The energy industry in South Africa (SA) is historically a turbulent and complex landscape, characterised by socioeconomic and political difficulties.
This is exemplified by the South African energy crisis, which has resulted in an ongoing battle of nationwide power outages that have been a frequent challenge since 2007.
The crisis first emerged in 1998 after it was realised that the South African government and state-owned power generator Eskom had minimal power reserves, meaning the country would run out of energy in nine years if critical power development steps were not taken.
However, despite urgent requests to restructure Eskom’s electrical power generation, little action was taken and, as a result, the organisation’s limited energy supply was unable to keep up
with increasing national demand by the beginning of 2007.
Consequently, SA has suffered frequent energy shortages and regular periods of load shedding in an attempt to fairly balance the demand for electrical power across the country and gradually relieve the pressure on the primary producer. Yet, this solution still causes major power outage issues, having a considerable impact across the nation.
The crisis has further highlighted the major constraints of the South African electrical grid, which is still heavily reliant on burning fossil fuels and coal-based power generation.
Alongside grappling with a restricted energy supply, limited power infrastructure also means it is difficult for the country to integrate renewable energy sources, impeding SA’s rapid energy transition.
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Despite these long-standing challenges, the South African energy industry continues to flourish, as it is the country’s largest economic generator and is transitioning to a more diversified range of energy resources, including renewables.
This notable shift is demonstrated by SA’s evolving legislative environment and the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which is expected to revolutionise the energy landscape by introducing a multi-generator market with increased involvement from the private sector.
In light of this, SA hopes to achieve a more robust power supply that caters to the evolving demands of consumers whilst also paving the way for a fruitful energy transition in the future.
AFRICA OUTLOOK: COULD YOU PROVIDE AN INSIGHT INTO YOUR CAREER TO DATE AND EXPLAIN HOW YOU BECAME INTERESTED IN THE ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION (EPC) SECTOR?
Manie de Waal, CEO: “After completing my studies at Stellenbosch University in SA, I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1998 and then spent five years in Switzerland working in investment banking.
“In 2003, I returned to SA and became involved in several start-up ventures, which sparked my passion for building businesses from the ground up.
“It was clear by 2010 that energy was becoming a critical and fast-evolving sector with enormous potential, which is when I joined Energy Partners.
“Since then, I’ve been fortunate to lead the business through its transformation into one of SA’s most respected providers of integrated energy solutions.
“The energy space has always appealed to me because it sits at the intersection of engineering, finance, and sustainability – areas I’m deeply passionate about.”
“In 2024, we recognised the need for a new era of leadership and a stronger, more professional brand identity that could unify our expanding operations. The transition marked a shift from our entrepreneurial beginnings to a modern, innovation-driven corporation poised for the next decade of industry leadership. We’ve grown from a self-startup that designed our own logo to a full-fledged business that can offer a fresh, clear directive for the next generation and decade; embracing technology, innovation, and modernisation,” says Shaun Golding, newly appointed G-CHEM Aquacare CEO as of Jan 2024.
G-CHEM Aquacare is established on an immovable ethos of “we deliver results.” Their leadership drives these values on a day-to-day basis and in every client’s space, no matter the size or scale of the mandate. G-CHEM can deliver the results they promise due to their curated network of businesses under the G-CHEM Aqua portfolio, the holding company that houses G-CHEM Aquacare. Under the G-CHEM Aqua stable sits G-CHEM Aquacare, which offers;
• Cooling Water Treatment
• Boiler Water Treatment
• Effluent and Waste Water Treatment
• Potable Water Purification
• Reverse Osmosis Treatment
• Water Treatment Auxiliary Programs
• Water treatment Equipment and Services
G-CHEM Manufacturing and G-CHEM Aquatreat ensure that customers have access to highquality chemical products, water treatment equipment, and installations throughout South Africa. G-CHEM Manufacturing additionally enables G-CHEM Aquacare to remain pricecompetitive by controlling raw material imports, allowing for cost-effective sourcing, and offering the flexibility to optimize products according to customer needs. Both factories are ISOaccredited and produce NSF-approved products, ensuring the highest industry standards.
