Hero Middle East and Africa (MEA) established a new solar cell-powered station at its plant, in collaboration with the Industrial Modernisation Centre and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to safeguard the environment through generating electricity by solar energy. This establishment is in line with Egypt's 2030 Strategic Energy Conservation Plan and the advancement of environmentally-friendly practices. Hero MEA has implemented an accurate development plan in its production facilities to ration electricity consumption. Hero MEA called for promoting the installation of solar cell power stations in the industrial sector, in addition to residential buildings, business establishments, and hotels. Mahmoud Bazan, cluster general manager – MEA & Turkey, has indicated that the company's plan for the establishment of the station aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 136 tonnes annually with an electricity capacity of 150kW, using 235MW/h of solar energy. He pointed out that technical and material support for this project was given by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). He also emphasised Hero's keen interest in funding the solar cell power station with 75% of its investment costs. This came as a result of Hero's strong belief in the role of the significant industrial organisations in promoting community awareness of the environment and the need to ration the use of natural resources and keep them from depletion. Bazan added that he calls on all industrial companies in Egypt to market and to promote solar cell systems installations. He also asked the emerging markets to encourage this promising technology and to overcome all obstacles impeding electricity production increase through this clean industry. He also emphasised the importance of setting up centres for substantive and technical consultancy. Furthermore, he encourages the increase of solar cells local production and development, as well as the training of technical staff with the greatest professional sector norms to create direct and indirect new job opportunities for the youth. Hero MEA is a worldwide corporation specialised in the field of food manufacturing with over 130 years of experience.
