Toshiba Corporation is among exhibitors participating in the Japan Fair at Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) VI, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development 2016 that will be held on August 27 and 28 at the Kenyatta International Convention Center.
Exhibiting at the Japan fair, Toshiba Corporation has showcase its ability to provide total energy solutions that Make Energy, Transmit and Store Energy. The corporation also realize the “Smart Use of Energy”. Additionally the corporation will demonstrate its ideal position to support growing demand for power in Africa with world-class geothermal power generation equipment and high efficiency energy transmission and distribution (T&D) technologies.
However, the company’s key next-generation products for Africa will be the smart meter systems that deliver enhanced energy network management and support for off-grid energy solutions – essential for providing stable energy in a region as diverse and challenging as Africa.
“Already, almost 60% of our sales are outside Japan. We are growing our business by promoting expansion in emerging markets, and see Africa as very promising,” said Takeshi Yokota, Toshiba’s Corporate Senior Vice President and Corporate Representative for Europe, the Middle East & Africa. “We have done business in Africa for over 50 years, and established our first office here in 1967. Since 2014, our business here has been driven by Toshiba Africa (Pty) Ltd. We are very happy to participate in TICAD Japan Fair and to introduce Toshiba’s potential to a wide audience,” he added.
The company now focuses on three business domains, storage, energy and infrastructure all of which can support Africa’s move toward sustained growth. Africa targets economic growth, and all must contend with demanding environmental conditions.
“Toshiba can contribute and we have established technologies that can contribute to supply power stability and make the best use of natural resources for energy generation,” says Mr. Yokota. “Our corporate philosophy is ‘Committed to people, Committed to the Future’, and I have no doubt that Toshiba has a lot to offer in terms of contributing to people’s lives and a better future for Africa.”
The corporation first entered Africa’s thermal and hydroelectric power plant market in the 1970s. However, in 2013 the company supplied four 70-megawatt turbines and generators for Olkaria I and IV at the Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant, Kenya’s largest geothermal power complex, and they were successfully brought on line in February 2015.
In the global geothermal power market, Toshiba has an unrivaled record. The company first geothermal steam turbines and generators in 1966 since then the company has delivered 53 turbines around the world, with a total capacity of 3,400MW. Though approximately 23% of the world’s installed geothermal capacity, Toshiba is the global top supplier.
Looking at the vast geothermal potential of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa Toshiba is collaborating with numerous countries in the geothermal power business. On August 9 2016 announced its most recent MOU, with Office Djiboutien de Développement de l’Energie Géothermique (ODDEG), the government organization responsible for developing Djibouti’s geothermal power capabilities. Though in 2015 the company concluded MOUs with Ethiopian Electric Power and Tanzania Geothermal Development Company Limited
In 2015, Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. (TTDI), an Indian subsidiary of Toshiba, won a contract to supply Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC) with approximately 4,000 transmission and distribution (T&D) transformers for the substation network that connects power plants to end-consumers in Nairobi and the surrounding region. After successfully completing this order, TTDI was awarded an additional US$34-million contract in April this year to supply approximately 8,000 more distribution transformers.
According to Toyoaki Fujita, Business Development Executive for overseas operation in Toshiba’s Energy Systems and Solutions Company, the corporation’s rich experience allows the company to support Africa’s growing demand for clean energy with our latest and eco-friendly solutions, like H2One. He added that in the geothermal business that involved an MoU signing agreement includes training for local people to ensure sustainability over the long term. Mr. Fujita is optimistic that Toshiba can be Africa’s friendly partner in building a better future.
