20-10-2016
Covers 90% of its Headquarters electrical needs and reduces carbon emissions National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy inaugurates a power generation plant of photoelectric cells
Ramallah- Alhayat Economic: In a leading step at the level of Palestinian private sector organizations, the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy (NBC) recorded a brand new achievement in the area of environment and energy preservation. NBC took the initiative and built a power generation plant of photoelectric cells at its Head Office and main warehouses in Beitunia. The initiative translates NBC’s commitment to the standards of power consumption rationalization and the use of a clean source for power generation, in addition to protecting the environment from pollution. The plant will contribute to the reduction of air pollutant carbon emissions resulting from the combustion of the fuel used in the traditional power generation plants.
In this regard, Mr. Zahi Khouri, Chairman of NBC, said that NB} Board and staff are pleased with this important shift in the journey and development of NBC. Khouri confirmed: “In delivering our responsibility towards our Palestinian society and environment, we took the initiative to use renewable energy to have safe clean power supply. Furthermore, this step complements the environmental projects of NBC for which it was committed since its inception in 1998 as NBC has worked to establish the culture of environmental responsibility in its facilities and factories. NBC has endeavoured to adopt the best international standards and practices to preserve the environment and natural resources, in addition to its commitment to support environmental community projects in different governorates countrywide in cooperation and partnership with various governmental and non-governmental institutions”.
On his part, Mr. Imad al-Hindi, General Manager of NBC, indicated that the photoelectric plant operated recently can produce 320 kilowatts of electricity to meet 90% of the power needs of the Head Office and main warehouses of NBC.
Mr. al-Hindi added: “NBC adopted this project out of our belief that NBC should take the initiative as a Palestinian company that believes in its important role in protecting the Palestinian environment from pollution and in rationalizing power consumption as well. In addition to providing a clean and renewable power source, we will contribute through this plant to the reduction of CO2 emissions resulting from the combustion of fuel to generate power and consequently contribute to protecting the environment from pollution”.
Mr. al-Hindi noted that such step is not new on NBC list of initiatives. Since its inception, NBC has always been devoted to adopt the international standards for power saving and environmental protection in its offices and factories. Toward this end, NBC procured top-notch power saving equipment and machinery which contributed in reducing carbon emission rate, a goal which is sought by most of the developed countries because carbon is a cause of environment pollution worldwide.
He indicated that in 2014, NBC completed the “Top Ten Energy Saving “in line of its efforts to achieve the targets of minimizing carbon emissions on the Coca-Cola scale. By the end of 2015, NBC managed to reduce CO2 emissions by 37.7% as compared with the levels recorded in 2008. It also managed to contribute in protecting earth from carbon pollution.
Mr. al-Hindi went on to say that such plant was inaugurated in the Headquarters first as a pilot phase that will continue for six months and afterwards the project will be adopted in all of NBC plants and warehouses, including Coca-Cola plant in Ramallah, Cappy and Arwa mineral water plant in Tulkarm, Jericho mineral water in Jericho, and Coca-Cola plant in Gaza.
On his part, Eng. Nael El-Taweel, Project Manager at NBC, said this plant is distinguished with the high efficiency of photoelectric cells used in the plant which can use the daylight during the sunset time, especially in the winter in addition to using the sunrays during the daytime, which guarantees enough power for all year long. He indicated that such system is compatible with the green building standards, a form of clean energy which does not depend on combustion of fuel to generate power, which is considered using of the available resources in a safe manner that protects the environment from pollution.
El-Taweel added that NBC installed an illustrating electronic screen at the entrance of NBC Headquarters showing the visitors the numerical values of electrical power generated by the photoelectric plant per day in addition to the amount of carbon gas reduced on that day.
It is worth mentioning that NBC received many awards in the area of quality and environment on the level of bottling companies affiliated to Coca-Cola International in Eurasia and Africa Group. Coca-Cola Ramallah plant was selected as the best plant applying the environmental systems in 2011 and 2015 on the regional level. Further, NBC received the international quality certificate ISO for compliance with the environmental standards.
NBC continues to annually support the projects to raise environmental awareness among the school students and NGOs in Palestine. Such projects include supporting the program of healthy and environment-friendly schools which is implemented by Ramallah Municipality. The project received the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management and the Arab Towns Organization Award in Doha. NBC also supported many waste recycling projects in cooperation with the Revivers of the Land of Palestine Foundation including painting murals using plastic Coca-Cola caps in a number of schools and reusing empty Coca-Cola cans to create handicrafts.
