Mondi South Africa drives energy self‑sufficiency and climate resilience with new turbine and flood‑proofing projects

• Mondi’s paper mill in Merebank, South Africa, achieves a significant increase in energy self-sufficiency with the installation of a new turbine, positioning the mill to potentially achieve full energy self-sufficiency in the future 
• The project reduces reliance on external power supply, lowers costs and enhances long-term operational stability of the mill 
• In addition, two flood-proofing projects were completed to mitigate risks from natural disasters ensuring business continuity for the benefit of customers 

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, has achieved a major sustainability milestone at its Merebank mill in Durban, South Africa, with the installation of a new turbine in the site’s power plant. The mill is now able to generate 60% of its electricity, significantly reducing reliance on grid-supplied power and improving operational efficiency. 

The project includes the installation of a new condensing steam turbine, cooling towers, piping and control systems, using excess steam from the mill’s boiler.

This project is a game-changer for the mill. “By generating power on site, we reduce our dependency on external electricity supply, reduce costs and take a step towards energy independence, climate resilience and long-term operational stability. Once the cooling tower upgrade is completed, the new turbine will produce more electricity than the mill consumes – a significant milestone in our journey towards self-sufficiency. 
- Donovan Naidoo, Operations Director at Mondi Merebank

In addition to increasing energy self-sufficiency, the new turbine project will also reduce the mill’s carbon footprint. 

Alongside this energy investment, the mill has completed two flood-proofing projects to mitigate risks from natural disasters. The projects include the installation of flood gates and the deployment of inflatable flood barriers, allowing for the rapid creation of water-catchment dams. Together, these measures help protect the mill’s operations and nearby communities from extreme weather events, helping ensure business continuity. 

The turbine generator project and flood-proofing projects contribute to the Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) sustainability commitments.