Page 7 - KZN Business Sense Vol.3 No.1
P. 7
KZN
KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council
SLG IS USHERING IN THE DAWN OF SOUTH AFRICA'S
NATURAL GAS AGE
gas/MRG. About 40% of SLG MRG estimated 83% fall in particulate the cost of environmental impact
Nkosinathi
Solomon- sales are to customers that matter (PM) emissions between and the imminent carbon tax
Group CEO previously used coal as their 1989 and 2015 owing to the shift legislation, which will levy R120
of SLG primary fuel source. These gas from coal to gas. per ton of CO2 equivalent on
consumers are in proximity to emissions. Therefore, the
residential areas, therefore were Currently, natural gas constitutes conversion of combustion
S LG under community pressure to only 3% of South Africa's energy equipment to natural gas is often
reduce their greenhouse gas and
mix compared to the global norm
markets
economically feasible if not a
natural
carbon footprint. SLG facilitates
gas and particulate matter emissions. of 25%. Lack of supply, inadequate strategically astute move to reduce
Another 49% abandoned coal to
infrastructure, and abundance of
Methane- comply with stricter environmental cheaper coal are throttling South this transition to
Rich-Gas legislation imposed on their Africa's gas demand growth. The natural gas by
(MRG) in operations. About 5% of SLG recent discovery of up to 100 connecting
Gauteng and customers were previously trillion cubic feet of natural gas in customers to the gas
KwaZulu- consuming HFO and its neighbouring Mozambique is the pipeline network for
Natal respectively, to commercial derivatives. Therefore, SLG is game changer the natural gas those in proximity
and industrial customers. Natural making a significant contribution industry needed. A gas pipeline or to the gas pipeline
gas and MRG have similar chemical to the global challenge to alleviate Liquefied Natural Gas shipping grid. Clients, who
properties albeit with slight the impact of greenhouse gas tankers will bring this Mozambique are not located near
differences in methane content and emissions on the earth's climate. gas to the South African market. the gas pipeline
calorific value. SLG customers use The RSA government's recently system but are less
gas in a variety of industrial According to the International announced 3000 MW gas to power than 150 kilometres
applications. Approximately 38% Gas Union (www.igu.org), Independent Power Producer from it, can have gas
of SLG's customers burn gas to switching from coal to gas-fired Programme(IPPP) is expected to delivered to them by
produce steam, 26% use gas to power generation is often the fastest provide the anchor demand for this our Compressed
generate electric power, 30% and most cost-effective way to gas. SLG anticipates that a large- Natural Gas trucks.
convert gas to thermal heating, and improve air quality and reduce scale gas to power project such as The natural gas age
the remainder utilises gas as a greenhouse gas emissions. Gas- the government's IPPP will has finally arrived in
chemical feedstock. fired electricity generation emits stimulate the growth of the South Africa.
less than 50% greenhouse gas industrial and consumer gas
SLG has played a leading role in emissions when compared to coal- markets. Potential
enabling customers to comply with fired power stations. The IGU customers can visit
stricter environmental standards notes that Germany's policy to shift Natural gas/MRG is 35% cheaper our website on
on greenhouse gas emissions and from coal to gas in electricity and than Liquefied Petroleum Gas www.slgas.co.za to
air quality. Often investing its heat generation played a crucial (LPG), 66% cheaper than find a natural gas
capital, SLG has assisted customers role in Berlin's air quality illuminating paraffin, and 165% solution for their
to convert their combustion improvements. According to the cheaper than diesel on an energy needs.
equipment from utilising dirtier IGU, Berlin experienced a 95% per unit basis. Only coal is cheaper
fuels such as coal, heavy fuel oil drop in sulphur oxide (SOx) than natural gas/MRG. However, T: 031 812 0555
(HFO), diesel and illuminating emissions, 76% decline in nitrous the former fuel's price has to be info@slgas.co.za
www.slgas.co.za
paraffin to much cleaner natural oxide (NOx) emissions and an upwardly adjusted to account for
BEHAVIOUR BASED SAFETY A FOREIGN CONCEPT
Do you adhere to safety culture of workplace safety. it, otherwise it will become a tick
Bryan van den
Heever - requirements? Do you report near Establish clear goals, measurement box exercise. Management has to
Operations misses? Do you wear the required tactics, enforcement procedures, be involved to make this a success.
Manager personal protective equipment and feedback systems. Build a If everybody acts safely we will T: 087 941 7180
bryan@hesscon.co.za
(PPE)? These questions should not timeline for organisational change mitigate our risk. www.hesscon.co.za
be asked daily or on every shift. If and set benchmarks for short-term
we have a behaviour based safety wins and long-term milestones. Hesscon (Pty) Ltd was established recently expanded our service level
B culture, the entire business will act Celebrate positive behaviours and in 2008 in Durban with agreements to other training
safe. This will lead to less near
achievements.
occupational health and safety
services like, ISO 9001, 14001 and
BS or
behaviour misses and or potential incidents Step 3: Plan for Implementation (OHS) consulting as the core focus 18001, Soft skills (computer) and
that will bring down the accident
wellness training to provide a
of the business.
based safety ratio. A simple system to Introduce workplace safety as the more holistic training portfolio.
is definitely implement but resistance to change new culture and “lifestyle” of the We have since expanded our
not a will make it hard. organisation. The way we do it portfolio to offer three core Our Management team has over
concept at … Administer a brief safety services namely, Health and Safety 25 years' experience in training,
South African businesses use. Through implementing BBS, attitude questionnaire to obtain consulting services, the British the corporate environment and
Occupational health and safety is organisations can: baseline information of employees' Safety Council international ten years' experience in
already seen as a grudge spend. • Improve employee health and existing knowledge, future needs, practitioner training and the Occupational Health and Safety
This principle is widely used and welfare and preferred training or learning various seta accredited training consulting and Occupational
implemented in Europe and the • Increase job satisfaction style. Provide general BBS training products that relate directly to our Safety Implementation.
USA. In short, your behaviour • Improve employee retention to all staff with an explanation of consulting services. We have also
determines your safety. Let's test it. rates the general principles and goals.
• Lower or eliminate cost of Encourage employees to consider
• When you get into your car do worker's compensation claims and share outside-the-box ideas to
you put the safety belt on • Reduce costs related to employee improve job efficiency, safety and
immediately or do you wait for medical leave and absenteeism promote routine feedback.
the car to remind you via an
alarm? The following steps are required: Step 4: Put Energy into
Implementation and
• Do you speed in your car? Step 1: Establish a Need for Sustainability
Change Launch the new programme with
• Do you drive and text or take Recognise that a current system a spirited kick-off event promoting
calls when driving? that relies on systematic positivity and overall commitment.
preventative measures and Regular communication, consistent
If you answered yes to the first controls, and reactive training and support, and ongoing feedback at
and no to the rest your behaviour behaviour correction is not all levels of the organisation are
will determine your safety. Apart successful at increasing long term critical for the success of the
from the other drivers, you have workplace safety. programme.
acted safely to that point. You can't
answer sometimes. It's yes or no. Step 2: Create a Plan of Action Once you have the system in
So let's take this concept to work. Define the elements of a new place remember to keep on driving
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