Energy efficiency measures in a citrus production company

Clementina is an agribusiness company specialising in the production and export of citrus products. The company was facing challenges due to the energy market liberalisation, and increased competition and costs.

To reduce energy consumption and improve performance, the company decided to modernise its production facilities. This strategy aims to increase the company’s competitiveness, augment its market position, while promoting a positive, environmentally friendly brand image.

Upon financing application, the MorSEFF team supported Clementina with analysis and advice on the proposed technology, potential energy savings, financial-technical parameters and profitability of the project.

The final project consisted of upgrading the cold storage room equipment with the latest generation of chillers. The new chiller compressors are of screw type and are equipped with head pressure floating, electronic expansion valve and adiabatic cooling.

The €693,746 investment allowed the company to improve its storage capacity and reduce its energy consumption by 22.5 per cent, which leads to substantial cost savings. The investment will be repaid out of energy savings in just three years, turning the future cash-flows into company income for the years to follow. This latest generation of compressors is a technology rarely used in Morocco and for Clementina it is only the initial phase of implementing a wider investment plan to replace old and energy-intensive equipment.

This project demonstrates that investments in energy efficiency are profitable and lead to enhanced company financial standing.

This project is funded by the EU and the EBRD’s Southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) Multi-Donor Account. The donors of the SEMED MDA are: Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taipei China and the United Kingdom.