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KenGen’s clean energy

production record awarded

KENYA KENYA’S state-owned electricity generating farmers through blockchain as it allows real-
firm has been recognised for leading in clean time transactions with end traceability,” said
energy production in East Africa and reducing the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications
carbon emissions responsible for climate change. Centre.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company Plc, Wildlife Works has established a successful
together with the East African country’s listed model that uses the emerging marketplace for
telecommunication service provider, Safaricom, REDD+ carbon offsets to protect threatened
were recognised for initiatives accelerating the forests, wildlife and communities.
region’s transition to low-carbon economies. Carbon Tanzania supports over 30 compa-
IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications nies and numerous individuals to meet net-zero
Centre (ICPAC) said KenGen with Safaricom commitments by supplying high quality, certi-
were honoured in Climate Action Awards East fied carbon credits that protect nature and sup-
Africa for groundbreaking ideas and innova- port livelihoods of 63,000 forest people.
tions mitigating effects of climate change. “Three community-led REDD projects pro-
“The competition recognized people and tect over 600,000 hectares of community-owned
institutions with disruptive innovations and or managed forests and generate 1,603,000 veri-
ideas to mitigate the effects of climate change,” fied emission reductions, earning communities
said the Nairobi-based organisation. Climate $808,000 to date,” said Carbon Tanzania.
focus, impact on sustainable development and KenGen in 2019 joined United Nations
innovation among other things were assessed by Global Compact, and in early 2021 joined an
the adjudicators. elite list of global multinationals to commit to
KenGen with Safaricom were recognized for the United Nation’s business ambition for 1.50C
pioneering work in reducing carbon emissions campaign, becoming the first public sector com-
under global Clean Development Mechanism pany in Kenya.
(CDM), contributing to climate change mitiga- KenGen’s Managing Director Rebecca Miano
tion and fostering sustainable development for said the award is a boost to the firm’s climate
non-industrialised countries. action plan and the company is contributing to
ICPAC said in a press release that KenGen, as the reduction of the effects of climate change by
East Africa’s leader in clean energy production, scaling up clean energy production.
has developed and registered six CDM projects, “KenGen has been focusing on the produc-
while Safaricom through its Carbon Trust initi- tion of green energy and currently more than 86
ative is taking a strategic approach towards net per cent of the energy produced by the company
zero carbon emissions. is from clean sources namely wind, hydro and
ICPAC recognized organisations and indi- geothermal,” she said.
viduals in the region engaging in projects that KenGen was cleared by the United Nations
empower local communities, while at the same Framework Convention on Climate Change
time practicing sustainable natural resource (UNFCCC) to sell an equivalent of 4.6 million
management. tons of carbon emissions earned since March
The net zero category included Theunis 2020.
Coetzee from Nile Breweries Ltd in Uganda, The carbon credits were earned from Olkaria
Wildlife Works, which works in Kenya among II geothermal expansion project, the redevel-
other countries, and Carbon Tanzania, a social opment of Tana hydro power station, the opti-
enterprise. Coetzee is involved in financing local mization of Kiambere hydro power station, the
communities in activities related to adaptation Olkaria IV geothermal project, and the Olkaria
and mitigation. 1 Units 4& 5 geothermal project.™
“He (Coetzee) is changing the lives of barley

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