Groundbreaking partnership sees Energy Partners build, operate and manage SA’s largest state-of-the-art ammonia cooling plant for Aspen Pharmacare.
FEBRUARY 2025, CAPE TOWN – Energy Partners (EP), a leader in innovative energy solutions, has announced a partnership with Aspen Pharmacare (Aspen), the largest pharmaceutical manufacturer in the southern hemisphere.
Under the terms of the agreement, EP will invest R300 million to build, operate and manage a state-of-the-art centralised ammonia cooling plant at Aspen’s Gqeberha production site, assuming full responsibility for the plant’s temperature compliance, uptime and efficiency for 20 years.
The agreement is a prime example of the Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) model, pioneered by EP across multiple sectors in South Africa over the last 10 years.
Manie de Waal, EP’s Chief Executive Officer, explains, “The decision to implement CaaS is highly beneficial for Aspen and a milestone for Energy Partners. It’s a transformative model that shifts Aspen’s operational risk to us, enabling them to focus on their core business and it ensures that their new refrigeration facility remains 100% off their balance sheet.”
Largest ammonia plant of its kind in SA
Aspen’s current production facilities are spread across several large factory buildings in Gqeberha and rely on numerous independent cooling and heating systems.
EP will replace this with a centralised 17 MWR ammonia cooling and heating system.
“Combining heating and cooling into one central system reduces energy use through improved load diversity management and advanced control systems,” confirms Dawie Kriel, General Manager of EP Refrigeration.
“The transition to a centralised ammonia-based system – a natural refrigerant with zero environmental impact – is expected to cut energy consumption by more than 40%, significantly reducing CO2 emissions, while being designed to be inherently safe.”
This project is not only one of the largest ammonia systems of its kind in the country, but also a significant leap forward in both sustainability and the pharmaceutical industry’s approach to energy management.
Construction on the project is already underway, with the centralised plant expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025. Additionally, the initial phase has been designed for expansion by 25% to meet planned future growth.
A future-proofing solution
Concludes de Waal, “This partnership with Aspen is a testament to Energy Partners’ ability to deliver large-scale, sustainable energy solutions that have a profound impact on our clients’ businesses, generating strong returns and creating long-term value for all stakeholders.
“We look forward to building on this trust and creating lasting value that supports Aspen’s growth and sustainability goals.”
