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03/02/2021 Press release

Bayara and Total Solar Distributed Generation Celebrate First Year of Solar Rooftop Installation

Estimated reduction of nearly 1,000 tons of CO2 per year for Bayara, which is equivalent of planting over 25,000 trees

Dubai, UAE — February 3, 2021: Gyma Food Industries - Bayara, a leading manufacturer of nuts, dried fruits and spices across the Middle East and Africa region (MEA), and a renowned brand of pure and natural flavours, is celebrating one year of its solar energy transition. This project has been powered by Total, through its affiliate Total Solar Distributed Generation (DG) Middle East, a regional leader in the development of solar solutions for commercial and industrial businesses.

Over 3,700 photovoltaic (PV) panels were installed on the rooftop of Bayara's main production facility in Dubai Investments Park (DIP), spanning around 7,000 square-meters, which roughly equals the surface area of 27 tennis courts. Total Solar DG also installed an electric vehicle (EV) charger in the production facility’s parking lot, which uses solar energy to charge Bayara’s employees’ vehicles.

The solar solution, provided by Total Solar DG, allows Bayara to pursue its commitment to sustainability and now covers over 73% of Bayara’s electricity needs. With a capacity of 1.4 megawatts-peak (MWp), the PV panels generate over 2.2 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable energy annually, allowing an estimated reduction of nearly 1,000 tons of CO2 per year for Bayara, which is equivalent of planting over 25,000 trees.

“We are a forward-looking and conscientious company, and we are committed to creating a sustainable future. Environment-friendly practices are an integral part of our strategic thinking. Total Solar DG’s solar rooftop installation has effectively and efficiently facilitated our move to solar energy. This was achieved without any downtime or disruptions to our day-to-day operations. Now, a year into this transition, we can really appreciate the positive impact this installation has had on the environment. It has also allowed us to better align ourselves with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050,” commented Jean-Marc Lourau, CEO at Gyma Food Industries (Bayara).

“We are proud to have collaborated with Bayara, and to have played a crucial role in their solar energy transition. We share their vision for a sustainable future, which is what makes this partnership so successful.  At Total, our climate ambition is to work in conjunction with society to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Our partnership with Bayara lines up with this objective — the solar rooftop installation project has successfully reduced Bayara’s annual CO2 emissions. We are pleased to have facilitated this step towards a sustainable future,” noted Marin de Montbel, Managing Director at Total Solar DG Middle East.

This project falls under Bayara’s vision and future plans for more sustainable practices through reducing the utilisation of plastic and reducing transportation by processing and farming their products in the United Arab Emirates.

 


About Bayara

Founded in 1992, Gyma Food Industries / Bayara is a leading manufacturer of nuts, dried fruits and spices across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. Bayara produces 20,000 tons of products annually and distributes to 5,000 points of sale in over 30 countries, Bayara has been recognised as one of the leading brands in the MEA region, thanks to a staff of over 1,000 employees committed to the company’s values and mission, and running its two factories in KSA and UAE.

Bayara is renowned for its products, which are consistent in quality and embody the world’s best flavours.

About Total Solar Distributed Generation Middle East

Total Solar Distributed Generation (DG) Middle East is a wholly owned subsidiary of Total dedicated to the development of distributed solar energy solutions, including solar-powered rooftops, carport and ground-mounted solar power plants. Active since 2018, Total Solar DG is one of the major international providers of fully integrated solar solutions for commercial and industrial customers in the region

About Total

Total is a broad energy company that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and electricity. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is more affordable, more reliable, cleaner and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, our ambition is to become the responsible energy major.