Manganese Metal Company (MMC), a key player in the global manganese industry, has entered into an energy supply agreement with NOA Group to secure an estimated 70% of its electricity from renewable sources. This deal, which leverages NOA’s portfolio of wind and solar PV facilities with a combined capacity of 86 MW, underscores MMC’s commitment to sustainability and alignment with global decarbonisation efforts. As the custodian of the world’s largest manganese reserves, South Africa plays a pivotal role in producing high-purity manganese metal and manganese sulphate monohydrate for battery electric vehicles.
Karel Cornelissen, CEO of NOA Group, stated: “This Master Energy Supply Agreement (MESA) supports MMC’s strategy to minimise its environmental impact by securing clean, renewable energy in alignment with the decarbonisation goals of its global customer base.”
This MESA effectively decouples the generation of renewable energy from the point of consumption through NOA’s advanced aggregation model and trading platform. Unlike traditional bilateral agreements that are tied to individual generation facilities, this model offers greater flexibility, efficiency, and certainty in energy supply due to the energy being supplied from NOA’s portfolio of generation facilities.
Under this 20-year agreement, NOA will provide a renewable energy profile equating to 245 GWh per annum, facilitated by Eskom’s wheeling framework. By sourcing energy from multiple generation facilities across the country, NOA ensures increased reliability of renewable energy delivery. This approach optimises generation profiles by leveraging diverse geographic and resource-specific characteristics.
In response to growing pressures to adopt environmentally friendly energy sources, mining and other industrial sectors are increasingly turning to energy aggregators for sustainable solutions. These sectors not only require reliable energy supply but also a reduction in their carbon footprints to meet both regulatory standards and corporate sustainability goals.
Bernard Swanepoel, Executive Chairman of MMC, stated: “This landmark agreement with NOA Group marks a significant step in MMC’s sustainability journey, ensuring a reliable and renewable energy supply that aligns with our commitment to decarbonisation and environmental stewardship while reinforcing our role as the largest global supplier of high purity, selenium free (99.9% Mn) manganese metal. It will also enable our high purity manganese sulphate monohydrate product to be credited with industry-leading low carbon emission intensity.”
As the sole non-Chinese producer of refined manganese metal, MMC is solidifying its position as a leading Western supplier of high-purity manganese variants, which are vital for battery production. Additionally, through its commitment to renewable energy solutions, enhanced water conservation measures, and improved waste recycling processes, MMC has demonstrated its dedication to environmental stewardship and the pursuit of net-zero emissions.
“Driven by the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability, mining and other industrial sectors are making proactive strides toward adopting clean energy solutions. By partnering with energy aggregators, such as NOA, these industries are not only securing material long-term energy savings, but also significantly reducing their carbon footprints. This positive shift aligns with regulatory standards and corporate sustainability goals, positioning these sectors as leaders in the transition to a more sustainable future in South Africa,” concluded Cornelissen.
