Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Tech Industry Ready to Roll Up its Sleeves to Fight Climate Change at Africa Tech Festival

Published

on

Climate Change

The ICT sector has traditionally been a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as data centres, for example, contribute to 2% of global GHG

LONDON, United Kingdom, September 16, 2022/APO Group/ — 

“Africa has sufficient resources to power itself entirely by clean energy. Therefore, the question for most of the continent is not one of transitioning to clean energy or reducing emissions in power generation, but how to effectively finance the development of clean energy in the continent.” Kellie Murungi Chief Investments Officer, East African Power

Each year, Africa Tech Festival (https://bit.ly/3Uj7v5I) addresses some of the most pertinent and pressing issues facing the African continent’s socio-economic future and the role that technology and communications’ play in facilitating this progression. One of the more burning issues that will be addressed is climate change, and with International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer happening on 16 September, there’s no better time than to look beneath the hood and see what is on offer at this year’s event.

There had been rumblings from scientists about the dangers of household products and appliances to the ozone layer for many years. Lined up as potential public enemies were toiletries such as aerosols and shaving foams, as well as pulsing products the likes of fridges and air-conditioners, all of which were believed to be causing damage to the ozone layer. As is the case with most warnings from the scientific community, everyone ignored it until theory became reality in 1985, when a hole was spotted in said ozone layer.

With the planet’s natural sun shield now compromised, the world (notably the corporate world) was forced to re-design aerosols, foaming cans, fridges, and air-cons.

Industry was quick to act, including adapting factories, waste systems and recycling practices, to ensure they were ready for the rafts for regulations that were to follow. Key among these was the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which came into effect on September 16, 1987. The Montreal Protocol was a significant statement of intent from the world’s leaders and marked an unprecedented turning point in the history of environmental protection and was ratified by every country in the world by 2008.

These changes have also had an impact on helping in the next great challenge faced by our planet – global warming. 

One industry that has expanded massively since the humble days of the “low-tech” 1980s, is the electronics and communications industry. Whereas in the 1980s, perhaps one in every three homes in the industrialised world had a personal computer for example, today that figure has potentially risen to two to three screens per person per household or more. The impact on global warming of all this production of screen-based equipment is potentially enormous, not to mention the energy needed to fuel them.

The ICT sector has traditionally been a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions as data centres, for example, contribute to 2% of global GHG. The sector, therefore, also has a real potential to play a part in combating climate change and taking steps to reduce energy consumption and operate more sustainably.  Consequently, Africa Tech Festival will host a Fireside chat: What is the role of Green ICT in combating climate change – on Tuesday 8 November- and one on Green ICT: Building a Continent powered by sustainable energy as a route to affordable and reliable electrification for all.

The fireside chat will ask the core question of how the ICT sector can look to lower its own significant impact on greenhouse gases. The panel will discuss best practice ways to lower carbon emissions as well as the possible impact of smart electricity grids and smart cities on lowering Africa’s carbon emissions.

Regarding Africa’s development of clean energy, Kellie Murungi Chief Investments Officer, East African Power remarks that: “Africa has sufficient resources to power itself entirely by clean energy. Therefore, the question for most of the continent is not one of transitioning to clean energy or reducing emissions in power generation, but how to effectively finance the development of clean energy in the continent.” 

A keynote address at AfricaCom, titled ‘How Carbon reduction can accelerate the creation of a digital economy’, will highlight the big question for the African continent, which is how governments can help to address the climate disaster without affecting the basic needs for its population.

Our hope is that AfricaCom will play a major role in connecting entrepreneurs, big corporate and major public sector players to create homegrown innovations

“Although Africa still may have many challenges in its way, there are also many opportunities for rapid advancement if the right questions are asked, such as how the continent can get ahead of the curve and collaborate across countries to build financially viable power projects, for instance,” says James Williams, Director, Events | Connecting Africa | Informa Tech.

