John Thompson, a division of ACTOM and South Africa’s leading provider of industrial energy solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with Berkeley Energy Corporate Solutions (BECS), a specialist developer and supplier of biomass energy projects.
Together, the companies aim to accelerate the deployment of reliable, renewable steam solutions to industrial customers in South Africa and across Africa. This collaboration brings together John Thompson’s deep engineering expertise and manufacturing capability with BECS’ innovative approach to sourcing, securing and supplying sustainable biomass fuel. This alliance is a powerful partnership geared towards helping businesses decarbonise their operations, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and meet growing demands for cost-effective, renewable energy.
Decarbonising with confidence
With industrial sectors under growing pressure to transition to low-carbon operations, this partnership is perfectly timed. The industrial sector is a major energy consumer and carbon emitter, particularly in industries that rely on high-temperature process heat such as food and beverage, pulp and paper, chemicals, textiles and mining.
Switching to cleaner fuels is more than just a regulatory imperative; it is a business necessity, which is where the John Thompson-BECS model comes in. The partnership offers a low-carbon steam solution based on sustainable biomass feedstock. Under a long-term heat offtake agreement, the system is designed, funded, built and operated on behalf of the client, who simply pays for the steam consumed.
“This approach helps businesses overcome the two biggest barriers to decarbonisation, the high upfront cost and technical complexity of energy system upgrades,” said Jaco Grobbelaar, CEO at John Thompson. “Our clients do not need to become energy experts or infrastructure owners, because we take on the risk, the capex and the performance accountability.”
A unique approach to biomass supply
What sets this partnership apart is BECS’ strategic approach to biomass sourcing. BECS goes beyond simple fuel supply, working directly with large-scale agricultural and forestry producers and processors to secure long-term feedstock contracts that are sustainable, traceable, and cost-effective. This ensures a reliable fuel supply chain tailored to the client’s specific needs, something many energy developers cannot offer.
“In a market where supply risks and quality inconsistencies can stall biomass adoption, we provide stability,” explains Jonathan Probert, business development manager for southern Africa at BECS. “We align our supply chains to specific project locations and customer volumes, ensuring security of supply while maintaining competitive pricing.”
Unlike other players in the African energy space, BECS is focused solely on renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions, including using sustainable biomass to generate steam and/or power. This singular commitment differentiates them from other providers in the market who typically generate energy from predominately fossil fuels.
“This partnership enables us to deliver bankable, long-term energy solutions that meet the real-world needs of industrial clients,” says Nicholas Tatrallyay, managing director at BECS. “Together with John Thompson, we are addressing the cost, complexity and carbon intensity of steam generation, helping businesses achieve sustainability and growth.”
Expanding across Africa
Initial deployments are already underway in South Africa, with the model now being introduced to industrial clients in Zambia, Kenya, Mozambique and Ghana, where energy resilience and sustainability are key enablers of growth. The solution is particularly attractive to companies looking to reduce carbon emissions and operational risk while securing predictable long-term energy pricing.
The partnership is already progressing on a range of biomass boiler projects across South Africa, with potential expansion into other African markets where John Thompson has an existing footprint. Each solution is designed to be scalable, bankable and tailored to the operational realities of industrial users.
Designed for delivery and long-term impact
“This is not just about replacing a fuel source. It is about delivering an end-to-end renewable energy solution that works,” concludes Grobbelaar. “Together with BECS, we are giving African industry the tools to achieve sustainability, profitability and resilience.”
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