos, Harriet Thompson – the
British Deputy High Commissioner said:
“The UK-Africa Investment Summit is a major opportunity to support
growth, development and job creation in Nigeria, including HE
President Buhari’s commitment to expanding agriculture, manufacturing
and infrastructure.”
“Nigeria will be highly visible: the only country to participate in
every AIS event, and Nigeria’s companies will be out in force: one in
seven of the African companies attending will be Nigerian. Every
session of the Summit will feature Nigerian participants. We want
them to come back with new partnerships that will boost investment and
create jobs and sustainable economic growth in Nigeria
“This is a prime opportunity for Nigeria to make its pitch to quality
British companies and investors, demonstrating not only the scale and
breadth of commercial opportunities here in Nigeria, but also
Government’s commitment to improving the business environment. Global
competition for investment is fierce. Nigeria will need to compete
for its share, addressing those areas that businesses still find a
challenge, such as customs and tax procedures.
“The UK Government stands ready to assist, and to bring our companies
here to be part of the growth story we want to see. That’s ultimately
the goal of the Summit: to attract investors for the mutual benefit of
Nigeria and the UK.”
