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Scatec’s new sub-Saharan Africa head keen to advance 5GW project pipeline

By: Terence Creamer 6th November 2024 The newly appointed head of Scatec’s sub-Saharan Africa business, Alberto Gambacorta, says the group is pursuing a 5 GW pipeline of renewable energy and storage opportunities in the region and especially South Africa, which is already the Norwegian group’s global hub for engineering and... →

Scatec sub-Saharan Africa GM Alberto Gambacorta

Parsons concerned Trump’s victory will result in volatility, uncertainty in emerging economies

By: Darren Parker 6th November 2024 While the decisive American election mandate, which has seen Donald Trump being all but confirmed as President elect in the US, has strengthened political certainty within that country, it has heightened market volatility and uncertainty elsewhere, including among emerging economies, North West... →

President elect Donald Trump

Pickup in growth expected, but South Africa's expenditure still largely for wages, debt

By: Schalk Burger 6th November 2024 Insights, data and analytics provider BMI expects South Africa's economic growth to pick up from 1% this year to 1.5% in 2025 as improved energy supply, greater private-sector investment, slower price growth and reforms to pension schemes provide tailwinds. "However, growth will remain below the... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Improved electricity supply to contribute to better economic growth in 2025

TNPA issues RfI for tugboat clean fuels pilot project

By: Darren Parker 6th November 2024 State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has published a request for information (RfI) for a strategic pilot project to use green and cleaner fuels for its selected diesel-operated tugboat fleet. The project would be in line with parent company Transnet’s commitment to bolster South... →

Treasury invites public participation in UDZ tax incentive review survey

By: Sabrina Jardim 6th November 2024 In the 2023 Budget Review, the National Treasury announced an extension of the urban development zone (UDZ) tax incentive sunset date to March 31, 2025, to consult stakeholders as part of a review of the incentive. Treasury now calls on all interested parties to participate in the UDZ tax... →

Office of the Tax Ombud progressing strategic objectives

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th November 2024 The Office of the Tax Ombud (OTO) made progress during the 2023/24 financial year against its strategic objectives, but more still needs to be done to bolster this, the organisation highlighted during the launch of its annual report on November 6. The OTO is an independent and impartial officer... →

Sars implemented 2 178 OTO complaints in the period

Gaia acquires stake in toll operator of N1, N4 highways

By: Schalk Burger 6th November 2024 Infrastructure investment firm Gaia Fund Managers has acquired a 12.67% shareholding in the Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concession (BPCC) – the toll operator of the N4 highway and a portion of the N1 highway. The 385 km stretch of highway BPCC manages is an economically critical transport link... →

Gaia chief investment officer Dr Hendrik Syman

Growthpoint starts construction on second development phase at Cape Town industrial estate

By: Schalk Burger 6th November 2024 Real estate investment trust Growthpoint has started construction on the second development phase of its Arterial Industrial Estate, in Blackheath, Cape Town. Arterial Industrial Estate is on a 71 656 m2 site in the heart of Blackheath, which is a growing and modernising industrial node in Cape... →

An aerial view of the Arterial Industrial Estate in Cape Town

Nampak enters agreement to sell Nampak I&CS

By: Sabrina Jardim 6th November 2024 JSE-listed Nampak has entered into a binding sale agreement to dispose of its industrial inkjet printing, laser marking and case coding solutions business Nampak I&CS for R142.5-million. The disposal is in line with the asset disposal plan being implemented by the company as announced in August... →

Sandton City aims to procure wheeled renewable energy from IEP platform

By: Schalk Burger 6th November 2024 Shopping centre Sandton City, in Gauteng, has announced its interest in procuring renewable energy over the Independent Energy Pool (IEP) platform through the development and deployment of wheeled renewable-energy solutions for the centre. This initiative is part of Sandton City’s commitment to... →

Resolution Circle secures NSF grant for 700 students to attend its Work Integrated Learning Programmes

By: Schalk Burger 6th November 2024 Skills development firm Resolution Circle has secured a grant from the National Skills Fund for 700 tertiary students to attend its Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programmes. Students from universities of technology (UoTs), technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions and... →

Suez Canal Economic Zone set for rapid expansion – chairperson

By: Reuters 6th November 2024 Egypt's Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCEZ) has invested $3-billion on infrastructure over the past few years and has plans to invest a similar amount over the next few years as it works to attract investors, its chairman said in an interview. The zone, a collection of six ports and four industrial... →

Trump claims 'powerful mandate' after Fox News projects he has won US presidency

By: Reuters 6th November 2024 Republican Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected that he had defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House. "America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," he... →

Photo by Reuters
Donald Trump

Value-adding titanium dioxide pigment under development

6th November 2024 In an effort to advance ilmenite up the value curve as titanium dioxide pigment, producer Nyanza Light Metals is progressing the construction of a Richards Bay plant to process ilmenite produced from the mining of heavy mineral sands. →

