Businesses encouraged to conserve energy

The announcement was made at Vodafone Site Solutions Innovation Centre in Midrand on 4 December. The project is aimed at encouraging all South African businesses to understand their impact on the environment and to participate in energy efficient initiatives. The project is a collaboration between the National Business Initiative and the Department of Energy and is funded by United Kingdom government.

The initiative was awarded 8.6 million pounds (in excess of 100 million rand) by the United Kingdom government through its Department for International Development to implement a countrywide programme of support for energy efficiency improvement in the private sector.

Director-General of the Department of Energy Nelisiwe Magubane said companies should be energy efficient. Magubane said, “The Private Sector Energy Efficiency Project will support commercial and industrial companies through provision of various services to identify energy efficiency saving measures.”

Magubane added that from January to March 2014, the Department of Energy and the National Treasury’s South African National Energy Development Institute, as well as the South African Revenue Services, will roll out national workshops. The workshops will assist businesses to understand and acquaint themselves with the registration process and overall implementation of the project.

CEO at the National Business Initiative, Joanne Yawitch, said the aim of the project is to improve levels of energy efficiency among commercial and industrial companies in South Africa. “The project is targeted to work with about 60 large companies and just over 1000 medium-sized companies to support the awareness and uptake of energy efficiency in South Africa.”

The project is built on the existing platform of engagement between government and businesses through the Energy Efficiency Leadership Network. The initiative was launched in December 2011 during the 17th Conference of Parties (COP 17) in Durban.