Renewable energy + industrial sustainability
Regulations and compliance directives are evolving as we move towards a competitive electricity market targeted for launch in April 2026. The momentum is encouraging, and it will require extensive e orts from all industry participants to keep pace.
requirements evolve. Further, accessing electricity via wheeling provides price certainty for companies. In an environment where electricity taris have long been increasing well above inflation, wheeling contracts generally escalate pricing on a CPI basis. This allows companies to lock in their renewable energy costs at CPI for the duration of the contract. Roadblocks to be cleared Although there is a substantial pipeline of renewable energy projects to be added to the grid, and hence extensive potential for wheeling, the sector faces some challenges. As well as the broad grid constraints, whichh are well documented and widely known, the infancy of the energy wheeling model in South Africa poses its own stumbling blocks. Many municipalities do not yet have approved wheeling frameworks in place. This means potential o takers cannot be accessed in those areas. Encouragingly, virtual wheeling, launched by Eskom in 2025, is designed to remove some of these constraints but is not yet accessible to private energy traders.
Energy Exchange of Southern Africa (EXSA) is a market-leading provider of grid-connected renewable energy to South African corporate and industrial customers. The company is committed to accelerating South Africa’s energy transition by delivering a ordable, sustainable, and flexible energy solutions. With a NERSA trading licence issued in 2022, EXSA enables businesses to procure renewable energy and green credits under customised contracting terms. It empowers customers to achieve their Net Zero ambitions and, at the same time, benefit from the cost savings associated with accessing lower-cost renewable energy. By providing a predictable electricity price path, EXSA helps mitigate the impact of rising and volatile electricity costs.
For more information visit www.exsa.io
Products + services
Renewable energy supports cost stability and decarbonisation for mining group
Following the announcement of its second renewable energy supply agreement with energy aggregator and trader NOA Group Trading (NOA), Pan African Resources (Pan African, the company or the group) anticipates further substantial cost savings and long-term energy supply stability, unlocking operational e iciencies. This latest agreement will facilitate renewable energy penetration of potentially 70% of the group’s total electricity load. Subsequent to the initial agreement announced in August 2025, Pan African, a dual JSE- and LSE-listed gold producer with operations in South Africa and Australia, has secured an additional renewable energy allocation to deliver an overall total allocation of around 389 GWh per annum. The energy supply agreement meets a substantial portion of the group’s total electricity requirements and is expected to deliver significant savings. The company’s Barberton Mines, Evander Mines and Mogale Tailings Retreatment (MTR) operations, located in Mpumalanga and Gauteng, will be supplied directly under the agreement. “In a sector where energy risk impacts cost, competitiveness and operational continuity, Pan African required a solution that supports our current needs and our longer-term growth and decarbonisation objectives. NOA worked closely with our team to develop a flexible solution and conclude this agreement in just one month. Their ability to move quickly without compromising quality makes them the right partner to deliver renewable energy at scale,” said Cobus Loots, CEO of Pan African Resources. The transaction includes the provision of verified International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs), enabling Pan African to accelerate its decarbonisation strategy and report tangible emissions reductions. The solution is also designed to enhance cost control and protect margins for the company, operating in a sector that is energy-intensive and highly sensitive to electricity
price volatility and supply risk. “For large energy users competing in global markets, access to competitively priced, reliable energy is fundamental to long-term sustainability. In gold mining, electricity is a major operating cost and a key driver of margin pressure. Competitive electricity pricing is therefore essential to managing our all-in sustaining costs and maintaining global competitiveness as a South African producer. This renewable energy supply agreement strengthens our cost stability, supports decarbonisation and reduces our exposure to ongoing tari volatility,” Loots added. NOA has secured several major energy supply agreements in the mining sector in the past 12 months, reflecting growing demand for reliable, cost-eective renewable energy solutions as the industry transitions towards lower-carbon operations. Karel Cornelissen, CEO of NOA Group commented: “This agreement reflects a pragmatic approach – delivering a scalable, bankable solution and supporting Pan African’s decarbonisation obligations.” NOA Group Trading and listed gold producer, Pan African Resources, have signed a further renewable energy supply agreement.
For more information visit: https://noagroup.africa/
MARCH 2026 Electricity + Control
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