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BAT won the Electricity Management Awards

Kenya

ERC to gazette energy-saving rules

BAT won the Electricity Management Awards

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 2 – The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is soon to gazette new regulations that will curb wastage and loss of energy in industries, commercial buildings and large institutions across the country.

The Director General of the ERC Kaburu Mwirichia said commercial buildings and larger institutions waste up to 35 percent of energy.

“When they (Energy Management Regulations) are published they will be requiring firms to conduct regular audits every three years and develop sound energy management policies. In the next few months they should be gazetted,” Mwirichia said.

He was speaking during this year’s Energy Management Awards (EMA) that recognised successfully implemented energy efficiency measures by local companies that also attained savings in the process.

Since the inception of the EMAs in 2004, participating companies have realised a combined savings of approximately Sh3.63 billion.

The various categories in this year’s EMA combined, accumulated annual savings worth Sh176 million for an initial investment of Sh186 million, translating to a payback period of less than 14 months.

Energy Assistant Minister Mohammed Mahmoud said his ministry will continue to support the private sector in enhancing energy efficiency and conservation by continuing to collaborate with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) through the Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (CEEC).

“The ministry has since 2006 extended an annual grant of Sh30 million to CEEC to support its energy efficiency and conservation activities. Similarly, 148 energy audits have been conducted in various organisations around the country since 2007 resulting in substantial financial energy and carbon emission reduction savings,” he revealed.

Kenafric Industries Ltd emerged the overall winner of the 2012 EMA for the third year running and was recognised for establishing an energy committee that created awareness among staff.

Listed cigarette manufacturer British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya that won the Electricity Savings Award credited for effective energy management efforts and the restructuring of its manufacturing processes for influencing the growth of its profits in 2011.

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The firm says that it saved more than Sh25 million after it introduced energy management and conservation strategies that also saw the firm’s revenues grow by 49 percent to stand at Sh20 billion in 2011.

The EMAs were launched by KAM, through its Centre of Energy Efficiency and Conservation in conjunction with Ministry of Energy eight years ago to promote excellence in energy management.

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