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About 60 leading South African businesses were commended by the Minister of Energy, Dipuo Peters, for voluntarily recommitting to energy efficiency, through the Energy Efficiency Leadership Network (EELN). She was addressing about 120 business leaders at a dinner hosted by the National Business Initiative (NBI) – the start of her road show to campaign for energy efficiency improvement in various sectors of society.
Minister Peters acknowledged that the private sector had a key role to play for their own economic sustainability but also from the leadership initiatives they had undertaken even in the absence of legislation. In terms of supporting the national energy efficiency drive to save energy, she reminded the audience that the private sector had a sophisticated marketing and communications machinery and this capability could be put to good use in supporting energy efficiency improvements among their employees, customers and supply chains. It also made sense to focus on larger companies like those who were part of the network and those reporting through the Carbon Disclosure Project report - conducted by the NBI - since together with Eskom, this group accounted for close to 70% of the country’s energy consumption.
 
Minister Peters said as part of an overall effort to address energy efficiency, the government intends to reward companies with a number of tax incentives. “We are at a point where we can now gazette the Regulations on the Income Tax Allowance of the Energy Efficiency Savings, Section 12L, which addresses tax allowance aimed at large investments for upgrades, expansions or new facilities that exceed R30 million and R200 million respectively.”
 

Watch video of keynote address by the Minister of Energy, Dipuo Peters
The EELN was launched in December last year at COP 17 in Durban by the NBI in partnership with the Department of Energy and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA). The network has 58 signed up members which includes the Department of Energy. It is intended that more government departments should also sign up and show their own commitment to saving energy.
 
According to Joanne Yawitch, CEO of the NBI, in South Africa energy efficiency is the leading action being taken by companies to reduce their carbon emissions and a large part of the contribution to combat climate change. “We are very pleased with the support we have received from companies who have participated in our energy efficiency program since 2006 as well as the partnership we’ve enjoyed with the Department of Energy. We would like to welcome the new companies who have joined the EELN and we look forward to seeing all signatories playing a leadership role towards championing energy efficiency, not only within those companies but also influencing behaviour more broadly in society.”
 
“We would like to encourage companies to make use of the various incentives, both proposed and existing for energy efficiency,” said Yawitch.
 
Stan Pillay, newly elected chairperson of the EELN and Climate and Energy Manager at Anglo American, said they aim to be “a leading network in driving continuous improvement in energy efficiency by fostering closer collaboration and alignment amongst members to deliver an overall energy efficiency and energy saving benefit nationally.”
 
“Companies who sign up to the pledge must plan for energy efficiency improvement supported by an energy management system. Company level targets must be aligned to help deliver an agreed government strategy while there must be clear reporting on progress in reaching the targets. Members must commit to skills development and capacity building, which is also offered by the network,” explained Pillay.
 
What can you expect from the EELN:                                                 
·         Good and best practice sharing
·         Training/capacity building
·         Collaboration/alignment
·         Reporting on collective performance
 
What is required of you:
Engagement with EELN by:
·         Nominating your representatives to the capacity building and reporting working groups
·         Support performance reporting and knowledge sharing – facilitated through quarterly EELN meetings
·         Internally to drive the four key commitments under the EELN Pledge
 
View the presentation by Stan Pillay, Overview of the Energy Efficiency Leadership Network.
 
Minister Peters commended the NBI along with its business members for “further embracing the responsibility of leading the way in taking a more holistic approach to integrate their focus on energy with carbon management, water management and restructuring their business accordingly, while seeing the opportunity for the creation of new business development and innovation.
 
“I strongly believe that this commitment from the level of Chief Executives is crucial to be built into the vision, mission and strategic business plans of your respective businesses,” emphasized Minister Peters.
 
Read the full speech delivered by Minister Dipuo Peters.
 
For more information and to become a signatory to the Energy Efficiency Leadership Network contact Peter Mukoma at Mukoma.peter@nbi.org.za.

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