Puma Energy decarbonisation drive gets boost
GLOBAL energy business Puma Energy last week announced it had acquired a 49 percent stake in MBHE Group, a company that provides renewable energy solutions to customers across southern Africa and owns its own high-quality renewable energy assets across the continent.
The transaction aligns with Puma Energy’s purpose of energising communities and helping industrial and commercial customers prepare for the future of energy and decarbonise their operations with fully integrated renewable energy solutions.
In a press release Puma Energy Zimbabwe general manager, Donatien Kodog, highlighted that 19 retail fuel stations are set to have solar power this year in Zimbabwe.
“Drawing on our expertise gained from installing clean energy at 300 Puma Energy service stations worldwide, the organisation is actively engaged in delivering clean energy solutions to clients and gearing towards a just energy transition, including supporting their decarbonisation journey,” Mr Kodog said.
“As part of Puma Energy’s global sustainability strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the company is working towards a 15 percent reduction by the end of 2025 and 30 percent reduction by the end of 2032 and aims for operational net zero by 2050.”
Reaffirming this commitment at COP 28 in Dubai, Puma Energy also signed the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter.
MBHE is an industry leader in the design, supply, installation and operation of solar PV systems and battery technology catering for numerous sectors including retail centres, manufacturing, hospitals, heavy industry and mining.
The partnership with Puma Energy will drive expansion by providing access to new customers and unlocking financial facilities to fully develop its pipeline of projects.
Key growth opportunities across southern Africa include the installation of solar PV, Battery Energy Storage solutions and off-grid solar PV plants.
The partnership will also create more opportunities for MBHE to secure power purchase agreements to develop projects and benefit from long term Power Purchase Agreements.
MBHE financial director Werner van Wyk said: “The partnership between Puma Energy and MBHE enables us to maintain our aggressive growth strategy, offering energy as a service.
“The unique differentiator is not only being able to provide holistic solar and energy storage solutions with strong technical and financial support but also accessing a much larger market through Puma’s existing footprint and network of commercial and industrial clients into sub-Saharan Africa.”
Puma Energy Head of Solar for Africa Shamsher Singh reiterated: “Puma Energy is committed to its purpose of energising communities and helping our customers and partners to reduce their carbon emissions and prepare for the future of energy.
“Our partnership with MBHE will help realise that vision across southern Africa. Many of Puma Energy’s industrial and commercial customers are seeking renewable energy solutions and MBHE already has an impressive pipeline of projects which will drive growth over the next few years.”