TotalEnergies ENEOS and Imerys have successfully installed a 1 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system at Imerys’ calcium carbonate production facility in Ipoh, Malaysia. This marks Imerys’ first on-site solar project in Southeast Asia, following a similar deployment in Wuhu, China, in December 2024.
The system, which includes nearly 1,800 solar modules, is expected to generate around 1,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable electricity annually, reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 790 tons each year—equivalent to planting over 11,850 trees. Under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Imerys made no upfront investment, resulting in significant cost savings. TotalEnergies ENEOS fully funded, installed, and will operate and maintain the system, while Imerys will purchase the electricity generated for the duration of the agreement.Guillaume Delacroix, Senior Vice President, Imerys Performance Minerals EMEA and APAC said: “Imerys aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% in absolute terms by 2030 (from a 2021 baseline), in line with the 1.5°C trajectory. The solar project at Ipoh is one of similar Power Purchasing Agreements at our specialty mineral production sites around the world, and a concrete example of what Imerys is doing to achieve this ambitious goal”.
Prasanna Karandikar, Industrial Director, Imerys Performance Minerals APAC added, “The partnership with TotalEnergies ENEOS has enabled us to reduce our energy costs without any upfront investment or operational risks, allowing us to maintain our focus on our core business in Malaysia. Imerys intends to step up the energy transition of its specialty minerals business in the Asia Pacific region with similar projects at other sites, including its Wuhu talc and calcium carbonate operations deployed in 2024. Switching to sustainable energy sources such as solar power not only enables us to lower our own carbon footprint, it allows us to offer customers products with an improved eco-profile. At the end of the day, it’s a win-win situation for our entire value chain!”
Alexandru Buzatu, Director of TotalEnergies ENEOS Renewables Distributed Generation Asia Pacific commented: “We are proud to partner with Imerys on their first onsite solar project in Southeast Asia, supporting their decarbonization journey. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing cost efficient and sustainable energy solutions to our customers. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with Imerys, paving the way for future initiatives.”
This solar deployment further reinforces Imerys’ commitment to enhancing energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy across its global operations.
Located northeast of Kuala Lumpur, the Ipoh facility is Imerys’ largest operation in Southeast Asia, producing ground calcium carbonate for a wide range of markets throughout the Asia Pacific region. Key products produced at the site include Imerys’ FilmLink® brand, used in medical gowns and hygiene products, and ImerTouch™ GCC slurry, which serves the latex glove market. The site was vital in supplying essential materials during the recent COVID-19 crisis. Other well-known products, such as ImerCarb®, are also produced at Ipoh for use in applications ranging from plastics to paints and adhesives.
