The annual EBRD Sustainability Awards recognise the efforts of clients who have demonstrated excellence and a commitment beyond the Bank’s performance requirements for managing environmental and social issues, promoting energy efficiency or combating climate change.
Awards
We received 30 nominations across the four categories and the winners were selected by an external judging panel consisting of experts in finance and sustainability. The quality of nominations this year was exceptional and shortlisting deserving clients was challenging – indeed, one category had joint winners. We are very proud of our clients’ efforts and the excellent quality of the nominations and winners.
The 2016 winners are:
Sustainable Energy: Burnoye Solar Power Project (Kazakhstan)
The Sustainable Energy Award was presented to the Burnoye Solar Power Project in Kazakhstan. The 50 MW solar photovoltaic site is the first large-scale solar power plant in a country where the power sector has been dominated by coal usage, obsolete technology, low energy and environmental performances and prolonged lack of investment. The project – expected to result in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings of 60,000 tonnes of CO2 annually – is leading the way for further investments in renewables in Kazakhstan.
Climate Change Adaptation: Damanhour Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (Egypt)
The Climate Change Adaptation Award was presented to the West Delta Electricity Production Company for the Damanhour Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) project in Egypt. The Damanhour CCGT project – the EBRD’s first climate resilience transaction in the thermal power sector – will not only result in considerable GHG savings but will also avoid significant water losses, particularly important given the anticipated water stress in Egypt.
Environmental and Social Innovation: Flash Candy & Gum and Maghreb Industries (Morocco)
The Environmental and Social Innovation Award went to Flash Candy & Gum and Maghreb Industries, a small Moroccan agribusiness producing chewing gum and confectionery. The company is constructing a modern production site on the outskirts of Casablanca that is “as green as possible”. Solar panels will cover 90 per cent of the roof space of the new facility and the company is adopting an innovative mix of sustainability measures.
Environmental and Social Best Practice (joint winners): Shymkentcement (Kazakhstan) and KCM (Bulgaria)
Shymkentcement – the Kazakh affiliate of Italcementi Group and one of the largest cement producers in the world – is joint winner of the Environmental and Social Best Practice award. Shymkentcement is notable for reducing carbon intensity in the Kazakh cement industry and introducing alternative fuels. The company has expanded its comprehensive energy and environmental-management systems and undertaken education initiatives with local universities and colleges to disseminate knowledge about energy efficient technology and environmental best practice.
KCM – a leading Bulgarian pure metal producer – is joint winner of the Environmental and Social Best Practice award. KCM has constructed a new lead plant (including a state-of-the-art smelting furnace) and made major upgrades to the zinc smelting process. Benefits include a reduction in the emission of fugitive dust in the workplace and the local environment by a factor of 10, resulting in much improved employee safety and industrial hygiene conditions, and significantly reducing the contamination of the surrounding soils.