Zero-emission electric cars hit Durban streets

By Kemantha Govender

Durban - At least a dozen zero-emission electric cars have been doing the rounds in Durban since the start of COP17.

While South Africans will have to wait a while to purchase an electric vehicle (EV), for now they can get a taste and feel for it.

COP17 delegates are being given a chance to test drive the Nissan LEAF, named World Car of the Year 2011, and Renault Fluence Z.E. courtesy of Renault-Nissan Alliance. These vehicles are also being used to shuttle people attending the climate change talks.

BuaNews found a few minutes to test drive the vehicles. Initially, looking at a car with a steering wheel on the left hand side brought about some panic but a minute in it and it was all smooth sailing.

The cars are easy to drive (automatic) but take a bit of time to become well acquainted with the technical aspects. Highly advanced technological features offer the driver detailed maps, information about energy being used and battery recharging stations.

EVs are being sold in Europe, Japan and the US and are expected to be launched in South Africa in a few years' time.

Nissan has announced plans to launch Nissan LEAF in South Africa in 2013, subject to the successful conclusion of discussions between the government and the motoring industry on the establishment of a charging infrastructure and the introduction of customer incentives.

The EVs, which can be charged from purely renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, aim to play a critical role in reducing the impact of climate change.

Batteries in the cars can be charged at your home. Although the cars are more expensive in some countries, people who own them are assisted by government with free parking in busy cities, tax rebates and other incentives.

How often you recharge the battery depends on the driver - if the air conditioning and lights are used often, then batteries would have to be charged accordingly.

For music loving South Africans, the good news is that using your radio or CD players takes up minimal energy.

The money that is expected to be saved on petrol is another selling point of the cars. The cars are a pleasure to drive, knowing that you are not increasing the carbon footprint. It's an effortless adventure with no sounds coming from the engine or exhaust pipe.

People who are around the Moses Mabhida Stadium could test drive a Renault Twizy, an easy-to-drive commuter vehicle that can be plugged into many conventional wall sockets.

The Twizy, designed to be an antidote to the air and noise pollution plaguing some of the world's biggest cities, can be a bit strange to drive. If you are not a fan of scooters, this little vehicle may not be for you.

"The Renault-Nissan Alliance applauds what South Africa and all the nations represented at COP17 are doing to reduce the threat to our environment and standard of living due to global warming," said Hideaki Watanabe, Renault-Nissan Alliance managing director: Zero Emission Business.

"The Alliance wants to be part of the solution for a sustainable society. Our electric vehicles - which consume no fuel whatsoever - offer a real and affordable solution to drastically reducing CO2 emissions." - BuaNews

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Oceans 'ignored' on COP17 agenda

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By Kemantha Govender

Durban - The world's oceans, often referred to as the heart and lungs of the planet, are under stress and scientists are calling for immediate action.

"Often forgotten in such discussions are the oceans and the enormous and diverse resources they provide, including food and other resources," said Dr Carol Turley from Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the UK.

Turley, speaking during a side event at COP17, said this was the most ignored ecosystem at COP17. Also, the potential for undiscovered biodiversity was too great to be sidelined.

In a world where food security was already under threat due to climate change, scientists feel it would be worth exploring the ocean for new sources of food.

The oceans cover nearly three quarters of the earth's surface and contain 96 percent of its living space. Oceans also provide around half of the oxygen and are becoming an increasingly relied upon source of protein for a rapidly growing population. Almost a billion people rely on protein from marine life.

But Turley said three stressors - ocean acidification, warming and deoxygenation - are producing a very worrying combination which is threatening the oceans.

A United Nations report said at least 40 percent of the oceans were 'heavily affected' by human activities. Sixty percent of the world's major marine ecosystems have been degraded or are being used unsustainably.

Ocean acidification is directly caused by the increase of carbon dioxide levels, while ocean deoxygenation is the reduction of dissolved oxygen in seawater.

The world's oceans are said to be warming as a direct consequence of increasing temperature due to the greenhouse effect.

Research indicates that many parts of the world's oceans are likely to experience more than one of the environmental stressors at the same time. Ocean warming is likely to have direct effects on the physiology of marine organisms.

Food security from fisheries will suffer even more.

"What is really missing is the joint perspective, where the full and combined effect of two or all three stressors acting as the same time is investigated," said Turley.

Policy researcher Joe Appiott said governments have included the issue around oceans on their agenda for Rio+20, which will take place next year.

There will be an Oceans Day during COP17, where leading experts will make addresses on the subject.

