Page 12 - AfrElec Week 45

AfrElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
AfrElec
Africa, both large-scale and decentralised, to satisfy local energy needs so that growth can take place in a sustainable way.
E M I S S I O N S
Sasol sets out plan to cut emissions by 10% by 2030
Petrochemicals giant Sasol is targeting a
10% reduction in its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, bringing the current 56-million tonnes a year of emissions down to 50-million tonnes.
This forms part of Sasol’s commitment to mitigate climate change, especially considering that the group is the second- largest GHG emitter in the country.
The company last month published its inaugural climate change report, as part of a broader sustainability journey.
Sasol also appointed an experienced team to accelerate its climate change response under the leadership of chief sustainability and risk officer Hermann Wenhold.
ThereportisSasol’sfirstreportaligning with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.
Additionally, the group is working on an emission reductions roadmap, which will be published by November 2020.
The roadmap will refine Sasol’s long- term target and include details involving its implementation, such as budget aspects and executive remuneration targets. These
executive targets will be linked to climate change-related objectives and will be implemented from 2021.
Some solutions will include using alternative feedstocks, such as gas, as well as looking at capital allocation and maintenance towards acquiring more efficient equipment.
“For Sasol, sustainability means providing chemicals and energy in a responsible way, respecting people and the environment,
while contributing to the socioeconomic development of the countries in which the company operates,” says Sasol Southern Africa operations VP Bernard Klingenberg.
The company’s sustainability focus areas include resilience in a lower-carbon future, safe and enduring operations, minimising environmental footprint and growing shared value.
“We understand the global sustainability needs and acknowledge our role in the socioeconomic development of the countries in which we operate. This requires long-term resilience and transformation of our business,” notes Klingenberg.
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION
Minigrid breakthrough for Abuja marketplace
Nigerian Alliance for Rural Electrification member Green Village Electricity (GVE) Projects Limited signed a tripartite agreement with Abuja Electricity Distribution Company
(AEDC) and Wuse Market Traders Association for the development of a 1MW mini-grid system in Abuja’s Wuse Market.
The deal forms part of GVE’s Distributed Renewable Energy commercialisation initiative, which aims to deliver reliable power supplies markets, industries, plazas, estates, MSMEs etc across Nigeria. Over 300 more sites has been identified and will be developed.
Wuse market, the busiest economic cluster in Abuja is the first private sector led interconnected mini-grid solution to be deployed in Nigeria.
The project will provide 24/7 electricity supply to over 5,000 traders who operate in the market and will also lead to the displacement of over 3,000 petrol/diesel generators thereby mitigating significant amount of GHGs.
The project will transform Wuse market into Nigeria’s first 100% green and generator free economic cluster in the largest black nation of the world.
The project will also lead to the extension of trading hours in the market.
This initiative aligns with expectations
of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s (FGN) Energising Economies Initiative (EEI) deliveredthroughtheRuralElectrification Agency (REA). REA played a critical role in galvanising the stakeholders.
This initiative is also supported by AEDC’s recent grant of US$1.06m by USTDA to support studies to identifying and developing similar projects.
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Week 45 14•November•2019