5 May 2005

The National Business Initiative (NBI), a coalition of 140 leading South African and international corporations dedicated to sustainable development, facilitated the participation of a group of major corporations in this vital initiative.

Andre Fourie, Chief Executive of the NBI said: "The private sector recognises the advantages of energy efficiency as an imperative for sustainable growth and development. It makes business sense and has direct environmental benefits. With this as a basis, the NBI, with the active support of Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), has facilitated the signing of a voluntary Energy Efficiency Accord between the Minster of Minerals and Energy Affairs (DME) and leading South African corporations and industry associations".

The group of industries and associations that signed the voluntary accord last night included: ABB Holdings (Pty) Ltd; ABSA Group Limited; Aluminum Federation of Southern Africa (AFSA); Anglo American Corporation of SA Limited; Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited; AngloGold Ashanti; Association of Cementitious Material Producers (ACMP); Barloworld Limited; BP Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd; British American Tobacco South Africa; Business Unity South Africa (BUSA); Chamber of Mines; Chemical and Allied Industries' Association (CAIA); Engen Petroleum Limited; Eskom Holdings Limited; Goldfields Limited; Holcim (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd; Impala Platinum Limited; Kumba Resources Limited; Mondi Business Paper; National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA); Nedcor Limited; the South African Breweries Limited; Sanlam Limited; Sasol Limited; Shell South Africa Energy (Pty.) Ltd; Siemens Limited; South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA); and Total SA.

This voluntary accord demonstrates commitment to the department's National Energy Efficiency Strategy. Within a framework of eight strategic goals based on the three cornerstones of sustainability, the strategy targets a 15% reduction in 'final energy demand' for the industrial sector by 2015, and a 12% improvement in energy efficiency for the nation as a whole by the same date. This target is expressed as a percentage reduction against the projected national energy usage in 2015.

The forecast usage takes into account projected increases in economic development without any additional efficiency interventions. This ensures that energy efficiency does not impact negatively on South Africa's commitment to economic growth, investment and job creation.