Sahara Group, Africa’s leading energy conglomerate has taken the bull by the horns in charting a course for sustainable energy on the continent with particular emphasis on achieving a net zero emission. Speakers at its inaugural edition of Asharami Square, an initiative of Sahara Group targeted at promoting sustainability through media advocacy proffered solutions to the daunting challenges of carbon emissions on the continent, BAMIDELE FAMOOFO captured their views.
Protecting and rehabilitating Africa’s natural carbon sinks, such as forests, oceans, coastal mangroves, wetlands and grasslands can significantly aid in mitigating the effects of climate change, the Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group, Ejiro Gray, has said.
Speaking at the maiden edition of Asharami Square, Sahara Group’s initiative aimed at promoting sustainability through media advocacy, Gray submitted that developing intentional policies and investments in protecting the continent’s carbon sinks would enhance carbon sequestration and reduce net emissions.
She insisted that these natural landscapes act as significant carbon reservoirs, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, adding that developing reforestation and afforestation programmes, implementing strict conservation policies, and providing financial incentives for conservation projects are critical for combating climate change in Africa.
According to Gray, natural gas development and commercialization, increased use of renewables, investment in low-cost/low emissions clean energy solutions, carbon capture storage/carbon capture and reutilization are other factors that can help accelerate Africa’s march towards sustainability.
“Natural gas presents a viable opportunity to serve as a transition fuel as Africa continues to gradually invest in renewable energy. It is a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel, producing fewer CO₂ emissions compared to coal or petroleum. In 2021, Africa’s natural gas reserves totaled over 620 trillion cubic feet. By developing and monetizing these reserves through processing and eventual usage of CNG, LNG, LPG and other gas products, Africa can leverage its natural gas resources to support sustainable energy development,” Gray said.
Sahara Group surely backs its words with actions. Sharing the Egbin Power Plc Perspective on ‘Carbon Footprint and the African Narrative’, Mohktar Bonour, Egbin Plant manager, said the reforestation of the premises of the Ikorodu-based gas power station with about 1,000 trees in the past three years is a practical way to preserve biodiversity.
Other measures he said the company has adopted to achieve a net zero emission target of the Group include the adoption & enforcement of ANSI Lighting Design Standards for Egbin built environment; gradual switch from Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs) for the company’s operational vehicles; protecting the water through close monitoring of its effluent to ensure it meets environmental standards and doesn’t harm aquatic ecosystems; Renewable Energy Integration with the Wind Turbines and Electronic storage and transmission of Egbin processes.
Bonour explained that more is going on at the power station to help achieve the goal of net zero emissions. An example is the Thermal Efficiency Improvement Programme which includes the upgrade of heaters, retubing of boiler tubes and upgrade of burners, air registers, gas vent valves.
According to him, the Egbin Initiatives encompass Asset care programmes, Obsolescence management programmes, Asset upgrades and overhauls, Energy efficiency improvement programmes, Sustainability and environmental impact management programmes and Fugitive emissions minimization programmes.
Highlighting the benefits of the initiatives, he said, “ This will sustain Egbin as the provider of choice where energy is consumed, maximize shareholder and employee value responsibly and energy generation to the grid at minimal cost.”
The Carbon entrepreneur
Prof Sunday Adebisi, Director, Entrepreneurship & Skills Development Centre; Director, ARUA Centre of Excellence for Unemployment & Skills Development University of Lagos, Nigeria, while speaking on a paper titled: ‘Carbon Footprint & the African Narrative’, unveiled the money angle to the challenge of carbon emission.
Citing data from the International Energy Agency, he said, “After a period of stagnation in the latter part of the 2010s, energy investment is picking up. The IEA estimates that $2.8 trillion is set to be invested in different parts of the energy sector in 2023, up from $2.2 trillion five years ago. Almost all of the increase in the last five years has been directed to clean energy and infrastructure, which now accounts for $1.8 trillion in spending, compared with around $1 trillion on fossil fuels” (IEA, 2023c).
“Natural gas presents a viable opportunity to serve as a transition fuel as Africa continues to gradually invest in renewable energy. It is a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel, producing fewer CO2 emissions compared to coal or petroleum”
Adebisi noted that carbon entrepreneurship is an emerging and rapidly growing field focused on developing innovative solutions to address climate change by reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices.
“Carbon Entrepreneurs are individuals who create products, services or businesses that reduce greenhouse gas emission, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or otherwise address climate change,” he said.
The focus of Carbon entrepreneurs is on building alternative energy sources, developing technologies for reducing emissions, constructing energy-efficient buildings, designing reforestation projects etc.
Wither Nigeria?
Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC) established in 2018 focuses on sectors such as renewable energy, waste management, smart agriculture, and water solutions to create a sustainable green economy, employment and a socially inclusive ecosystem in Nigeria.
According to Adebisi, Nigeria’s areas of interest include Solar Energy, Biogas Production, Energy Efficient lighting solutions, Biomass Energy, Waste-to-energy, solar-powered Agricultural Equipment, Smart Grid Technology, Solar-powered Street lighting.
Nigeria Carbon entrepreneurs
Expectedly, smart Nigerians have started to explore the wealth-creation opportunities offered in the carbon space. For instance, Planet 3R, a social enterprise dedicated to converting textile and plastic wastes into eco-friendly products using the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) is saving our planet Earth by weaving them into innovative items.
Another carbon entrepreneur by the name of Mitmeth, said, “At MitiMeth, we are turning an invasive At MitiMeth, we are turning an invasive aquatic weed into intricately woven pieces that add beauty to your space while creating a source of livelihoods for local communities “aquatic weed into intricately woven pieces that add beauty to your space while creating a source of livelihoods for local communities.”
Vectar, a carbon entrepreneur exists to solve energy poverty by replacing dirty fuels with clean energy innovations while incentivizing end-users to reduce purchase costs and monetize social and climate impact while Ecotutu’s vision is to be a world leader in sustainable cooling technology. It designs, develops and deploys affordable cold value chain technology using the Internet of Things (IoT) and renewable energy.
Global intervention
Climeworks, a Swiss company specializing in direct air capture technology, was founded in 2009 by mechanical engineers Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher.
The company designed modular machines that use filters to remove carbon dioxide from the ambient air. The captured carbon is then either sold to companies like carbonated beverage markers or permanently stored underground. Climeworks has more than 15 direct air capture plants in operation all over Europe. As of January 2023, the company has over 300 employees internationally. The funding round has classified Climeworks as a unicorn startup, a term used for startups valued at over $1 billion.
Their technology is being used in construction projects across North America.
Speaking on the role of the media in promoting sustainability and the purpose of Asharami Square, Head, Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma, said Africa needs to articulate and promote a robust sustainability narrative that leaves no one behind in issues relating to climate change, energy access and energy transition, among others.
“To achieve this, Sahara Group hopes to make Asharami Square a formidable platform through advocacy and collaboration towards shoring up capacity and participation of all segments of the media to drive accuracy, clarity, impact, positive policy formulation, agenda-setting and collective action,” he said.
Obioma said Asharami Square would feature mentoring, training, exchange programs, facility tours for media practitioners and competitions to recognise and celebrate exceptional reporting of sustainability in the media. BusinessDay, a foremost provider of business and financial intelligence and insight in West Africa emerged as the winner of the Asharami Square’s Sustainable Media Reporting Excellence award.
