Standby generators find growing market in Africa

Long-term rentals division takes off JOY ORLEK IN LINE with evolving new market demands – created by South Africa’s deteriorating electricity infrastructure - Midrand-based Generator and Plant Hire (GPH) has expanded its range of services well beyond the gensets for which the company has become synonymous. At any one time it has around 100 reefer gensets out on hire, mainly the ‘undersling’ variety attached to the trailer carrying the refrigerated container. It’s proved far more popular than the original clip-on model, says MD Dave Pretorius. “There’s no need to unload it when the container is unloaded and there are fewer weight distribution problems.” The generators maintain a constant temperature in reefers, with no fluctuation, ensuring a flawless cold chain. It’s a seasonal business – very busy in the November to February period and generally quiet for the rest of the year. But electricity problems in South and Southern Africa have created growing demand year-round in another area of GPH’s business – standby generators for ports and businesses. “For perishables moving into Africa, there are sometimes problems when the containers reach the docks where there’s often insufficient power when they’re unplugged from the genset. The company now has several 500kva generators on hire to a number of ports both locally and in Southern Africa. “We see this as a growing a market,” says Pretorius. “With the power in Africa deteriorating, we expect to see more demand from the likes of Nigeria and Ghana.” Another growing market is standby power in South Africa, he says. “With electricity being so erratic we’ve opened up a long term rentals division – the customer pays a minimum rental with an hourly rate applicable. We launched the division four months ago and have installed 27 sets in the past four months in the Gauteng, Boksburg and Bedfordview areas alone.” GPH currently has branches in Durban, Richards Bay and Cape Town and plans to extend its national footprint to Port Elizabeth in the next two to three months.