CLIMATE · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
South Africa's Timber Industry Shifts to Renewable Energy
WHY IT MATTERS
The agreement will help reduce the sawmill's greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impact of South Africa's Carbon Tax, which is set to increase as generous allowances are lifted this year.
What happened
York Timber Holdings has signed a 10-year renewable electricity agreement with Discovery Green, a subsidiary of South Africa's largest health insurance scheme.
The agreement will provide approximately 90% of the Jessievale sawmill's electricity use from renewable sources.
This trend is spreading amongst commercial users in South Africa, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and exposure to electricity tariff hikes.
PRIMARY SOURCES
In South Africa, renewable energy latest part of timber industry’s green efforts
Mongabay · Terna Gyuse · Discovery and factual synthesis only; publisher copyright terms apply