- Solar Installation at IOT
- Reduction of non-renewable energy by 8%
- The Seychelles government takes over 40% of the company.
Thai Union Group, a global seafood producer, intends to reduce its carbon footprint by installing solar panels at Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT), its tuna processing facility in Seychelles.
The solar panel installation is scheduled to begin in August 2022 at the cost of €300,000. According to a press release, the energy generated by the solar panels, which is intended to cover more than 30% of the factory’s plant, will primarily power IOT’s cold storage facility, which needs cooling 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The IOT plant, one of the world’s largest tuna canning plants, is Seychelles’ largest commercial energy consumer. The solar panels will reduce IOT’s reliance on non-renewable energy by 8%.
According to IOT plant manager Ricardo Luzio, the Thai Union is committed to combating climate change, and increasing the use of renewable energy is an important component of its global sustainability strategy.
“The project does not only supports the company’s commitment to responsible operations and efforts to reduce our environmental impact, but it will also deliver savings that will be re-invested in the future expansion of the solar panels. Importantly, it aligns with the Seychelles government’s renewable energy plan,” Luzio explained.
IOT signed a contract with energy provider Mettle Solar Investments – a pan-African commercial and industrial solar platform company – to execute, and the cannery will purchase energy from the provider. Thai Union owns 60% of IOT, with the government of Seychelles owning the remaining 40%.