On the other hand, Aquatreat delivers a comprehensive range of water treatment equipment, installation, and maintenance services, including but not limited to dosing panels, filtration systems, softener systems, auto blowdowns, online controllers, reverse osmosis systems, effluent plants and more, as well as fabrication and design services. This strategic network positions G-CHEM Aqua to equip Aquacare with the necessary resources and expertise to exceed client expectations and deliver industry-leading performance.
“WE TAKE FULL OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, GIVING OUR CLIENTS PEACE OF MIND AS THEY CAN RELY ON GUARANTEED PERFORMANCE, PREDICTABLE COSTS, AND MAXIMUM UPTIME”
– MANIE DE WAAL, CEO, ENERGY PARTNERS
The company is further distinguished by its full-service offering and vertical integration model, whereby it takes full ownership and operational risk of the world-class solutions it deploys.
It goes beyond simple design and construction through financing, owning, operating, and maintaining integrated energy systems over a long-term period.
“We take full operational and financial responsibility, giving our clients peace of mind as they can
rely on guaranteed performance, predictable costs, and maximum uptime. In a market like SA, where conditions change fast, this is an invaluable competitive advantage,” de Waal excites.
The vertically integrated model also means there’s an alignment of interest between Energy Partners and its clients.
As asset owner, it’s in the company’s best interest to ensure the solution performs optimally over time, a commitment from which both parties
ultimately benefit.
“This is an approach that allows us to unlock real, sustainable value for our clients whilst helping them to focus on their core operations.”
Beyond its vertically integrated model, Energy Partners is internationally unique in its ability to integrate and finance different types of energy systems, such as power, refrigeration, and steam, supported by dedicated Sustainability, Asset Management and Engineering teams.
The company is a pioneer of the servitisation business model globally, further highlighting its commitment to customer service and innovation.
“We invest in and operate energy assets on behalf of our clients, often taking it completely off their balance sheets – a shift that has fundamentally changed how energy solutions are delivered,” informs de Waal.
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ENERGY PARTNERS’ SUBDIVISIONS
POWER – Constructs and operates world-class sustainable power solutions across Africa.
REFRIGERATION – Offers both turnkey and outsourced utility solutions to refrigeration clients.
STEAM – Lowers the cost of steam for clients by improving uptime and efficiency.
SUSTAINABILITY – Equips
sustainability leaders with datadriven tools to cut emissions, meet ESG goals, and drive longterm impact.
ASSET MANAGEMENT –Improves energy footprint and assures quality and operational performance through the optimisation and control of energy assets.
As a result, Energy Partners continues to lead in the servitisation space, bolstered by a growing portfolio of critical energy infrastructure.
Regarding technical expertise, meanwhile, the company has the unique ability to integrate and finance the entire operational value chain, from steam and refrigeration to solar photovoltaic (PV) technology, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, providing a reliable, comprehensive service offering.
Evidently, Energy Partners goes above and beyond to engineer system-level efficiencies that single provider technologies simply cannot match.
“Our culture of innovation, deep technical expertise, and commitment to long-term partnerships also set us apart,” he enthuses.
PROVEN PROJECT PARTNERSHIPS
A major component of Energy Partners’ success is its ability to create steadfast partnerships, which span
more than two decades and have resulted in measurable results for the business and its clients.
More recently, it partnered with Aspen Pharmacare (Aspen), a multinational pharmaceutical company that expertly manufactures and markets a vast range of branded and non-branded medicines.
The partnership represents a key milestone for both Aspen and the broader African continent.
Energy Partners has signed and committed to a USD$18 million Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) agreement to design, build, own, and operate a state-of-the-art centralised ammonia cooling plant at Aspen’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the city of Gqeberha, situated in the Eastern Cape province.
“This is one of the largest refrigeration projects in the continent and it’s critical to Aspen’s commitment to producing vaccines and medicines for Africa, in Africa,” acclaims de Waal.
The landmark facility will replace multiple independent systems,
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