South Africa
Lesotho
Mozambique
Tanzania
DRCMeasuring our footprint
We took part in the Carbon Disclosure Project (‘CDP’) for the first time in 2010. Although our submission was a challenge given the limited measurement of electricity and fuel consumption in some of our countries, we were ranked 6th out of the top 100 JSE-listed companies for our disclosure in 2010. We are busy collecting data for the 2011 CDP, which we expect to have finalised in July 2011.
Our goal in 2012 is to put mechanisms in place to reliably measure electricity consumption in all buildings and network sites possible. Complete and reliable data will allow us to measure the energy savings realised from our various initiatives against our targets.
CO2 emissions (per 2010 CDP submission)
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Year ended 31 March 2009* |
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tonnes |
Scope 1 |
Scope 2 |
Total |
South Africa |
5 629 |
322 765 |
328 394 |
International |
21 278 |
16 697 |
37 975 |
Group |
26 907 |
339 462 |
366 369 |
* Given the timing of our submission to the 2010 CDP, the latest data available was for the year ended 31 March 2009.
To put our Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into context, it is worth noting that they were far less than many companies, some of which run into the millions of tonnes of CO2 emissions.
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The Greenhouse Gas (‘GHG’) Protocol defines three scopes of emissions:
Scope 1 |
Scope 2 |
Scope 3 |
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Direct GHG emissions are those from sources that are owned or controlled by the company. For example, emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces and vehicles. |
GHG emissions from the generation of purchased electricity by the company. |
An optional reporting category that allows for the treatment of all other indirect emissions. They are a consequence of the activities of the company, but occur from sources not owned or controlled by the company such as business travel. |
In South Africa, Tanzania and Mozambique, we are increasing the number of sites where we measure our energy consumption. In South Africa we have energy meters at 2 200 base stations and plan on installing more this year. Where consumption is not metered, we use billing information to come up with an estimate.
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Year ended 31 March |
||
|
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
Network electricity (GWh)(#) |
195.8 |
154.2 |
188.6 |
Building electricity (GWh)(#) |
101.8 |
118.9 |
80.6 |
Fuel (diesel and petrol) (million litres)(#) |
2.1 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
CO2 emissions (tonnes CO2)(#) |
n/a |
n/m |
328 394 |
The increase in network electricity is due to the substantial increase in network capacity, from the addition of 948(#) more 3G base stations as well as an increase in the number of sites. Once the RAN swap is concluded we expect to realise savings.
Our mobile networks span five sub- Saharan countries as well as urban and rural areas. Our networks require energy to operate and we produce electronic waste when we maintain and upgrade them. Electronic waste also results from the sale of hundreds of thousands of new mobile handsets each year, particularly in South Africa.