West Africa Container Terminal scraps diesel for solar electricity

The West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) has inked a Solar Lease Agreement with Starsight Energy to provide an estimated 1.2 gigawatt hours (GWh) of solar power per year over a 15-year term.

In 2024, 30 per cent of the terminals’ power will reportedly be generated from renewable sources, replacing diesel generators. APM Terminals (APMT) noted that this agreement represents a significant step forward in WACT’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions.

WACT’s Managing Director, Jeethu Jose, stated: “The topic of decarbonisation and renewable energy is something I am passionate about. This signing marks the first big step towards WACT’s net-zero journey, and it’s a moment we can all be proud of.”

Ladi Sanni, Managing Director of Starsight Energy Nigeria, said: “This collaboration supports our mission of assisting global brands like APM Terminals/WACT transition to clean energy. It is a testament to Starsight Energy and WACT’s forward-thinking energy management and environmental stewardship approach.”

According to APMT, the project will build a 1,092 kilowatt peak (kWp) solar-only system in two stages.

This project is intended to considerably lower WACT’s carbon footprint by around 20 kilotonnes (kt) of CO2 during the course of the agreement.

Furthermore, the project is consistent with Nigeria’s overall objective of moving from fossil fuels to greener energy sources.

In April, Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, announced a $600 million investment by Maersk to improve Nigeria’s port infrastructure and enable additional container shipping services in Nigerian ports.