The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has held its energy benchmarking engagement meeting to analyze the performance of various fields of production in the economic sector as well as improve energy efficiency standards in Kenya.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, the Manager for Energy Efficiency Mr. Ronald Keter revealed that the workshop targeted seven sectors namely sugar, tea, cement, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, dairy, hotel, industries and flowers.
“Kenya has committed to improving its energy efficiency both in the industry and this is in regard to its global commitment under the Paris Agreement where Kenya committed to reduce the greenhouse gas emission by 30 percent,” added Keter.
He said that to achieve a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, EPRA utilized the Energy Act of 2019 which gives clear provisions for the implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs.
“Some of the key provisions in the sections dealing with energy efficiency and conservation programs are issues to do with energy auditing for industries and development of standards and labeling programs for household appliances and EPRA has already implemented this for appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners,” he emphasized.
Keter further revealed that EPRA only managed to set three benchmarks in sectors namely sugar, cement and tea since for the other four sectors, the available data was not consistent, nevertheless he assured the stakeholders that further study would be taken to evaluate the findings of the remaining sectors.
Further, the Manager announced that in terms of energy benchmarking for cement, EPRA is among the best-performing organizations across the world.
“For the tea sector, if EPRA attains the benchmarks agreed, we foresee that we are going to save about 30 megawatts of electricity,” he disclosed.
At the same time, the Manager for Renewable Energy Caroline Kimathi revealed that they had already agreed on a benchmark with the sugar and tea industry and would soon get one for the cement industry.
“For those who are unable to meet the benchmark, EPRA allows you to buy credits just like the way we buy carbon credits thus you can meet the benchmarks that have been set,” she explained.
Kimathi said that renewable energy normally comes out as one of the key measures in energy audits.
“Once an auditor visits your facility and looks at your energy consumption, they can recommend that maybe as part of supplementing what you have or making your factory greener, they can recommend that you put up a Renewable Energy Plant,” she advised.
By Rebecca Kibegwa and Manu Mumba
