General
Coca-Cola Targets Total Renewable Energy Adoption by 2040
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC) has announced its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2040.
The commitment, which was recently launched across 28 markets by the leading bottlers of the Coca-Cola brands, represents a bold response to the global concerns around climate emergency and its threats to the future of the planet.
The company aims to achieve this total renewable energy adoption target through the adoption of several initiatives, including the investment of €250 million in emissions reduction initiatives by 2025; switching to 100 per cent renewable electricity and low carbon energy sources; accelerating efforts towards low carbon packaging by increasing rPET use and adopting package-less and refillable options and removing plastics in secondary packaging.
The organisation also plans to provide energy-efficient and eco-friendly coolers to customers, reduce emissions from agricultural ingredients and implement a “Green Fleet” programme to switch to low and no-carbon alternatives.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr Zoran Bogdanovic, CEO of Coca-Cola HBC, said, “This commitment is the ultimate destination of a journey that we started many years ago. It is fully aligned with our philosophy to support the socio-economic development of our communities and to make a more positive environmental impact. Both are integral to our future growth.
“Although we don’t yet have all the answers, our plan, track record and partnership approach give us confidence that we will deliver.”
Also commenting on behalf of one of the company’s partners, Mr Markus Pfanner, Vice President, Sustainability Tetra Pak, said: “As Tetra Pak also has a net-zero target and SBTi approved 1.50 aligned 2030 targets, we look forward to working with Coca-Cola HBC to reduce GHG emissions and together achieve our joint aims.”
In Nigeria, NBC is playing its role to accelerate efforts towards reaching this target through several interventions.
The company commenced the transition of four of its manufacturing plants in Maiduguri, Kano, Asejire and Abuja, to renewable energy sources through the installation of solar power infrastructure. These efforts deliver up to 2,650 KWP to the facilities, and the expansion phase will even deliver more carbon footprint reduction.
Furthermore, NBC has completed the installation of Combined Heat and Power Plants (CHP) at four of its manufacturing plants which has resulted in a significant reduction of its carbon footprint across the country. With the CHPs, heat emission that would have been lost is effectively channelled back into powering boilers at the plants.
As an innovative leader in water stewardship, the company has also ensured that all its manufacturing facilities have effluent treatment plants which ensure that wastewater released from operations are safe for plant and animal life.
As a confirmation, all NBC plants have received the prestigious Alliance for Water Stewardship certification, the highest global benchmark for responsible water stewardship.
Speaking on the company’s interventions so far, the Managing Director at NBC, Mr Mathieu Seguin, said, “Climate change is a global emergency that requires deliberate, proactive and coordinated efforts to be mitigated. We have seen its impact on agriculture and food production, rising sea levels, declining biodiversity, and the threat to coastal communities.
“We are passionate about leading efforts that strengthen the sustainability of the environment while supporting the socio-economic development of our communities. These priorities are integral to our future growth and central to our values as an organization.”
Through an existing and approved science-based target, the CCHBC is aiming at a 25 per cent reduction in its value chain emissions by 2030 and a further 50 per cent reduction the following decade.
To address the 90 per cent of emissions resulting from third party actions, the company is broadening the existing partnership approach with suppliers whilst also investing in other climate protection measures wherever emissions cannot be eliminated entirely.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) recently hosted a high-level delegation from Newryton International Industrial Development Company Limited, a leading Chinese investment and industrial development consortium, to advance discussions on deepening bilateral trade, industrial cooperation, and development financing between both countries.
The Newryton delegation, led by Mr David Chen, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Hainan Investment Council, had earlier engaged with the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). They were accompanied to the NCSP by Mr Joe Onyuike, Vice-Chairman of NACCIMA’s Agriculture and Livestock Trade Group, who conveyed NACCIMA’s support for the delegation’s engagements.
Discussions centered on the establishment of a Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform, including a proposed Promotion Centre in China to support Nigerian products, investors, and state governments.
The consortium also presented opportunities within Hainan Province’s Free Trade Port (FTP), which offers preferential policies that Nigerian businesses can leverage to expand exports and attract new investments.