South Africa's Water and Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi will also make an address during the event. - BuaNews

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SA urges Canada not to pull out of Protocol

By Chris Bathembu

Durban - South Africa has urged Canada to reconsider its position of not entering into a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

"South Africa believes the climate change talks must be inclusive to assist the process of ensuring a balanced outcome to emerge from the current talks," said Environmental Affairs Minister and leader of the SA delegation to the COP 17 talks, Edna Molewa.

Reports say Canada, which has failed to meet its emissions reduction targets under Kyoto Protocol, will announce next month that it will formally withdraw from the treaty. This comes as delegates from 190 countries are currently meeting in Durban seeking a new international agreement for cutting emissions.

UNFCCC executive secretary Christiana Figueres confirmed this week that Canada had made similar threats last year to pull out from the Protocol.

Molewa said the effects of climate change were real and "already here with us". South Africa called on Canada and other developed countries to ensure that they heed the call made by the developing countries, particularly in Africa and the Small Island Developing States, who feel the brunt of climate change effects.

"The Kyoto Protocol is an important first step towards a truly multilateral rules based legally binding global emission reduction regime that will stabilise GHG emissions, and provides the essential base for international agreement on climate change involving the participation of all countries in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities," she said.

The first commitment period of the 1997 treaty is coming to an end next year and developing countries are pushing for a second commitment period, but major economies, which include the United States and Japan, are refusing to commit.

Analysts say the reluctance by Canada to sign up for a second commitment may further strengthen the position by some developed countries that the Kyoto Protocol was somehow "flawed".

The European Union has said it would agree to the new commitment to the Protocol but had placed conditions on this, including their demand for a change in the framework of the convention. - BuaNews

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NEDBANK AND ECOBANK STRENGTHEN PAN-AFRICAN ALLIANCE

NEDBANK AND ECOBANK STRENGTHEN PAN-AFRICAN ALLIANCE 1 December Ecobank Transnational International (“Ecobank”), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, and Nedbank Limited (“Nedbank”) are pleased to announce that Nedbank has provided Ecobank a $285 million three year facility in support of Ecobank’s corporate development programmes, including its recent acquisition of Oceanic Bank in Nigeria.  The arrangement provides Nedbank with subscription rights which it can elect to exercise between 24 and 36 months to become a 20 percent shareholder in Ecobank. The arrangement further provides for the possibility of Ecobank  establishing a reciprocal shareholding in Nedbank subject to the required approvals; a review of the geographical alignment of businesses across the combined footprint; and reciprocal board representation of one director each. This transaction marks a critical step in the consolidation and deepening of the strategic banking alliance into which Ecobank and Nedbank entered in December 2008. The alliance has created an African Banking Champion, combining the Ecobank Group’s unrivaled pan-African footprint—spanning over 1,100 branches and offices  in 35 countries— with the strengths of Nedbank, one of the big four banks in South Africa. According to Arnold Ekpe, Ecobank Group Chief Executive, “The  Ecobank and Nedbank alliance has been extremely successful so far, and as anticipated by the terms of the Alliance Agreement, the two banks have begun to discuss the possibility of integrating more tightly in order to better exploit the obvious synergies in geography, customer base and cultural affinity.  This transaction is an important step in achieving this integration and also provides Nedbank with the opportunity to access the significant African growth opportunity.” Mike Brown, Nedbank Group Chief Executive Officer commented that “deepening the alliance through this transaction is a significant step towards  providing a “one bank” solution to clients, particularly to South African corporate entities increasingly doing business in Africa and achieving our vision of building Africa’s most admired bank”. Since its formation, the alliance has made significant progress through combining forces and working together. Multi-national companies have been attracted by the alliance’s tailored banking solutions and its extensive pan-African coverage, enabling clients’ expansion activities across the continent. In recognition of this unique value proposition, the alliance was recognised as the Most Innovative Bank in Africa in 2010 by the African Banker Journal during the IMF and World Bank Meetings in Washington. About Ecobank: Incorporated in Lomé, Togo, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated  is the parent company of the leading independent pan-African banking group. It currently has a presence in 32 African countries, namely: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic), Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The group is also represented in France through its affiliate EBI S.A. in Paris. Ecobank also has representative office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and London, UK. Ecobank is listed on the stock exchanges in Lagos, Accra and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) – the BRVM. The Group is owned by more than 180,000 local and international institutional and individual shareholders. It has 10,000 employees from 35 different countries in over 750 branches and offices. Ecobank is a full-service bank providing wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organizations, medium, small and micro businesses and individuals. Additional information may be found at www.ecobank.com. For further information, please contact: Ecobank Group Investor Relations David Ellis Group Manager Investor Relations Cell: +44 771 413 6523 Email:dellis@ecobank.com About Nedbank Nedbank Group Limited is a bank holding company, with its principal banking subsidiary being Nedbank Limited. The company’s ordinary shares have been listed on JSE Limited since 1969 and on the Namibian Stock Exchange since 2007. The group is 53% majority owned by Old Mutual Plc, listed on both the FTSE and JSE.  Nedbank Group is South Africa’s fourth largest banking group measured by assets, with a strong deposit franchise and the second largest retail deposit base. The group provides a wide range of wholesale and retail banking services and a growing insurance, asset management and wealth management offering through five main business clusters, namely Nedbank Capital, Nedbank Corporate, Nedbank Business Banking, Nedbank Retail and Nedbank Wealth. Focused on southern Africa, but with an aspiration to grow its business reach across the whole of the African continent, Nedbank Group is positioned as a bank for all – from both a retail and a wholesale banking perspective. The group employs more than 28,000 employees in 5 countries, with over 1000 outlets. Acknowledged for its sustainability leadership, Nedbank Group is the first and only carbon-neutral financial services organisation in Africa. Nedbank Group’s headquarters are in Sandton, Johannesburg, while it has large operational centres in Durban and Cape Town, complemented by a regional branch network throughout South Africa and facilities in other southern African countries. These facilities are operated through Nedbank Group’s eight affiliated banks and subsidiaries, as well as through branches and representative offices in certain key global financial centres that serve to meet international banking requirements of the group’s South Africa-based multinational clients. Additional information may be found at www.nedbankgroup.co.za. For further information, please contact:   Nedbank Group Investor Relations Alfred Visagie Head: Investor Relations Cell: +27 (0) 82 855 4692 Email: alfredv@nedbank.co.za

