The tyre manufacturer has been recognised by the South African Energy Efficiency (SAEE) Confederation, which honoured the local tyre manufacturer with the Industrial Corporate Project of the Year award for 2020.

The award recognises innovative industrial energy management projects and outstanding contributions to the energy industry. Continental received the award for a heat-recovery project that saved 4.5 million kWh of energy and over R1 million in 2019 – and continues to benefit operating efficiencies and reduce the plant’s environmental impact.

“Being recognised for the monumental efforts we have put in to reduce our electricity and coal consumption is both humbling and motivating,” says Continental Tyre South Africa’s General Manager: Manufacturing, JJ Dowling. “Considering the electricity supply challenges South Africa faces, as well as the need for us to be more environmentally sustainable, every action we take to reduce our energy consumption is critical.

According to Ramoabi Moeng, CTSA’s Head of Manufacturing Technology Engineering, several heat-recovery projects have been implemented over the years that ultimately made this latest initiative possible. “Our Sustainable Technology and Infrastructure Department, along with project lead, Attie Els, investigated a means of optimising the steam and condensate system that is essential for our tyre manufacturing operations.

“Steam from the clean condensate system, which was previously dumped and wasted as an energy source, was re-routed and reused,” Moeng explains. “This allowed us to achieve a saving of 4.5 million kWh of energy and over R1 million per annum.”

Continental Tyre SA’s energy-saving efforts were further recognised by being shortlisted in the Industrial Corporate Company of the Year category. In the last five years, the company has reduced its electricity consumption by 41.3 percent and, in the same period, cut its coal consumption by 63.7 percent. By fully implementing ISO 50001:2011 guidelines since 2016, CTSA has improved its overall energy efficiency by a remarkable 27.5 percent.

Along with being awarded the Industrial Corporate Project of the Year and shortlisting for the Industrial Corporate Company of the Year category, CTSA employee, Heath Thornborrow, was nominated for the SAEE Young Professional of the Year award for his contributions to reducing the company’s energy consumption over the last three years.