Celebrating 150 years in the country this year, Siemens is turning it eyes towards South Africa’s future beyond 2010: As a frontrunner in the fight against climate change and its commitment towards the environment, South Africa is playing a key role for Siemens in the development of the African continent. “We have built a sustainable business based on 150 years of strong relationships with our South African customers and we are striving to expand our partnership with the countries of Southern Africa in all of our business fields”, says Stuart Clarkson, CEO of Siemens Southern Africa, on the occasion of the company’s anniversary festivities. “For that, we plan to invest up to 1 billion Rand over the next two years in Southern Africa”.
In only 10 years, South Africa is targeting 13% of its total electricity to be generated through renewable energy. Wind power projects with a volume of more than 10 billion Rand have been identified to be awarded in the coming years. There are also some new solar sites in South Africa under consideration. At the same time, the government and private enterprises are planning investments in making their buildings, factories and homes more energy efficient. Public and private hospitals are planning to upgrade their infrastructure. Cities are working on introducing green technologies ranging from water treatment facilities to public transport. “Siemens as the world’s largest provider of environmental technologies, is the ideal partner for the development plans of the country”, Stuart Clarkson said.“ And South Africa has proved to the world in 2010 that the people of this nation are delivering. Siemens partnered with our local customers and worked on projects for the infrastructure of the World Cup and beyond in a volume totaling about 10 billion Rand. South Africa is committed towards the sustainable development of its economy and society. We will continue and expand our partnership with our South African customers in the years to come”, said Clarkson.
Siemens commissioned its first contract in 1860, with the installation of the first telegraph line between Cape Town and Simonstown. Other significant milestones in the company’s history are the country’s first hydro-electric power station in 1892 and the Brakpan power station in 1897, as well as the construction of Table Mountain’s Cableway in Cape Town in 1927. Siemens was also present at the birth of the new, democratic South Africa, by supplying and installing the entire PABX network for the country’s first democratic election in 1994. In the same year Siemens started the Youthspace program, providing underprivileged children with shelter, nourishment, education and care.
Siemens was awarded the Public Private Partnership project, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital, in 2002 and the company commissioned the first new power plants in a democratic South Africa, Ankerlig and Gourikwa, in 2007. As the country hosts the world at Africa’s first World Cup in 2010, all ten of South Africa’s stadiums are equipped with lighting technologies from Osram, a Siemens company. Siemens also built two temporary terminals at the Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein airports to accommodate the increased number of visitors. To help move passengers to and from the stadiums, Siemens received various rail automation orders to help improve the reliability of the country’s rail network.
Additional information on the Green City Index can be found at www.siemens.com/press/southafrica