ENGIE South Africa has become the first company in the country to achieve the Sustainable Energy Transition (SET) label certification – recognition by Bureau Veritas for meeting sustainability standards.

The SET label, introduced in 2022, is designed to ensure renewable energy projects meet nine commitments across three key themes: community, nature and climate. These commitments include involving local stakeholders throughout a project’s life cycle, implementing measures to protect ecosystems and maximising contributions to reducing carbon emissions.

The certification process, conducted by Bureau Veritas, is rigorous and involves an initial audit followed by two confirmation audits over a two-year period, ensuring long-term compliance with the SET label’s criteria.

South Africa joins Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the United States, which collectively represent nearly 85% of ENGIE’s onshore and solar installed capacities, the company said in a statement.

“Receiving the SET label certification is a testament to our dedication to sustainability and community integration. This certification reflects the high standards and robust methods we have developed over the years in the development, operation and maintenance of our projects,” says Mohamed Hoosen, Managing Director: Renewables Asia, Middle East and Africa, at ENGIE South Africa.