Total Energy, the French energy giant, announced its participation in Congo in the celebrations of the National Tree Planting Day, with a project that can sequester 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Total has launched a large-scale afforestation project called “Bateke Carbon Basin”, in the Bateke Plateau in Congo and Gabon, as part of the steps to achieve zero-emission climate goals through its projects.
40 Million Trees
The afforestation project announced by Total Energy, in partnership with the “Fore” resource management group, one of the leading companies in the forestry, afforestation and timber sector in Africa.
Covering an area of 40,000 hectares, Total Energy, in cooperation with Foret, is carrying out afforestation operations on the Bateke Plateau.
Its plan includes planting 40 million trees over 10 years, and providing care for them for more than 35 years, according to a statement by the company on its website.
Over the past 8 months, more than one million native seedlings have been produced, which are planned to be gradually planted in conjunction with the upcoming rainy season.
The cultivation of one million seedlings extends over an area of 800 hectares, on lands that have been rehabilitated for this since last summer.
Total plans to cut emissions by 40% by 2030
Total launches the world’s largest fund to finance clean hydrogen projects
Carbon Sequestration
The 40,000 hectares that will be cultivated will form a carbon sink, sequestering 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, for 20 years.
The amount of carbon that will be sequestered on the Batteki Plateau is equivalent to the carbon emissions of a European city, with an average population of 70,000.
Total Energy is documenting carbon credits under a Certified Carbon Standard (VCS), a voluntary CER program administered by the environmental non-profit Vera.
The Total Energy afforestation project in Congo – which provides good job opportunities for thousands of people – is based on the “agroforestry” approach, developing agricultural production and sustainable wood energy locally.
Congo invests $30 million in converting waste into clean energy
Climate Commitments
The Director of Exploration and Production at Total Energy, Nicolas Terraz, said that the afforestation project in the Congo is a sign of the company’s fulfillment of its commitments towards developing carbon basins in natural ways.
He welcomed the Congo’s support for the Total afforestation project, noting that the support provided by the state came out of its commitment to preserving forests and afforestation activities.
Terraz explained that Total Energy is taking real steps to meet its climate ambitions. With the aim of preventing, reducing greenhouse gases, and offsetting residual emissions.
It is noteworthy that Total Energy’s activities began in the Congo since 1968 through the exploration and production of oil, as well as the adoption of social and environmental initiatives, and the number of employees of the company in the Congo is 727 employees.
SOURCE : ATTAQQA
