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New Business Trends  Renewable Energy
Energy fund starts R7,2m efficiency project
THE Central Energy Fund (CEF) has partnered with French development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to develop cleaner and efficient energy for the industrial sector.
Mputumi Damane, group CEO of the CEF, said the R7,2m project would involve developing bio-fuels and solar water heaters for the agri-business sector.
The AFD would provide technical assistance to the minerals and energy department and to the CEF for the implementation of policies on energy efficiency and renewable energy, and in identifying and preparing investment programmes, he said.
“The project will specifically target increased energy efficiency in heavy industry, the development of co-generation plants — the most efficient use of energy — the development of bio-fuels and solar water heaters,” said Damane.
France’s ambassador to SA, Denis Pietton, said France was keen to ensure that energy-related issues remained at the top of the agenda in co-operation initiatives between the two countries.
He said countries around the world were beginning to face up to the challenge of sustainable energy — energy use that supported development without contributing to the growing climate crisis.
Damane said SA was a developing nation with an energy-intensive heavy industry that was reliant on indigenous coal reserves for its driving force.
“At first sight, there would appear to be an apparent paradox between using less energy and developing a healthy and prosperous nation based on energy-intensive activities.
“This is not the case. In recent years, energy efficiency has significantly gained in stature and has become recognised as one of the most cost-effective ways of meeting the demands of sustainable development,” he said.
SA is one of the first countries to have adopted targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy. In March 2005, the department launched a national campaign for energy efficiency. The primary aim was to improve energy efficiency in the industrial sector by 15%, and to enhance the energy performance of the housing sector.
Damane said the department would provide co-ordination for the project.
Source : Business Day
new business trends  renewable energy |
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Jaqueline Martinez
Jaqueline studied Public Relations and Journalism at CPUT between 2001 and 2003. She completed Information Systems and Communication Science 101 at Unisa. She teethed on business journalism as a communication specialist with Old Mutual for several years. Jaqueline travelled to Asia and the US teaching English before returning to South Africa and finding her niche as an online editor and features writer with BizAssist Technologies and SA Guide to Business Opportunities. |
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