SAGT invests in on-site renewable energy through rooftop solar project

South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) has taken a significant step forward in its journey towards decarbonization with the successful installation of a 460 kW rooftop solar panel array at its administrative facility. This milestone project, completed within the 2024/25 financial year, reinforces the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions and increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources.

SAGT has long maintained a strong focus on sustainability and remains the only terminal in Sri Lanka to publicly disclose its environmental performance through an independently accredited sustainability report. With a clear priority placed on decarbonizing terminal operations, SAGT has made substantial progress in reducing Scope 1 emissions, primarily through the hybrid conversion of its Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane fleet. To date, 28 of 31 cranes have been hybridized, contributing to a 22% reduction in carbon intensity per move over the past six years.

The new solar project addresses Scope 2 emissions, which accounted for 22% of SAGT’s overall carbon footprint in the 2024/25 period. The rooftop installation is part of a wider strategy to transition to clean energy sources and now supplies approximately 3-5% of the company’s annual energy needs, marking the first instance of onsite renewable energy generation at SAGT.

Looking ahead, the company is accelerating its sustainability agenda with a series of targeted renewable energy and electrification initiatives. As part of this roadmap, SAGT will introduce two electric forklifts in 2025 and plans to convert 30 prime movers to electric models from its fleet of 80. The company is also evaluating additional solar installations on its gatehouse rooftops, aiming to create “green gates” that are self-sufficient and powered entirely by solar energy. This will allow gate operations to be completely independent of the grid, with zero emissions.

These investments reflect SAGT’s broader ambition to align operational excellence with environmental responsibility, ensuring that growth and sustainability go hand in hand.

Commenting on SAGT’s latest initiative Romesh David, CEO of SAGT, stated, “We are proud to mark this new chapter in our sustainability journey with the commissioning of our rooftop solar array. This investment reflects our deep commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while supporting national and global climate goals. As the industry evolves, we are determined to lead by example, transforming terminal operations through clean energy adoption and innovation-driven decarbonization.”