“Africa’s economic future depends on the rapid development of ICT and related infrastructure across the continent, but it’s essential that all future projects and rollouts are in line with global best practice in terms of greenhouse gas emissions,” adds Williams. “Our hope is that AfricaCom will play a major role in connecting entrepreneurs, big corporate and major public sector players to create homegrown innovations that could help to drive these changes.”

Also worth attending:

Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 14:00 – 14:45
Panel: The Future of Africa must be driven by renewable energy
Although Sub-Saharan countries (excluding South Africa) are only responsible for 0.55% of the carbon emissions, 7 of the top 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change are in Africa. This session will explore how the continent can leverage its breadth of resources to become a leader in renewable energy production and reduce its vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 14:45 – 15:30
Fireside Chat: Championing Sustainable Energy as a Route to Affordable and Reliable Electrification for All and As a Central Pillar of Africa’s 4IR

Wednesday, 9 November 2022, 12:50 – 13:15
Fireside Chat: Central Africa’s role in the green energy revolution
Countries across Central Africa have some of the lowest rates of electricity access across the continent with resources in the DRC, for example, covering less than 10% of the population. Given the climate, however, it is an ideal region to implement clean energy solutions to combat climate change and provide the population with a basic need

Wednesday, November 2022, 6pm-8pm

Africa Tech Festival Awards, with the announcement of the winner for the Green ICT Champion of the Year Award, an exclusive recognition of the individual or organisation leading on the development and integration of sustainable energy solutions.

For the full programme to the 2022 AfricaCom schedule, visit https://bit.ly/3xqxmi9

Further information can be found on the Africa Tech Festival website here (https://bit.ly/3QM3JhW)

FREE delegate passes are available here (https://bit.ly/3QKqhj5)

MEDIA – please use this link (https://bit.ly/3xnnhT2) to register for accreditation and advance news on announcements etc

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

Business

ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Delivers on Responsible Scaling, Surpassing 2028 Carbon Intensity Target Three Years Early with Renewables at 83.2%

Published

on

ST Telemedia

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 July 2026 – ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) today published its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, setting out how the Singapore-headquartered global data centre provider is meeting accelerating demand, including from AI-driven workloads, through infrastructure that is more resilient, efficient and sustainable by design. The report highlights 83.2% renewable energy usage, a 70.5% reduction in carbon intensity from its 2021 baseline, 41.2% improvement in water usage effectiveness (WUE) from the 2020 baseline, and continued progress in embedding ESG considerations into how STT GDC designs, builds, finances and operates its data centres at scale.

The report positions responsible growth as a core business discipline for STT GDC, linking sustainability performance to long-term asset resilience, customer trust and operational excellence. Across its global platform, STT GDC is integrating ESG considerations into capital allocation, site selection, design, operations, risk management and workforce development to support reliable digital infrastructure at scale.

Bruno Lopez, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, says, “The next phase of digital growth will be defined by how the industry resolves the tension between rising demand — particularly from AI — and the finite nature of energy, water and land. Responsible scaling is therefore not a sustainability commitment alone; it is a commercial and operational imperative that shapes where we build, how we design, and how we run our data centre platform. Our 2025 progress reflects disciplined execution of a strategy we have been advancing for years, delivering meaningful improvements in energy efficiency, emissions and resource management across our global platform. As we scale further, we will continue to advance with the same discipline — in the infrastructure we build, the governance that underpins it, and the positive impact we create for the communities and ecosystems we are part of.”

Scaling efficient, lower-carbon infrastructure

STT GDC continued to advance its decarbonisation strategy in 2025, delivering measurable reductions in emissions and improvements in resource efficiency while scaling its global data centre platform to meet rising digital demand. The Group’s approach focuses on embedding sustainability into the design and operation of its infrastructure, enabling long-term performance while managing growing energy and resource requirements. Key environmental achievements include:

Furthered renewable energy adoption, with 83.2% of electricity consumption sourced from renewables, supporting STT GDC’s transition towards carbon-neutral operations by 2030.
Reduced carbon intensity by 70.5% from the 2021 baseline, surpassing STT GDC’s 2028 target three years ahead of schedule, alongside a 15.2% year-on-year reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Improved energy efficiency across operations, achieving an average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.44, a 13.0% improvement from the 2020 baseline, reflecting continued optimisation of data centre design and operations.
Enhanced water stewardship, with Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) improving by 41.2% from the 2020 baseline, supported by a balanced approach to managing energy and water use in cooling systems.
Continued progress in sustainable infrastructure, with 48% of its data centres achieving green building certification, reflecting the integration of sustainability considerations across the lifecycle of its facilities.
Building a safe and future-ready workforce

As STT GDC continues to scale its global data centre platform, investing in people, safety and workforce capabilities remains central to delivering reliable and sustainable operations. In 2025, the Group maintained a strong focus on safeguarding its workforce, strengthening organisational capability and supporting the development of future-ready talent to meet the growing demands of the digital economy. Key social achievements include:

Maintained strong safety performance, with zero work-related fatalities and a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.1 across more than 41 million hours worked, reflecting robust health and safety management across construction and operations.
Strengthened workforce capability, with an average of 18 training hours per employee, supporting the development of technical, operational and leadership skills across the organisation.
Advanced diversity and inclusion, with 21.7% women representation across the Group, reinforcing ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and balanced workforce.
Expanded talent development initiatives, including the DC Power Up programme and partnerships with 10 Institutes of Higher Learning across our markets, helping to build a pipeline of industry-ready talent for the growing digital infrastructure sector.
Deepened community and workforce engagement, through skills development programmes and industry-academic partnerships that support long-term talent development and contribute to local economic growth.
Strengthening Governance and Resilience at Scale

Strong governance, disciplined risk management and robust operational controls underpin STT GDC’s ability to scale responsibly in an increasingly complex digital environment. In 2025, the Group continued to strengthen its enterprise-wide approach to governance, embedding ESG considerations into decision-making, risk management and day-to-day operations to support long-term resilience and performance. Key achievements include:

Strengthened governance and ethical business practices, with 100% of employees completing anti-corruption training, reinforcing STT GDC’s commitment to integrity and accountability across its global operations.
Enhanced enterprise-wide risk management, incorporating climate, cybersecurity and operational risks into planning and decision-making, ensuring infrastructure resilience as the Group scales.
Advanced cybersecurity and operational resilience, including strengthened governance, technical controls and preparedness through initiatives such as executive-level cyber exercises and risk assessments across key facilities.
Improved supply chain governance, embedding ESG criteria into procurement processes and reinforcing responsible sourcing practices across its global vendor network.
Strengthened organisational alignment and execution, through the inaugural Group ESG Summit, supporting capability building and consistent application of ESG priorities across markets.
These efforts come as data centre operators face growing expectations to deliver capacity while managing energy, water, climate and cybersecurity risks with greater transparency and accountability.

STT GDC’s 2025 ESG Report reflects a continued evolution in how the Group approaches sustainable growth, with a stronger focus on disciplined execution, operational resilience and long-term performance as it scales its global platform. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly critical to economies and societies, STT GDC will continue to embed sustainability, risk management and governance into how it designs, builds and operates its data centres.

By working closely with customers, partners and communities, the Group aims to deliver infrastructure that is not only efficient and resilient, but also capable of supporting the next phase of digital growth, including AI-driven workloads, in a responsible and sustainable way.

The full 2025 ESG Report is available at https://www.sttelemediagdc.com/about-us/our-esg-progress

About ST Telemedia Global Data Centres
ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) is one of the fastest-growing data centre providers with a global platform serving as a cornerstone of the digital ecosystem that helps the world to connect. Powering a sustainable digital future, STT GDC operates across Singapore, the UK, Germany, Italy, India, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam, providing businesses an exceptional foundation that is built for their growth anywhere. For more information, visit https://www.sttelemediagdc.com/

 

Continue Reading

Energy

London Showcase to Bring Venezuela’s Energy Opportunities to Global Investors Ahead of 2026 Summit

Published

on

A high-level London industry showcase on July 30 will bring together UK and European investors, financiers and energy leaders to explore emerging opportunities across Venezuela’s oil, gas and power sectors ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2026

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 17, 2026/APO Group/ –As Venezuela accelerates efforts to revitalize its energy sector and attract international investment, Venezuela Energy Week 2026 will host an exclusive Industry Showcase in London on July 30, bringing together investors, financial institutions, international oil companies, commodity traders and energy executives for market intelligence, networking and partnership development ahead of the flagship conference taking place this October in Caracas.

