SOUTH AFRICA – Sovereign Foods, one of South Africa’s leading poultry producers, has extended its Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS) agreement with Energy Partners (EP) to its Hartbeespoort plant.
This comes after the success of a similar partnership at its Kariega facility in the Eastern Cape.
The collaboration is aimed at improving production efficiency and meeting increasing demand.
Under the new agreement, EP, a South African energy solutions provider, has dismantled two outdated refrigeration systems at the Hartbeespoort plant and constructed a new centralised refrigeration unit.
This upgrade is designed not only to improve cooling efficiency but also to comply with local noise level regulations.
As part of the CaaS model, EP has invested approximately R92 million (US$5 million) to design, build, and maintain the new refrigeration system over the next 15 years.
This arrangement shifts operational risks—including downtime, efficiency management, and system maintenance—away from Sovereign Foods, allowing the poultry producer to focus on its core operations.
EP’s General Manager of Asset Management, Coenrad Ehlers, explained that the new system is a state-of-the-art ammonia refrigeration unit designed to enhance both energy efficiency and sustainability.
He highlighted that the agreement allows Sovereign to redirect its financial and human resources toward production growth.
Sovereign Foods’ Engineering Manager, Stephan Oosthuizen, remarked that despite production running six days a week, EP managed to minimize disruptions during the transition from the old to the new system.
The upgraded plant features a three-stage ammonia refrigeration process, evaporative condensers, and water-based oil cooling. Its total refrigeration capacity is 5.47 megawatts.
The plant also includes advanced energy management systems such as compressors and condensers equipped with variable speed drives, a heat reclaim system to reduce fuel use by preheating water, and a master control system that optimises the entire cooling process.
Additionally, 24/7 monitoring and secure remote access ensure that plant efficiency is maintained with a proactive approach to operations.
According to both companies, the agreement has led to several key benefits for Sovereign, including reduced operational costs, improved energy efficiency, a smaller carbon footprint, and positive engagement with the local community.
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