In his address on behalf of Newryton, Mr Pong outlined plans to collaborate with NCSP in accessing FOCAC-supported financing for strategic investments in agriculture, energy, mining, solid minerals processing, and related sectors. The delegation identified aquaculture as a key area of interest and referenced the forthcoming Global Aquaculture Conference in Hainan Province, encouraging Nigerian stakeholders to participate.
They also expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in vocational training and employment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Director-General, Martins Olajide, NCSP’s Head of Internal Operations, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
He highlighted NCSP’s strong interest in the proposed Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform and the development of the Nigerian Oil Palm Industrial Park as a flagship demonstration project.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ms Judy Melifonwu, NCSP’s Head of International Relations, underscored the opportunities presented by China’s zero-tariff policy and the forthcoming NAQS–GACC protocol on the export of Nigerian aquaculture products. She noted that these frameworks would significantly enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging global markets.
Both parties expressed commitment to advancing discussions toward a structured cooperation framework covering all priority areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), established in 2019 as part of a 16-year legacy of UK-funded infrastructure support to Nigeria, convened over 100 senior stakeholders on Tuesday, December 2, to review its progress and formally close out its current phase of operations.
The event brought together representatives from federal and state governments, development partners, development finance institutions, and the private sector to reflect on UKNIAF’s work across the power, infrastructure finance, and roads sectors. Discussions focused on institutional reforms, capacity development, and the sustainability of tools and processes introduced over the past six years.
Since inception, UKNIAF has delivered targeted technical assistance designed to embed evidence-based reforms, data-driven decision-making, and improved institutional performance. Its interventions have mobilised significant financing, strengthened regulatory and planning systems, and enhanced investor readiness across multiple infrastructure markets.
In the power sector, participants highlighted landmark achievements including the development of Nigeria’s first Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines a least-cost and low-carbon pathway for expanding electricity supply. UKNIAF also supported the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in building advanced real-time data capabilities for tariff monitoring, grid management, and outage tracking. The programme enabled pioneering states to establish their own electricity markets following constitutional reforms.
In infrastructure finance, UKNIAF was recognised for strengthening project preparation systems and enabling access to capital. Notable accomplishments include supporting the mobilisation of $75 million from the African Development Bank to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme in two states, and accelerating mini-grid and solar deployment through improved technical standards at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
UKNIAF also designed a national project preparation facility, for which N21 billion was allocated in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets to build a pipeline of bankable projects.
Speaking on this, Mr Frank Edozie, UKNIAF Team Lead, described the programme’s close-out as a “handover for sustained delivery,” emphasising that strengthened institutions now hold tools that make Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape more transparent, climate-smart, and investor-ready.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, commended the programme, noting that its technical assistance and advisory services had helped lay the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive electricity supply industry.
Mrs Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Corporation at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, praised the partnership, highlighting achievements ranging from state-level electricity market reforms to unlocking major financing and designing Nigeria’s Climate Change Fund.
Enugu State Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, underscored the lasting influence of the programme, stating that UKNIAF’s impact continues through the expertise and leadership transferred to national and sub-national institutions.
The close-out event reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to sustaining tools, reforms, and knowledge products developed under UKNIAF, while strengthening collaboration among public, private, and development actors in the infrastructure ecosystem.
Participants included federal and state agencies such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Federal Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance, NERC, REA, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, alongside development partners including the African Development Bank, World Bank, and IFC, as well as private sector and civil society stakeholders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has been slashed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Lagos-based oil facility brought down the ex-depot price of the petroleum product by 15.58 per cent or N129 per litre to N828 per litre.
Though the company had yet to release an official statement on this development, real-time market data on Petroleumprice.ng on Friday showed the new price.
Punch reports that data from the platform also showed fresh reductions across several private depots following the refinery’s latest review.
Sigmund Depot cut its ex-depot price by N4 to N824 per litre, Bulk Strategic dropped its price by N3, and TechnoOil slashed its by N15.
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