New EV plant to set off green job opportunities

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Welcome to Green Jobs Rising!

In today’s edition, we look at a major clean mobility milestone taking shape in Kenya.

United Arab Emirates-based investment company Aquilastor has broken ground on an electric vehicle (EV) production plant in Kenya. 

The facility is located at the Olkaria geothermal hub, about 90 km northwest of Nairobi. 

Once completed it will produce both EVs and hybrids, with a capacity of 50,000 units annually. The company plans to invest $150 million in the project. 

The investment will significantly boost Kenya’s total EV production capacity, currently estimated at around 140,000 units per year.  

Aquilastor’s Chairman, Abdulatif Alsayegh, said the firm aims to tap into the clean, reliable and affordable power available at Olkaria, Africa’s leading geothermal production facility.

Why does this matter?

According to Alsayegh, the project will revolutionise Kenya’s EV sector and create over 3,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs for Kenyans.

Direct jobs are jobs created inside the company. They are part of the core operations of the plant, people who work directly for the company running the plant. 

Indirect jobs are jobs created outside the company, in other businesses that supply, support, or benefit from the plant’s operations.

With 3,000 direct jobs projected, what kind of roles might we see? Lets break it down: 

• Assembly & production - This is the core of the EV plant where vehicle parts are put together.

  Likely roles include assembly line operators, mechanical fitters, wiring harness or electrical assembly technicians, and basic-level mechatronics technicians.

• Electrical & electronic technicians - EVs rely heavily on electrical systems. These roles focus on wiring, circuits, and ensuring the vehicle’s electronics work correctly.

  Likely roles include automotive electricians, wiring technicians, battery system technicians, and basic charging system installers and maintenance staff.

• Maintenance & plant support - This function keeps the factory running smoothly through machine repairs, regular servicing, and preventive maintenance.

  Likely roles include maintenance technicians, machine repair technicians, preventive maintenance personnel, and basic tooling maintenance assistants.

• Quality control & testing - This area ensures the vehicles meet set standards before leaving the factory. It involves inspections, functional testing, and basic calibration.

  Likely roles include quality assurance inspectors, end-of-line test technicians, and basic diagnostics technicians.

• Production supervision & coordination - This involves supervising day-to-day activities on the production floor, managing teams, coordinating tasks, and meeting targets.

  Likely roles include team leaders, line supervisors, shift supervisors, and production coordinators.

• Logistics, stores & material handling - This function manages parts and materials, including receiving, storing, and moving components to the right place on time.

  Likely roles include stores clerks, inventory controllers, material handlers, and forklift or hand truck operators.

• General & support staff - These are essential support roles that keep the plant operational, clean, and secure. Likely roles include general labourers, assembly helpers, cleaners, sanitation staff, security guards, and drivers for internal logistics.

• Safety, health & environment - This involves maintaining a safe workplace, which is especially important in EV plants due to high-voltage systems and batteries.

  Likely roles include safety officers, fire and emergency response staff, and environmental compliance assistants.

• Administration & basic management - These are back-office functions that support plant operations, such as HR, procurement, scheduling, and record keeping.

  Likely roles include HR officers, procurement officers, accounts and admin clerks, and scheduling or planning officers.

While keeping an eye on this development, for advertised roles, watch the video below that highlights key roles in the green sector.

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