eBusiness Weekly
Munashe Matambo
HARARE – The Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ) has put into operation the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) Project meant to promote rapid uptake of industrial energy efficiency and efficient water utilisation.
The CTCN project was established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) as a mechanism to upscale climate adaptation and mitigation technologies.
BCSDZ executive director Tawanda Muzamwese said the project will ensure that 10 energy and water audits are carried out in 10 selected organisations in Zimbabwe mostly drawn from the BCSDZ and other recognised networks.
“It is going to offer an opportunity for companies within our association to be audited in terms of their energy efficiency and water efficiency. The costs of this technical assistance will be met by the CTC under the United Nations,” he said.
“It is going to build the capacity of at least 40 individuals in Zimbabwe who will be drawn from various sectors. These will include Government and industry representatives. They will be trained on how to implement energy management.”
Mr Muzamwese also said that although this project is not driven by finance, it remains a positive form of development as funding is coming in as technical assistance.
Through efficient energy consumption and efficient water utilisation, companies will actually save huge costs over time.
Members of the BCSDZ now have a platform where they can get international technical assistance on energy and water at no cost.
“It’s high time that people see that for us to develop we don’t only need money. Money is not the only tool to develop.
“Money in savings is invisible to someone who does not understand development. Let’s say you are paying $50 000 for your energy and these experts come in and they do their audits and advise you to do A, B, C and in the end you start paying $30 000 for the same amount of energy.
“We are a developing country, so we must not be selective in terms of the type of assistance that comes to us. We want our economy to grow,” he said.
