By Staff Reporter
Illovo Sugar Malawi company has embarked on a joint initiative with ESCOM that will provide additional power to new and existing customers on the national grid by finding more efficient ways of power utilisations within its operations.
In the statement , Sugar Malawi plc Managing Lekani Katandula said that their decision to work with ESCOM on this initiative guided by their purpose of creating a thriving Malawian community through the provision of affordable food and energy as such they are optimizing some of their requirements by shifting their irrigation patterns to take more power during off peak hours which enables the business to reduce its peak time power requirements from ESCOM thereby enabling the latter to provide increased access to power for new and existing users in the country.
Katandula added that Illovo currently reduced its power demand by 4MW during the off-peak period through this shifting of irrigation practices.
“The company is also finalizing, plans to improve the use of its own power with ESCOM support, so that it can further reduce its power demand from ESCOM. It is planned that some of the plans will be implemented by end July 2022. Such collaborative initiatives are critical for ESCOM and all other companies to improve access to power for all Malawians and to promote the growth of businesses in the country.”,
“Illovo Sugar Malawi plc is on a drive to enhance its efforts towards environmental conservation as well as sustain the existing biodiversity surrounding its operations, whilst reducing waste and pollution by partnering with its staff, communities, and other stakeholders. Commenting on the issue the communities and other stakeholders are sensitized and engaged in the importance of environmental protection with the worsening of the global climate crisis.”,He explained
He noted they have a number of practices and programs within their operations that ensure environmental Some of the activities to curb environmental degradation currently in use at Illovo
He went to say that the activities include overall Water Management by using effluent water treatment plants and sewage ponds to purify wastewater for irrigation Management of solid, liquid and gaseous waste by following government set standards and segregation of waste at all sites for recycling and burning using incinerators.
The company has stated that it remains committed to working on ways that ensure it continuously improves its practices as well as support national initiatives where possible on the same.
Katandula stated further stated that sustainability is key for the business to achieve its goals in Businesses cannot survive if the environment around them is failing.