MADAGASCAR: reforestation operations, VITOGAZ’s commitment

February 2021

10,000 grounded seedlings, such is the feat achieved by the large family of VITOGAZ Madagascar in Mahajanga and Antananarivo in terms of reforestation for 2021.

For the 5th consecutive year, VITOGAZ Madagascar strengthened its commitment to the environment by joining the state’s initiative to see the country again. Thus, the employees and their families, the distributor partners in the 2 cities and the local authorities met in Mahajanga on Saturday 30 January, and in Antananarivo on Saturday 13 February 2021. More than 500 people participated in this action, under the technical direction of the Regional Directorates of the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Indeed, in Madagascar, 50% of forests have disappeared in the last 50 years, at the rate of more than 100,000 ha of forests being destroyed each year, raising fears that the Madagascan Forest will disappear completely over the next ten years. The reason is simple: the energy used by the population is more than 95% wood and coal. More than 400,000 tonnes of coal are consumed annually in Madagascar, with the harmful consequences that this situation entails for the forest.

Since the end of 2018, VITOGAZ has pursued this approach by offering the market the possibility for the population to buy gas at retail level, from 3,000 ariarys. For VITOGAZ, environmental protection, including commitment to its reforestation programmes and the provision of alternative energy to reduce the use of coal, has become a civic mission. Other promotional, educational and awareness-raising activities are planned throughout the year to extend this mission.