Puma Energy says it has 184 solar power generation projects operational across its network and is on track to hit its target of opening 200 solar projects this year.

In a statement, Puma Energy says it has nearly 2 000 retail sites in its network and has assessed how many are suitable for solar installation.

Solar panel installation in Windhoek, Namibia

Puma Energy head of strategy and business development Sophonie Babo, said: “The 200 solar projects we are delivering is just the start of a broader strategy to contribute to the energy transition in Africa.

“Many of our commercial and industrial customers are looking to reduce their carbon emissions. By installing solar on our own assets, we have demonstrated our ability to offer to our customers solar solutions.”

He said their aim is to help customerd hybridise their energy sources and reduce emissions across their operations.

The 184 sites now operating across the company’s retail network represent 39 percent of the 467 company-owned and leased stations where solar installations are commercially and technically feasible, the company said.

In its Environmental, Social and Governance Strategy published in July this year, Puma Energy set a target of installing 200 solar projects across its global network by the end of the year.

Once operational, the solar projects will have a combined capacity of 6.6 megawatt peak (MWp) and are expected to generate 9 311 megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable electricity per year.

Reads the statement: “The aim of the solar generation initiative is not only to reduce Puma Energy’s greenhouse gas emissions on the sites and depots it owns, but also to reduce the emissions of the local dealers who operate many of the retail sites in Puma Energy’s network.”

“The expertise Puma Energy has developed by installing solar at its own retail sites now allows the company to offer its commercial and industrial customers solar generation packages and other low carbon energy solutions alongside the fuels it has traditionally supplied.”

Puma Energy made a commitment to achieving 30 percent of its Africa earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) from clean energy and transition fuels in its 2022 Sustainability Report and ESG Strategy.

The roll out of solar solutions for Puma Energy commercial customers is part of that aim, and to hit the target the company has committed an initial investment of $33 million to roll out its solar offer to its customers, starting with Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia.

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