IHS Towers to Invest $200 Million in a New Emissions Reduction Strategy

IHS Towers, a provider of telecommunications infrastructure with an emphasis on emerging economies, has launched its Carbon Reduction Roadmap, a comprehensive effort to reduce carbon emissions from the company's tower operations.

The new approach aims to lower the Scope 1 and Scope 2 kilowatt-hour emissions intensity of the company's tower portfolio by 50 percent by 2030, relative to emissions data from 2021.

Sam Darwish, chairman and CEO of IHS Towers, stated:

"We think that our business model is intrinsically sustainable since we provide shared infrastructure solutions in emerging markets that promote digital connectivity and inclusiveness and enhance the lives of the communities we serve. I believe that the true benefits of mobile connectivity will only be achieved if our industry continues to expand in a socially and environmentally responsible manner."

IHS is one of the world's largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure, with almost 40,000 towers in 11 countries. Under the new plan, emission reductions will be accomplished by connecting more sites to the power grid and deploying and integrating battery storage and solar panel technologies.

IHS Towers recently introduced Project Green as a component of its Carbon Reduction Roadmap, according to which the business plans to invest $214 million in capital expenditures between 2022 and 2024 towards its carbon reduction initiatives. In 2025, the company forecasts generating $77 million in annual Recurring Levered Free Cash Flow (RLFCF) savings, equating to a 30% return on investment.

Project Green will see the company connect more sites to the electricity grid via the deployment and integration of battery storage and solar panel solutions in its operations in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kuwait, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zambia, where diesel generators have historically been more prevalent.

Darwish added:

Our Carbon Reduction Roadmap is the next stage on our drive to reduce our carbon footprint by establishing measurable emission goals.