Philips, Eskom & Durban municipality showcase new energy saving LED street lighting

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Press Information

 

 

          December 1, 2011

 

Philips, Eskom and Durban municipality work together to showcase new energy saving LED street lighting

-       New street lighting in Durban represents good luminance and uniformity in LED lighting; will create a more livable city with safer roads, increased security and a comfortable outdoor environment. 

 

Johannesburg, South Africa: Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG), today unveiled a new state of the art Philips LED street lighting installation that offers a very sustainable lighting solution for the citizens of Durban. The new lighting consists of 149 LED street lights installed in 6 streets around the Durban International Conference Centre (ICC). These offer energy savings of 47,4 MWh per year or 26% compared with the older 250W metal halide (t) street lights they replace and at the same time provide superb light quality. In the future the street lights can be controlled externally raising the prospect of even more energy savings by dimming the lights outside peak times.

 

By installing more efficient, low maintenance, brighter street lighting on these roads, local authorities expect to improve road safety for drivers and pedestrians alike, create more attractive conditions for business and commercial life, as well as generate a more secure and comfortable outdoor environment for residents.

 

The new street lighting is part of a joint initiative by Philips, Eskom (the South African Energy supplier), the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and the eThekwini Municipality, to demonstrate the major advances being made in energy efficient LED lighting. Research has shown that new LED lighting in general can reduce energy consumption for street lighting in cities by as much as 30%.

 

Andrew Etzinger, Senior General Manager for Integrated Demand Management at Eskom, says: "Like most other countries, both developed and developing, South Africa is facing an energy-constrained future and it is in Eskom's interest to partner with local authorities to reduce consumption where possible. Although we are investing in new power stations to generate enough electricity to meet medium-to long-term demand, improved efficiency is really the only practical solution to ensuring our electricity supply will be secure in the short-term".

 

"To this end, we are committed to using tried-and-tested technology in our energy efficiency drive and investment in a low carbon future.  Local authorities which consume less energy can also limit their carbon footprint and control their operating costs. These are important motivating factors which will encourage municipalities to limit their demand on electricity supply."

 

"South Africa has been very proactive in recognizing that investing in energy-efficient and sustainable lighting solutions will reduce consumption and lower public and private electricity costs," says Juan van Dongen, Vice President and CEO – Philips Africa. "Philips is also committed to investing in a sustainable future by delivering the most innovative and energy-efficient lighting technology. This partnership of encouraging a shift to LED lighting solutions underscores our commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility in growth markets like South Africa".

 

The Philips Iridium2 street lighting solution was used for the project. This allows the local authorities to simply replace the LED light module in future when an upgrade is required without having to change the light fitting or the pole itself. Technical specs include 112 LEDs providing 21,126 lumens, a colour temperature of 5700k, 95lm/w system efficacy, 60000 hours life and a colour rendering of 68.

 

For further information, please contact:

Nick Kelso

Philips Lighting Africa

Telephone: +31 61003 9296

E-mail: nick.kelso@philips.com

 

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity." Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs over 120,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 22.3 billion in 2010, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter