Electricity and Control September 2025

Renewable energy + industrial sustainability: Products + services

Facilitating decarbonisation in the mining sector

Pan African Resources (Pan African), a dual JSE- and AIM-listed gold producer and tailings retreatment specialist, has entered into an energy supply agreement with energy aggregator NOA Group Trading (NOA), securing a renewable energy profile equating to an allocation of 44 MW ac (112 GWh) per year – representing about 10% of Pan African’s total electricity load. The ten-year agreement, which includes an option to extend to 15 years, is a structured and scalable solution allowing Pan African to source renewable energy from multiple generation facilities across the country, ensuring increased reliability of energy supply to its Barberton Mines, Evander Mines and Mogale Tailings Retreatment (MTR) operations in Mpumalanga and Gauteng. This approach optimises generation profiles by leveraging

Pan African Resources and the NOA Group have signed a 10-year renewable energy supply agreement.

sector, with around 15.8 GW of renewable energy initiatives currently under way,” said Karel Cornelissen, CEO of NOA Group. “Our focus on scalability and tailored energy solutions means we can o•er competitive tari•s and help clients meet their ambitious ESG commitments.” Cornelissen added that this transaction was concluded in just three months, underlining the agility and entrepreneurial drive of both companies. “Speed to market and contract flexibility are central to our value proposition. This is what’s possible when two committed and solution-oriented teams come together.” Pan African is widely acknowledged as a leader in mine-site renewables, having commissioned South Africa’s first utility scale distributed generation facility, the 9.975 MW ac solar PV plant at Evander in 2022, providing about 30% of the Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant’s power demand at Evander. The company also commissioned its 8.75 MW ac Fairview solar PV plant at its Barberton Mines operations in August 2024. It is currently advancing the development of an additional ~20 MW solar facility at Evander Mines and has initiated a feasibility study for renewable energy infrastructure at its recently commissioned MTR operation. convertible loan from Norfund and STOA, as well as a USD 4 million top-up to its existing mezzanine facility with the Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF). This brings Candi’s total capital raised to over $140 million, reinforcing the company’s position as a long-term energy partner in some of the world’s most carbon-intensive energy markets. With 165 installations across South Africa and India, and over 132 MWp in clean energy deployed, Candi Solar continues to play a valuable role in helping businesses to overcome high energy costs and unstable electricity supply. In South Africa, the company has active operations around the country, delivering solar solutions for clients such as Kings Park Stadium HQ, Schneider Electric, Pick ‘n Pay, Hi-Tech Inks, Toyota, and Bracken Timbers – where the solar installation has already saved R3 million in just three years. Candi Solar has built a model that blends the capital expertise of international investors with the local know-how of an on-the-ground energy partner. Over the past 12 months, Continued on page 17

diverse geographic and resource-specific characteristics. The agreement also includes the provision of verified International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs), enabling Pan African to progress towards its decarbonisation goals and report emissions reductions of some 137 000 tonnes of CO¸ per year. “This is another strategic step in our journey towards sustainability and operational resilience following the commissioning of our solar renewable energy plants at Evander Mines in 2022 and Barberton Mines in 2024,” said Cobus Loots, CEO of Pan African. “In addition to materially reducing the group’s carbon emissions, these projects will assist in stabilising the electricity supply to our South African operations, and in realising commensurate cost savings that will sustainably reduce our overall AISC (all-in sustaining cost) per ounce of gold production in the longer term.” NOA, backed by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), has now secured several major power supply agreements in the mining sector. This deal reflects the growing demand for reliable, cost-e•ective renewable power from mining operations as the industry pivots toward greener energy alternatives. “We recognise the enormous potential in South Africa’s mining

Fresh funding for C&I solar solutions

Candi Solar, a leading distributed energy company that simplifies clean power supply for businesses in emerging markets, has secured USD 24 million in fresh funding from its existing investors. The raise includes a USD 20 million In providing solar energy solutions for businesses, Candi focuses on reliable long-term partnerships where revenue is tied to results.

16 Electricity + Control SEPTEMBER 2025