Ohorongo & Carbo- Strategic partnership

Ohorongo Cement Alternative Fuel Manager, handed over the side tipper to Carbo Managing Director

In its drive to continue supporting government initiatives, as well as the Growth At Home policy, Ohorongo Cement partnered with local entrepreneur, Carbo Namibia, a Namibian manufacturer and exporter of charcoal products.

Carbo Namibia is the biggest and one of eight charcoal suppliers to Ohorongo Cement, therefore the decision by Ohorongo to assist Carbo in the procurement of a 80𝑚3 side tipper to the value of approximately N$ 700 000. This would ensure timeous delivery of higher volumes of charcoal fines to Ohorongo at reduced cost.

Ohorongo Cement is always looking for innovative energy saving initiatives to minimize its carbon footprint, while supporting local entrepreneurs. Ohorongo initially approached local charcoal producers within the Otjozondjupa region to procure charcoal fines to utilize as alternative fuel. The fines are used in the production process of cement to fire the Ohorongo kiln, which burns at temperatures exceeding 1500 degrees Celsius.

Prior to Ohorongo procuring the fines from the producers, it was essentially a waste product to them, as it was not viable for export purposes at the time, leaving them with huge unsightly heaps on site. Through their supply agreement with Ohorongo, local charcoal suppliers can now get rid of a ‘waste product’, while creating employment and additional income. At the same time, the quantities of coal imported as fuel is reduced, and less local currency is spent on foreign markets.

Carbo Namibia is a local FSC registered company situated in Grootfontein, which started operating on a small scale in 2005, and has since grown to a multi-functioning manufacturing plant through practical partnerships similar to the one with Ohorongo Cement.

This is a partnership that started in 2016, through the Ohorongo Energy for Future (EFF) project, with an initial supply of 786 tons of charcoal fines per annum, and has since grown to 5000 tons in 2018, with a total of 11 000 tons to date.

Ohorongo Cement operates one of the most environmentally friendly plants in the world, with minimum air-, water- and noise pollution, and is also ISO 14001 certified. In line with Ohorongo’s commitment to a sustainable future, the replacement of traditional fuels with alternative fuels such as wood chips, refuse derived fuel (RDF) and charcoal fines, are part of the company’s corporate strategy, and are pursued continuously. Currently Ohorongo uses 58% woodchips, 28% RDF and 14% charcoal, with the total percentage alternative fuel usage to date being 42.7%, with a target of 56% by 2020 and a long term target of 80%.

The procurement of the side tipper will ensure the transport of larger quantities per load, reducing the total carbon footprint. It also results in less trucks on our roads, which assists in reducing vehicle accidents, another important aspect for Ohorongo.

Ohorongo Cement regards the procurement of the side tipper as a shared investment ensuring a mutually productive and valuable partnership.