In the high-stakes agri sector, resilience has never mattered more – especially under pressure from rising Eskom tariffs and unreliable supply.
At Letaba Pakkers, part of the global Dole Food Company Group, an ageing ammonia refrigeration plant was threatening product quality, shelf life, and market access. With premium avocados and litchis destined for export, even a single degree off-spec posed a major risk.
“A half a degree is massive. Cooling is a major factor in our business”
– Mark Andrew, Letaba Pakkers.
That’s why Letaba partnered with Energy Partners for a fully outsourced Cooling-as-a-Service (#CaaS) solution. Energy Partners invested R3.7 million to design, build, and operate a high-efficiency ammonia plant at zero upfront cost to Letaba.
Now, Letaba benefits from 24/7 monitoring, guaranteed performance, and a predictable monthly fee that helps them budget cooling costs through seasonal peaks without tariff shock. Energy consumption is down by 20%, and the plant avoids 425 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year.
“We can now plan ahead and focus on what matters delivering export-grade fruit, reliably.”
Watch the full story of how Letaba strengthened its cold chain and secured long-term resilience.
SDG 17, South Africa-style: We need practical collaborations that mobilise capital, technology
In a Business Report article, Energy Partners CEO Manie de Waal shares insights on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) within the energy sector. He highlights how collaborative strategies and new tariff structures can create a more sustainable energy future for South Africa.