 

Designed as a strategic preview of the main event, the London showcase will provide UK and European stakeholders with first-hand insight into Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape while creating opportunities for commercial dialogue with industry leaders, potential partners and key decision-makers.

Home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves and significant natural gas resources, Venezuela is entering a new phase of energy development focused on increasing production, expanding gas commercialization and modernizing critical infrastructure. Ongoing reforms and renewed international engagement are creating opportunities for companies able to provide capital, technology and technical expertise.

The timing is particularly significant as several UK and European energy companies continue to strengthen their presence in Venezuela. UK-based majors Shell and BP are advancing key natural gas developments, with Shell preparing for 2027 drilling at the Dragon offshore gas project and BP signing agreements in April to develop the Cocuina-Manakin offshore gas field, marking its return to the Venezuelan market. Spain’s Repsol recently announced plans to increase production from its Venezuelan assets, while Italy’s Eni is relaunching a heavy crude project in the Orinoco Belt. France’s Maurel & Prom, meanwhile, remains a key partner in strategic assets such as the Urdaneta Oeste field. On the trading and commercialization front, Geneva-headquartered energy trader Vitol has renewed its engagement with Venezuelan crude exports, reflecting broader international interest in reconnecting the country’s resources with global markets.

Against this backdrop, the London Industry Showcase will highlight Venezuela’s re-emerging investment potential while creating a platform for strategic networking and direct engagement with government leaders, national energy companies, regulators and private sector partners.

The event is expected to attract representatives from investment funds, export credit agencies, commercial banks, private equity firms, commodity traders, engineering companies, technology providers and UK-based independent energy companies exploring opportunities across Venezuela’s energy value chain.

The showcase will also provide an exclusive preview of Venezuela Energy Week 2026, including ministerial dialogues, executive forums, technical conferences and dedicated business-to-business networking sessions designed to connect international investors with the decision-makers shaping the country’s energy future.

Taking place on October 26–29, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela Energy Week serves as the country’s premier platform for advancing investment across the oil, gas and power sectors. By bringing the conversation to London – one of the world’s leading financial and energy centers – the Industry Showcase builds momentum ahead of the flagship event while strengthening ties between international capital and one of the world’s most resource-rich energy markets.

To participate in the London Industry Showcase on July 30 or secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2026 in Caracas this October, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com to learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery

 

Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

 

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/3RKKqfz).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Continue Reading

Events

October 2-4, 2026, Announced as New Date for the Inaugural Alamein Africa Forum

Published

on

The Forum which was earlier scheduled to hold in June 2026 was postponed following concerns about the evolving public health situation on the continent at the time

The Government of Egypt and the African Union Commission alongside other key stakeholders and partners are pleased to announce new dates for the inaugural Alamein Africa Forum (www.AlameinForum.com).

 

The Forum which was earlier scheduled to hold in June 2026 was postponed following concerns about the evolving public health situation on the continent at the time.

The inaugural Alamein Africa Forum will now be held between October 2-4, 2026, in Alamein, Egypt following consultations between the relevant stakeholders. It will be held in parallel with the African Union mid-year Summit which will take place in Alamein on 4 October 2026.

Please accept our sincere appreciation for your understanding, flexibility and continued support.

The Forum presents a unique opportunity to engage key policy makers, including African Heads of State and Government, as well as senior leaders from finance, industry and institutional investors to advance Africa’s private sector agenda.

Additional information regarding accommodation and logistics as well as the Forum programme will be made available on the Forum website as soon as next week.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Alamein Africa Forum.

 

Continue Reading

Trending