Under aims to preserve energy and the environment, GSPARX Sdn Bhd and AEON BiG (M) Sdn Bhd have signed the Supply Agreement-Renewable Energy (SARE) with Tenaga Nasional Berhad today (Dec 19).
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who witnessed the signing, said the initiative involving AEON BiG, one of the big supermarket chains in Malaysia which carries out social responsibility or Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, has now installed solar panels, provision of electric vehicle chargers and solid waste management measures under the concept of a lively community and sustainability within its premises.
The Supply Agreement of Renewable Energy (SARE) of Malaysia is an agreement for supplying renewable energy which allows consumer to enjoy solar energy generated by the solar system installed at their premise without the need to pay for the system.
Nik Nazmi thanked the signatories for fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outlined by the Member States of the United Nations (UN) namely “SDG 13: Climate Action” and “SDG 15: Life in Land”. It is also in line with the government’s efforts in the conservation and preservation of energy and the environment which is a national treasure.
He noted that solar panels have already been installed at five AEON BiG branches, namely at AEON BiG Wangsa Maju, AEON BiG Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, AEON BiG Bukit Rimau, AEON BiG Penang Prai and AEON BiG Shah Alam for an agreed period of 20 years.
Meanwhile, the electric vehicle chargers have been built in at the parking lot at AEON BiG Wangsa Maju for the first time.
“This is a good example where AEON BiG can indirectly help reduce the carbon footprint in Malaysia in general. These solar panels not only provide energy, but also brings with them the potential to improve quality of life, reduce energy costs, and help preserve the earth for future generations,” Nik Nazmi said, adding the Ministry welcomes such collaborative efforts and initiatives. This is because such measures can support the Government’s aspirations in sustaining the country’s electricity supply system through increasing generation capacity from renewable energy sources to 70% in 2050.
This sustainable energy development effort is a decarbonisation step that dominates and shapes the direction of current world geopolitical, economic, investment and trade development. The current trend in the world is seen to be very aggressive in reducing the carbon footprint, particularly involving the development and investment of electricity from sustainable sources, especially in the transport, heating and cooling sectors and industrial processes.
AEON BiG has been active in implementing various conservation and environmental care programs such as organising a “Beach Cleanup Day” at Remis Beach, Kuala Selangor, in December last year and the Orang Asli Village Tree Planting activity in Gombak in March held with AEON BiG employees and school volunteers.
“Apart from the preservation and management of the environment, it is our great hope at the ministry to see that the efforts implemented by AEON BiG can help increase productivity and cost management efficiency which indirectly help launch their respective operations, he added.
