A proud moment was bestowed on Ohorongo Cement to receive the first ever ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AMONG INDUSTRIES AWARD hosted by the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF).
The Awards Ceremony was hosted on 13 May at the Nampower Convention Centre, by The Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia, who work in close liaison with the Ministry of Environment & Tourism and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council.
These Awards are aimed at recognizing and celebrating the work of companies, local authorities and individuals have done while promoting & demonstrating sustainable and responsible development into the core of business and industry in Namibia.
The Category of Environmental Excellence Among Industries, targeted mainly private sector companies, parastatals and local authorities and seeks to reward the application of innovative technologies and exciting approaches, which minimize operational impacts on the environment. Energy and water efficiency are key focus areas as well as environmentally friendly approaches to the management of waste.
The competition for the category was stiff and Ohorongo had to compete against Namdeb / Hendrick Ehlers & the Uuyelele Solar Bottle Project / Wolwedans Collection & Northern Refuse Removals, who were all nominated. However, Ohorongo walked away victorious, with Wolwedans as runner-up.
Ohorongo Cement wants to thank the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, together with the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council and others for placing the appropriate focus on this very important aspect of Sustainable Development. After all, it is a relevant topic which touches various industries in many ways.
Ohorongo takes pride in the fact that, to name but one, its CO2 emissions are even lower than European standard requirement. However it continuously strive towards improvement through improving energy efficiencies and the cutting of waste.
The company believes that the focus on sustainable development should start with an educational process from a young age and it supports the bottom-up revolution, which also connects communities and collaborated efforts.
Each Namibian resident can make a difference, even in the smallest manner by heeding the advice: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle!
Ohorongo is planning to utilize the award to plough back into the small community of Otavi. It will liaise with the Otavi Town Council and identify an environmental community project to which the company can contribute.
The company has won similar awards in the past, however, receiving this award is a validation that the company is on the right track. Ohorongo is but an infant within a new industry, and to be bestowed with this award for Excellence Among Industries is a truly humbling experience.
As Ohorongo Cement embraces this recognition, it wants to encourage other sectors and industry to intensify their commitments to our Namibian nation, to all do our part to ensure a quality of life for ourselves and future generations.
The other categories, nominees & winners were as follows:
NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT & UTILISATION
Elephant Energy
Hendrick Ehlers and the Uuyelele Solar Bottle project
Okongo Community Forest (Runner-up)
Northern Refuse Removals
Ncumcara Community Forest (Winner)
Namibia Traditional Councilors Association
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Hon. Ben Amadhila (former Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration)
Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (current Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Environment and Tourism)
John Kasaona (Winner)
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & COMMUNICATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
YouthinkGreen Group from DHPS
Hendrick Ehlers and the Uuyele Solar Bottle project
Okakarara Waterberg Environmental Project
Cheetah Conservation Fund (Runner-Up)
Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (Winner)
Recycle Namibia Forum
PIONEERING JOURNALISTS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Absalom Shigwedha Freelance Journalist with The Namibian newspaper (Winner)
Pearl Coetzee Namibia Press Agency (Runner-Up)
Congratulations to fellow businesses who received awards and Ohorongo wants to applaud them for their dedicated efforts to assist us all to leave a lasting legacy.
Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time!
