Diesel-powered engine manufacturer MAN Diesel has opened a regional sales and service office in Kenya.

MAN Diesel Kenya MD Susanne Bech says the Kenya office, which will serve East and Central Africa, is the first step in the company’s expansion strategy on the African continent.

The company plans to open three more regional offices in South Africa, Nigeria and Sudan before the end of next year.

“Africa is the only continent where MAN Diesel does not have a strong presence. 
“By opening the regional offices, we plan to offer the continent excellent and tailor-made solutions,” she says.

The German company, which is part of the MAN group, is known for its wide range of 
diesel-powered engines for commercial vehicles, ships and power generation plants.

The company has operations in over 120 countries and its annual sales amount to about €15,5-billion. 

Bech says the company will be targeting business in the 
energy, mining and manufacturing sectors.

“There is a huge power need in Kenya,” says Bech, adding 
that the company will also be seeking to supply power solu-
tions to independent power producers.

In the next five years, the company hopes to have sold engines capable of producing a combined capacity 250 MW of power.

Kenya is undertaking massive investments in the energy sector to deal with the country’s perennial energy crisis. 
Over the next six years, Kenya intends to invest $8-billion in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to meet growing energy needs.

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