The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, (UNIDO) have called on industrialists and manufacturers to adopt resource-efficient and cleaner energy production initiatives to promote environmental sustainability.
They made the call at a policy dialogue for Private Sector Chief Executives and Heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA) on Thursday in Lagos.
Mr. Jean Bakole, Regional Director UNIDO, noted that industries globally accounted for one-third of global energy consumptions, and almost 40 percent of Co2 emissions.
Bakole stressed the need for industries to reduce their emissions by 24 percent in comparison to 2007 levels.
He said a UINIDO project; Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP-IEE), was targeted at industries to develop a base for Nigeria, which could be exported to other countries in Africa and beyond.
He added that the project would address how industries could improve efficiency, increase profitability, operate at international best standards, comply with regulations and maintain improved relationships with policymakers.
Bakole said a pilot financing of the RECP-IEE scheme would be executed through the Bank of Industry and issues around ISO 50000 and 14001 would be executed through the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
“We hope to support not less than 75 industries across five sectors of food and beverage, wood and furniture, steel and metals, textiles and garment and petrochemicals.
“We will develop the capacity of the Organised Private Sector and develop not less than 300 Nigerian RECP-IEE experts,” he said.
Engr Mansur Ahmed, President, MAN, said the project would target sectoral groups within the industrial zones of Lagos, Ogun, Onitsha, Aba, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Kano, Kaduna, Calabar, and Warri.
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Ahmed, noting energy as the main driver of the national economy, said most economies including Nigeria’s were challenged with insufficient energy supply.
This, he said, was evident by the inconsistency in energy supply and the high cost of providing alternative energy for industrial production in Nigeria.
He stressed the need for energy management to maximize the available energy optimally at all levels to facilitate sustainable and environmentally friendly development.
The MAN president said the adoption of Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) and Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) would yield macroeconomic and social benefits.
“Some of which include enhanced energy security, reduced cost of production, and employment generation.
“Therefore, it is necessary for industries to explore these energy efficiency strategies to curb energy wastages and reduce the cost incurred in generating alternative energy and increase the competitiveness of Nigerian industries,” he said.
General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, (LASEPA), Mrs. Dolapo Fasawe, hinted that the IEE and RECP would reduce carbon footprints in the industrial sector.
She pointed out the need to recycle energy in industrial, manufacturing, and engineering sectors to encourage stakeholders and policymakers to build the conversation around cleaner production and alternative energy use in critical sectors.
“We tend to talk about what the developed nations have done in terms of global warming and climate change.
“We must think of cleaner energy sources and be able to recycle energy in engineering and manufacturing sectors to reduce environmental threats to our sustainability and survival,” she said.
