Skukuza Total Solarised demo service station, image credit: Creamer Media’s Engineering News
The reveal is in line with Total solarisation project targeting the installation of solar panels in 5,000 service stations around the world by the end of 2021. This programme drives several efficiencies for the business, including reducing Total’s carbon emissions by 100,000 tons per year, as well as reduce its electricity bill by $40 million per year. All photovoltaic panels will be provided by SunPower, a subsidiary of Total Group since 2011 and one of the world leaders in solar photovoltaic sector. In South Africa, 282 Total service stations will be fully solarised by 2021.
Pierre Yves Sachet, CEO for Total South Africa
“The project is fully aligned with Total’s ambition of becoming the responsible energy major and its commitment to developing solar power. Total South Africa embarked on the solarisation program in response to anticipated changes in customer expectations and their relationship with energy. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the need for responsible energy consumption in light of a growing global population with increasing energy needs. We firmly believe that it is possible and necessary to produce, process and supply affordable energy while meeting the highest HSE standards,” said Pierre-Yves Sachet, MD and CEO of Total South Africa.
The reveal of this solar service station model coincides with Total South Africa’s 60-years partnership celebrations with SANParks.
“After 60 years in partnership with Total South Africa, it gives us a great pleasure to be working with a brand that shares our goals and vision in conserving our environment and investing responsible resource usage. SANParks’ is honoured to be the host of some of the first solarised service stations in South Africa and we cannot think of a better way to kick off another 60 years of partnership than with global project dedicated to conservation,” said Fundisile Mketeni, CEO of SANParks.
As part of the celebrations, Total South Africa made several donations to stakeholders that contribute to the preservation of South Africa’s national parks. Total South Africa is joining the fight against rhino poaching by sponsoring Jet Fuel for the SANParks Air-wing Project over a period of three years, approximately 100,000 litres per year. Total South Africa is also handing over 1,000 uniforms to school children from local communities and a solar lamp. Through these contributions, Total South Africa demonstrates its commitment to conservation locally and globally, and pays tribute to the men and women that, through their heroic efforts, fight daily to protect South Africa’s pristine natural environment.
About Total South Africa
Established in 1954, Total South Africa is 50.1% owned by the France-based multinational. Total South Africa is an integral part of, and plays a significant role in, the international, world-class Total Group. This means that our company is able to benefit from shared access to internationally acclaimed best practices, technological expertise and top-flight business innovations. Total SA refers to the Total Group with its head office in Paris, France and Total South Africa is the local affiliate.
About the Marketing & Services division of Total
The Marketing & Services division of Total develops, and markets products primarily derived from crude oil, along with all of the associated services. Its 31,000 employees are present in 110 countries and its products and services offers are sold in 150 countries. Every day, Total Marketing & Services serves more than 8 million customers in its network of over 16,000 service stations in 65 countries. As the world’s fourth largest distributor of lubricants and the leading distributor of petroleum products in Africa, Total Marketing & Services operates 50 production sites worldwide where it manufactures the lubricants, bitumen, additives, special fuels and fluids that sustain its growth.
About Total
Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, a major player in low-carbon energies. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.
