The Vodacom Group, one of the largest telecommunications companies on the continent, has announced a major milestone in its environmental strategy: 100% of the electricity it purchases now comes exclusively from renewable sources. This achievement covers all of the company’s operations, including in Mozambique.
According to an article published on Tuesday, June 10, by the news portal Engineering News, “this accomplishment reflects the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions” and move towards its more ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions across direct operations by 2035.
Vodacom, quoted in the article, explained that it uses several strategies to ensure renewable energy supply to its facilities, including the implementation of its own solar and wind power generation units; signing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with independent producers; and acquiring Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset electricity consumption from the public grid. In the last financial year, Vodacom’s total energy consumption was 2,076 gigawatt-hours (GWh), of which approximately 1,275 GWh were purchased from the grid or other suppliers. Of this amount, 906 GWh came from the traditional power grid and were not covered by PPAs or self-generation. To mitigate the environmental impact, the company purchased RECs to ensure that all electricity used is effectively renewable.
According to Vodacom, this approach includes countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Lesotho.
“We are extremely proud of this achievement. As we continue to reduce our environmental impact and improve the sustainability of our operations across Africa, our 100% renewable electricity procurement marks a significant milestone in our ongoing strategy to reach net zero emissions by 2035,” said Dejan Kastelic, Vodacom’s Chief Technology Officer.
The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is responsible for between 1.5% and 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions — a percentage that is expected to rise with the exponential growth in data traffic driven by Internet expansion and the proliferation of AI-based technologies.
In this context, the shift to renewable energy sources is essential to curb the environmental impact of the industry. Vodacom notes it has taken a pioneering role in this movement by combining technological innovation with strategic partnerships in the public sector.
One example is its collaboration with Eskom (South Africa’s state-owned power utility) in developing so-called “virtual wheeling” of renewable energy. This mechanism allows the electricity consumed by Vodacom’s local operations to be sourced from independent renewable energy producers (IPPs), such as solar and wind farms.
“Vodacom South Africa will be the first to procure renewable electricity through virtual wheeling in the last quarter of 2025,” revealed Dejan Kastelic.
At the continental level, the company works closely with local governments to encourage investment in clean energy infrastructure and promote the growth of independent renewable energy producers.
Kastelic emphasized the crucial role of the tech sector in the fight against climate change, especially in regions like Africa, where the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly visible.
“The technology sector has both the responsibility and the capability to lead efforts in reducing GHG emissions,” he stated, adding that “at Vodacom, we are committed to setting the standard in energy efficiency and accelerating the shift to renewable energy.”
The company also stands out as the first operator on the continent to certify all its African operations under the ISO 50001 standard — the international benchmark for energy management.
“As we continue to live our purpose of connecting everyone for a better future, our net zero target is essential to building a sustainable and inclusive digital society, while protecting our planet for future generations,” he concluded.
Source: Diário Económico
