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WWatt EnergySA’s first Euro4 fuel distribution eco-fleetThe Carbon Disclosure Project (CDC) reported that the transportation industry,worldwide, accounts for 13 percent of global emissions and yet only nine percent ofthe transport companies are investing in low carbon initiatives claims Murray Bolton, chiefexecutive of Cargo Carriers.“South Africa is certainly lagging behind in terms of carbon reduction strategies,” hesays.The 2009 UN Copenhagen Climate Conference stressed the importance of reducing emissionsparticularly as those countries responsible for over 80 percent of the global carbonemissions agreed that serious cuts need to be made. South Africa contributes about 1,48percent to global emission levels, making itthe 13th largest contributor of greenhousegases.A sister company of Cargo Carriers,Ezethu Logistics is helping to improve thetransport sectors by bringing the first EuroIV fuel distribution fleet into South Africa.Euro IV is the latest standard set by theEuropean Union for reasonably acceptablecarbon emissions and Bolton says the EuroIV fuel distribution fleet upgrade, combinedwith Ezethu’s high levels of health, safety,environment and quality (SHEQ), has alreadybecome a key differentiator whenlooking for new business.Ezethu was founded by JSE-listed logisticscompany Cargo Carriers, which seesSHEQ as a top priority and encourages allits subsidiaries and associated companiesto do the same.“We have to place a high importanceon SHEQ as we transport gas, fuel andchemicals,” says Bolton. “These industriesset high standards for sustainability, so embracinga more environmentally friendlyapproach is a non-negotiable for us. Introducingthe country’s first Euro IV fueldistribution fleet proved to be a major advantagein the tender for what is essentiallya renewal of our Total contract.”Ezethu’s recently awarded contract withTotal involves the transportation of fuelfrom Waltloo to Pretoria and PretoriaNorth. There are four toxic pollutants foundin fuel: Nitorgen oxide, total hydrocarbon,carbon monoxide and particulate matter.Particulate matter refers to the fine incombustibleparticles that are spewed out ofthe exhaust into the atmosphere. “Reducingcarbon emissions is something that thetransport industry needs to take very seriously,”says Bolton.
WWatt EnergyEnergy efficiency must be controlledSteadily increasing energy consumption and the environmentalimpact from rising carbon emissions demand thatdevelopers take seriously the importance of designing andbuilding energy efficient offices, commercial buildings andhomes.“It is not just enough to make use of equipment that savesenergy or to implement low-energy lighting,” says Nico vander Merwe, product manager building systems at SchneiderElectric South Africa.He says proper controls need to be in place to ensure thatthese measures make a real reduction in energy consumed. Ifsustainable gains are to be made, every device or feature thatconsumes energy must become part of the solution.Van der Merwe adds that an important element of energyefficient homes, offices and commercial buildings is changingthe attitudes of individuals so that their behaviour is alignedto energy saving.“We have technology to control energy use in buildings andthe lighting systems used can account for 30 percent of theelectricity consumption at a typical commercial enterprise.This is compounded by huge data-centres that have increasedelectricity consumption and so forth,” he says.A Schneider Electric international white paper reveals thatin most countries, each domestic dwelling, whether a standalonehome or an apartment, will generate more than six tonsof carbon dioxide a year, which is enough gas to fill six hot-airballoons.He says energy efficient products can save between 10 and40 percent of the electricity consumed in residential andsmall commercial buildings. These products include dimmers,time-switches, movement/presence detectors and light-sensitiveswitches all controlled by management systems.Angola, Tanzania investin water powerAngola is planning to invest billions of dollars in rebuilding itsdam infrastructure so that it can generate sufficient electricityfor the local population and to export electricity to neighbouringstates, claims Joao Borges, Secretary of State of Energy.He says that Angola’s rivers have the potential to generate about18 GW of energy but the country is only able to produce aboutfive percent of that figure because the dams and infrastructure weredamaged during the civil war that lasted for more than 25 years.Angola is one of Africa’s largest oil producers and has the necessaryfunds to invest in rebuilding the dams and improving the electricitygrid.Most of the water that flows through Angola’s rivers flows directlyinto the sea, providing little additional benefit to the local population,says Borges. Meanwhile Tanzanian authorities have announcedthat they have signed a $700-million contract with Borodino Groupto builda 222-MWhydroelec tricpower plant by 2018.The new project willmeet about 25 percent of thecountry’s energy needs where only14 percent of the 40-million people inTanzania are connected to the electricitygrid. Most of Tanzania’s electricity comes fromhydroelectric power plants although it does have a300-MW generation plant based on natural gas. The governmentsays it needs to spend about $1,5-billion to improvepower production in the country.September 2010 45
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