ESB International, the global engineering consultancy, announced today (10thApril) two major achievements for its international business. The company has won its first contract in Turkey and has also completed a major stage in the Energy Project it is managing in Tanzania, with the official switching in of a new 132kV submarine interconnector from Tanzania to Zanzibar Island. Both events highlight the growth and strength of ESB International’s business and capabilities globally.
To celebrate its first deal in Turkey, ESBI hosted the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore TD at a ceremony in Istanbul as part of an Enterprise Ireland trade mission. The €30 million, six-year contract is being undertaken in partnership with investment company UNIT and will see ESB International operate and maintain the Yeni Elektrik Power Station, located South West of Istanbul, Turkey. ESB International will also provide technical and engineering support to the plant.
ESB International and UNIT have formed a 50/50 joint venture company known as UNES to manage the contract for the plant, which will generate electricity as a merchant plant into the Turkish market.
Speaking at the event Minister Gilmore noted: “We are happy to be part of this celebration today and are pleased to see a company such as ESB International, with its roots in Ireland, winning business and providing their expertise within Turkey. The importance of trade links between Turkey and Ireland is part of the reason why I am here and we hope to see more collaboration like this in the years to come.”
ESB International operates in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia, establishing its first office in Turkey in 2012.
Commenting on today’s achievements John McSweeney, Head of Innovation at ESB International said: “We are delighted to be able to announce these projects, which we believe will impact positively on people’s lives in both Tanzania and Turkey.
He added: “The Turkish power plant is capable of generating up to 3% of electricity consumption in Turkey and the expansion of the electricity infrastructure in Tanzania will transform people’s lives and offer new generations a bright future as it did in Ireland in the 1950’s. We reached a major milestone today with the official switching in of the new 132kV interconnector from Tanzania to Zanzibar Island, which will more than double the transmission capacity currently available.”
In 2008, ESB International won an international competitive tender worth $25 million to provide energy sector consultancy services to the Millennium Challenge Account Tanzania (MCA-T) Energy Project. The $200 million Project, which is wholly funded by the US Government through MCA-T, aims to ensure the long-term development of power transmission and distribution networks in Tanzania for future generations. One of Tanzania’s biggest challenges is its under-developed energy infrastructure. Its electricity power supply is unreliable and only 15% of the population is connected to the national grid.
The consultancy services offered by ESB International include the specification and supervision of the installation of all elements of the interconnector including substations, overhead lines and the submarine cable. The company is also providing consultancy services for rural electrification schemes in seven regions across Tanzania.
The switching in of the new interconnector was marked with a ceremony today at The State House Zanzibar, attended by Ali Mohamed Shein, President of Zanzibar, Mr. Daniel W. Yohannes, CEO of Millenium Challenge Corporation, Karl Fickenscher, Tanzania Country Director, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Bernard Mchomvu, CEO MCA-T, Ahmed Rashid, Deputy CEO MCA-T, John Shine, Deputy Chief Executive, ESB, Ollie Brogan, Managing Director, ESB International and John Ashley, Project Director, ESB International.
