By Staff Writer
There was fanfare at Pearl of Africa Hotel in Kampala as Hima Cement Limited received a prestigious award in recognition of their work in conserving energy. The cement manufacturing company received the award for Best Energy Management Practices (Large Industries) beating over 27 other participants. Hima was recognized for its outstanding contribution to saving the environment through energy management practices, fuels saving innovations and electrical saving initiatives.
Organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in partnership with GIZ, Promotion of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Programme (PREEEP), the awards are geared at encouraging a culture of energy efficiency and conservation, and recognize enterprises that have made major and sustainable gains in energy efficiency through the application of modern energy management principles and practices, and in the process made significant energy and cost reductions.
Hima Cement started the Hima Coffee Development Project to support local coffee producing communities in Kasese and Kamwenge districts towards poverty alleviation and economic growth. The company committed to provide 16.8 million seedlings to farmers.
The project then uses the coffee husks from the farmers in producing bio fuel for the factory. This contributes to at least 20% of Hima Cement energy requirement. By sustaining its biomass substitution, Hima Cement reduces the carbon food print on environment by at least 56%. Hima also uses Biomass Hot Gas generator for pozzolana drying. The company has also reduced on electricity used to run their plant by using more energy saving equipment and bulbs. Hima no longer pays a penalty to UMEME, but rather, a fee is off set from the Hima monthly power bill.
Receiving the award, Ms Caroline Kezaabu the Hima Cement Communications Coordinator said the company is continuously innovating new ways to conserve energy to support an environmentally sustainable society, whilst trying to reduce operating costs.
“We are committed to continuously improve our energy efficiency and to avoid all waste of energy. Our objective is to reduce our energy consumption each year by implementing best practices, improved engineering solutions and encouraging the commitment of employees. We continue to use and encourage our staff and others to use renewable sources of energy in order to reduce carbon emissions,” she said on the side-lines of the award ceremony
Other winners include Makerere University, Mukwano Industries, Abacus Pharmaceutical. Speke Resort Munyonyo and NSSF Uganda.