Puma Energy Namibia has installed 24 solar projects at its local retail stations, depots and terminals with a combined capacity to generate an estimated 1 337 MWh annually.
The Namibia installation is part of the global oil and petroleum products distribution company’s plans to rollout over 200 solar projects around the world by the end of the year, with a capacity of 8,640kWp, generating 12,564MWh, with a global carbon saving of 9,815 tons CO2.
“This project demonstrates Puma Energy’s commitment to delivering lower carbon, renewable energy solutions and energising the communities that we serve. We know our customers expect us to do everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint. This project will have a lasting positive impact and deliver significant amounts of clean energy. It is great that we can use our industry expertise and our sites to benefit communities across Namibia in their desire to make a meaningful contribution to the fight against climate change using the power of the sun,” Puma Energy Namibia’s General Manager Adell Samuelson said on Thursday.
Besides contributing to the group’s commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by the end of 2025, the project will diversify energy supply and reduce dependence on the grid, while providing cost savings against rising electricity prices.
The solar installation projects on Puma Energy’s assets also comes as the company is planning the entry of Puma Energy’s Future Energies on the local market by showcasing its expertise in the renewable energy sector by energising its assets (retail stations, depots, terminals, refineries, etc.) to attract external customers.
The unit is a response to the energy transition – a move from large, centralised, thermal power production to smaller, modular, distributed renewable energy systems.
“Installing solar projects on Puma Energy’s assets is just the first step, in the future we aim to use the expertise we have built to offer solar power and other renewable energy solutions to our larger commercial and industrial customers.”
This comes as TotalEnergies Marketing Namibia in September also announced its plan to switch to clean sources of energy such as solar energy at its service stations across the country as the French multinational integrated energy and petroleum company is planning to solarise 5,000 service stations in 57 countries.
Puma is one of the dominant players in the country’s fuel retail sector with 61 stations in Namibia, having announced plans last year to add five new sites.