Tuesday, December 28, 2021 07:50 AM / by SaharaGroup/ Header Image Credit: Sahara Group

Leading energy Conglomerate, Sahara Grouphas released its 2020 Sustainability Report which further reiterates itscommitment to creating shared value for its various stakeholders througheconomic development, protection of the environment and building a sustainablesociety.

The report highlights the Group'seconomic, social, and environmental performance across 7 operating entitieswithin the Group including the Sahara Foundation.

Themed 'Leveraging Disruption for Growthand Innovation', the report underscores how Sahara continues to leverageinnovation and technology in achieving its corporate goals and sustainabilityambitions across its businesses in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.In 2020, the Sahara Group navigated through the global economic and healthchallenges, thereby 'Leveraging Disruption for Growth and Innovation'.

Director, Governance and Sustainability,Sahara Group, Pearl Uzokwe, said the Group had continued to foster partnershipsand initiatives that have co-created a desirable future through innovation.

Uzokwe said: "We navigated throughthe global economic and health challenges with continued attention to creatingshared value for our stakeholders. Our proactive response to the pandemicensured business continuity."

She said the Group's COVID-19 responsework included the launch of Abuja's only isolation, recovery and treatmentcentre with 300 beds for patients; providing and sustaining oxygen supplies forhospitals in Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire,  providing dry and cooked food toover one million beneficiaries, face masks, hand sanitizers and reliefmaterials to communities where our power affiliates (Ikeja Electric, EgbinPower and First Independent Power Limited), upstream and other Saharaaffiliates operate across Africa.

In Zambia, Asharami Energy Limited Companydonated tens of thousands of hand-made fabric/ Chitenge masks to shore upaccess to PPE and slow the spread of the virus. The company also publishedmaterials in English, Bemba, and Nyanja to facilitate the dissemination ofinformation about the pandemic. In Kenya, Asharami Synergy Limited donatedthousands of 5 litre jerrycans of hand sanitizers, whilst oxygen was donated tohospitals in Nigeria, (through Egbin Power), Ghana as well as Cote d'Ivoire toboost life support operations. Our commitment is to make an impact on 1.3billion Africans as the continent recovers from the pandemic.

According to Uzokwe, Asharami EnergyLimited, a Sahara Group Upstream Company, recorded an improved performance inresponsible procurement with 92% of our suppliers assessed for environmentalrisks in 2020. A foremost operator in Africa's upstream sector, Asharami Energyalso achieved zero fatalities and loss time injury in the reporting year.

Sahara's trading arm has committed tototal compliance with IMO2020 regulation on keeping Sulphur content in shippingfuels at 0.50% m/m (mass by mass) for emission control. Further a commitment of$44million for the construction of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) facilitieswithin West African region was made as well as the purchase of two additionalLPG vessels to ensure the availability of cleaner energy sources for our globalmarket.

“Our commitment to host communitiesenabled our investment of US$742 million in community development with a focuson COVID-19 relief support. We also fixed all cables and panels for the ruralelectrification project in Ajoki community. A project we plan to deliver by2022. These demonstrate our progress on the sustainability journey,” Uzokweadded.

In spite of the challenges faced in 2020,the Sahara Foundation realigned its focus areas to address two new pillars-promoting access to clean energy and fostering sustainable environments as weexecute the Group's Personal and Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR)initiatives.

In 2020, we launched a flagship project,the Sahara Impact Fund, aimed at boosting the UNSDGs in Africa with over$100,000 capacity.

Sahara Group's 2020 Sustainability Reportreflects its economic, social, and environmental activities from January 1 toDecember 31, 2020. The report is the energy conglomerate's sixth sustainabilityreport, and the fifth report written in line with the GRI standard. The 2020Sustainability Report has been organized and presented in accordance with theSustainability Reporting Standards of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).The guidelines seek to achieve consistency amongst corporations reporting ontheir sustainability activities.

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