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Solar energy adds to Chryso’s

sustainability journey

solar electricity generating Seymore. “One of our three sustainability
system, installed at CHRYSO pillars at CHRYSO is the reduction of
S
A uthern Africa’s manufacturing energy consumption, and this installation
o
facility in Gauteng, goes a long way to goes a long way in reducing our
reducing the company’s dependence dependence on South Africa’s notoriously
on South Africa’s notoriously carbon- carbon-producing electricity.”
producing electricity. A total of 393 solar panels – each with
Cement additive manufacturing a capacity of 400 W – were installed on
company CHRYSO Southern Africa has the roof of CHRYSO Southern Africa’s
installed a solar electricity generating premises in January this year. They will
system at its Jet Park premises in Gauteng, collectively generate a kilowatt peak of
as part of its efforts to lower its carbon 157 kWp through five 27.6 kW inverters.
footprint. “Our investment in solar energy
According to CHRYSO Southern generation is an important contribution
Africa CEO Norman Seymore, the system to the company’s global commitment to
will generate almost 240 MWh each year a more sustainable construction sector,”
to serve the company’s production facility. Seymore says. “Our CHRYSO admixture
“This output will make up about 70% products themselves play a valuable role He highlights that these admixtures
of our energy requirements, with the in driving down the carbon emissions can help to reduce the cement
rest sourced from the national grid,” says related to construction materials.” component of concrete – cement being
among the world’s most significant
carbon-generating products. CHRYSO
Southern Africa is also active in other
environmental initiatives, such as
ensuring that its packaging materials and
containers are recyclable and reusable.
The company delivers much of its product
range in bulk, but uses recyclable material
where products are delivered in 200-litre
drums or 1,000-litre containers.
“We have, in addition to our solar
installation, also implemented a series
of wastewater treatment systems at our
plant to reduce and recycle the volumes
of wastewater we produce,” he says.
“We constructed several wastewater
catchment areas to ensure that any
discharged wastewater was first treated to
an acceptable standard.” dw

www.za.chryso.com

dw • Issue 243 15