NAIROBI, Kenya Feb 2-Bamburi Cement PLC has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with an Independent Power Producer, MOMNAI Energy Limited, to set up two solar plants as the firm moves towards renewable energy.
The project which aims to save on power costs is set to deploy solar power systems with a total capacity of 14.5MW and 5MW for Bamburi’s Mombasa Plant and Nairobi Grinding Plant respectively.
This will account for up to approximately 40 per cent of Bamburi’s total power supply.
“We are elated to be making this step towards switching to more affordable and clean energy that will not only lead to a significant reduction in power costs but also bring us closer to our goal of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions,” said Miriam Ngolo, Bamburi’s Strategy & Business Development Director.
Over the past 10 years, Bamburi has substituted heavy fuels with the use of alternative fuels like biomass including rice husks and other waste materials such as waste tyres and waste oil in its operations.
Construction of the solar power plants is scheduled to begin at the end of 2022, after requisite regulatory approvals with expected completion within a year.
MOMNAI Energy will be responsible for financing all costs related to the project, including developing, managing, operating, and maintaining the solar photovoltaic plants’ infrastructure.
“Shifting to renewable solar energy will help us meet key objectives under our sustainability agenda which include reducing the carbon footprint of our operations, saving on costs, and upholding Holcim’s Net Zero Pledge with Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi,” said Bamburi’s Group Managing Director, Seddiq Hassani.
Bamburi’s Mombasa and Nairobi sites have land available to set up and generate solar energy, which is expected to achieve significant recurrent savings annually, while simultaneously improving the reliability of supply and improving Bamburi’s environmental footprint.
“We are dedicated to playing a significant role in a fast transition to a cleaner and cheaper energy sector in Africa for a more sustainable world and improvements of the economies and livelihood of people on the African continent,” said MOMNAI Energy Director, Anders Hauch.
