Published: 27 July 2026
A new wheeling agreement gives the industrial minerals producer long-term cost certainty across its lime and calcium carbonate operations
Electricity is one of the most significant controllable costs in industrial mineral processing. For producers of lime and calcium carbonate, above-inflation Eskom tariff increases have steadily eroded cost competitiveness against imports, and the pressure doesn’t stop there. Businesses across steel, construction, agriculture, water treatment, plastics, paints and paper all feel the same squeeze every time utility tariffs rise. For energy-intensive operations, locking in a predictable, long-term electricity cost is one of the few real hedges against that volatility.
Idwala Industrial Holdings, a diversified South African mining and industrial minerals group, has just done exactly that. NOA has signed a renewable energy supply agreement with Idwala to reduce electricity costs and improve long-term cost certainty at its most energy-intensive operations across the country, strengthening the competitiveness of Idwala’s business while supporting its wider energy efficiency and decarbonisation goals.
“The wheeling agreement with NOA secures competitively priced renewable electricity across our lime and calcium carbonates operations. The savings this unlocks, relative to the prevailing Eskom Megaflex tariff, represents a sustained reduction in a key component of our cost base,” says Wayne Brown, Managing Director of Idwala Industrial Holdings.
NOA will supply the renewable energy through a wheeling agreement, using a blended energy solution that complements Idwala’s existing and planned embedded solar generation. The result is an optimal energy mix tailored to Idwala’s operations, rather than a one-size-fits-all supply arrangement.
The cost savings this unlocks aren’t just a line on a balance sheet. They give Idwala room to reinvest in modernising its plants, to keep advancing its energy efficiency and decarbonisation roadmap, and to continue supporting skilled employment and its host communities at both sites.
“Importantly, this initiative reinforces the resilience and competitiveness of our existing operations, which remain at the core of Idwala’s business,” adds Brown.
For NOA, the agreement is a clear example of what’s now possible under South Africa’s reformed electricity market.
“Industrial customers such as Idwala are increasingly seeking ways to improve cost predictability and reduce exposure to electricity tariff volatility. As the country’s energy market evolves, wheeled renewable energy is becoming a practical tool that allows businesses to secure competitively priced electricity,” says Karel Cornelissen, Group CEO of NOA. “This partnership demonstrates that the opportunities created through electricity market reforms are delivering measurable value for customers, while driving much-needed investment in new generation capacity and enabling more flexible procurement options that address real operational challenges around energy costs and long-term planning.”
Read press release here.
About Idwala Industrial Holdings
Idwala Industrial Holdings (Pty) Ltd is a diversified South African mining, mineral processing and industrial minerals group, producing and supplying lime, limestone, calcium carbonate, magnetite, pyrophyllite and related mineral products to customers across Sub-Saharan Africa and selected international markets. Through its integrated mining, processing and distribution operations, the company supplies products used across a broad range of industrial, agricultural, environmental and consumer goods sectors.
Driven by technical expertise, operational excellence and a commitment to responsible mining and processing practices, Idwala continues to invest in innovation and modern production technologies to deliver reliable, high-quality products and services. The company’s integrated operations, experienced workforce and customer-focused approach enable it to support the long-term success of its customers while creating sustainable value for employees, host communities and other stakeholders.