Value-adding titanium dioxide pigment under development

South Africa is working on unique digital identity, instant visa

By: Bloomberg 6th November 2024 South Africa plans to create unique identities for its citizens and issue instant visas as it digitizes its economy. The South African Revenue Service, the central bank and the Department of Home Affairs are working toward a unique digital identity, the tax authority’s boss Edward Kieswetter said... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter

Sasol not in ‘sunset’ phase but transition plans cannot outpace market demand – Baloyi

By: Terence Creamer 5th November 2024 Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi has acknowledged that the group stands at the “threshold” of a potentially difficult energy transition but he has also disputed assertions that the carbon-heavy chemicals and fuel producer has now entered an inevitable “sunset” phase. Speaking at an environmental, social... →

Sasol CEO Simon Baloyi

Investment demand for platinum in China strengthens with launch of new platinum bar

By: Martin Creamer 5th November 2024 The appeal of platinum as an investment asset is being increasingly recognised by Chinese investors, which is resulting in China becoming one of the most important investment markets for platinum bars and coins. Debuted during a ceremony at the Beijing International Coin Exposition 2024 was the... →

The fish-to-dragon 1kg platinum investment bar. Picture: China Gold Coin Group.

Funding for African energy projects needs scaling up, fast

By: Rebecca Campbell 5th November 2024 A topic that really loomed large at the African Energy Week 2024 conference is the need to scale up investment in African energy, highlighted International Energy Agency (IEA) deputy executive director Mary Burce Warlick, in her address to the conference, at the Cape Town International Convention... →

M&R foresees more immediate liquidity challenges as Venetia contract ends

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th November 2024 Engineering and contracting group Murray & Roberts (M&R) has advised that its interim earnings for the six months ended December 31 will be impacted on by the loss of business it had in place with De Beers’ Venetia operation, in South Africa, as well as continued liquidity constraints. M&R’s... →

Ethiopian Airlines takes delivery of Africa’s first Airbus A350-1000

By: Sabrina Jardim 5th November 2024 Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest Airbus operator, has taken delivery of the first of four A350-1000s from Airbus in Toulouse, France. The first of its kind to be operated by an Africa-based operator, the A350-1000 will enable the airline to enhance its premium service on key destinations... →

South Africa on the clock as rand volatility soars post-budget

By: Bloomberg 5th November 2024 Investors are giving South Africa’s coalition government some leeway to get its finances in order, but the rising cost of hedging against rand declines shows pressure is building after last week’s disappointing budget update. On October 30, when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana presented his... →

No Day Zero for Gauteng, assures Majodina

By: Natasha Odendaal 5th November 2024 While Gauteng battles many self-inflicted water challenges, it will not face a Day Zero, where the taps will run dry, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina assured on Tuesday. Reflecting on the performance of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) during the first hundred days under... →

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina discusses the water challenges facing Gauteng during a briefing outlining the Department of Water and Sanitation's first 100 days under the seventh administration

Same standards for imports, quality control needed to revitalise cement and construction

By: Schalk Burger 5th November 2024 To achieve the economic growth necessary to tackle South Africa's very high levels of unemployment, it is vital that the public and private sectors collaborate in launching critical infrastructure projects. However, for this revival to be sustainable, the local cement industry must operate under... →

Kathu plant's maintenance outage ensuring long-term efficiency in CSP operations

By: Sabrina Jardim 5th November 2024 Kathu Solar Park (KSP), one of South Africa's select few concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, located in the Northern Cape, recently underwent a 30-day offline period to complete its yearly maintenance. Operational since 2019, KSP’s maintenance this year included a detailed inspection and... →

Photo by Kathu Solar Park
Power block at night. Lifting activities at the turbine hall ongoing to meet the tight schedule

Africa well-positioned to play a key role in a future hydrogen economy

By: Rebecca Campbell 5th November 2024 Africa was well placed to participate in the emerging global hydrogen economy, South African Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted on Tuesday. He was addressing the African Energy Week conference, being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Africa’s... →

Cruise industry gives Western Cape economy R1.32bn boost

By: Irma Venter 5th November 2024 The cruise industry contributed R1.32-billion to the Western Cape economy during the 2023/24 season, up from R1.2-billion in the previous season, despite a slight drop in ship calls. This is according to Cruise Cape Town, powered by Wesgro, as it released the Western Cape Cruise Liner Industry... →

R7bn second phase MyCiTi rollout 50% complete, includes SA’s first-ever sky circle

By: Irma Venter 5th November 2024 The R7-billion rollout of the second phase of Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service, linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and other communities across the metro south east corridor, is 50% complete, says City of Cape Town (CoCT) Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. Work on the 44-month project started in 2022. →

An artist's impression of the sky circle, once completed

TotalEnergies outlines likely energy transition scenarios, suggests more global cooperation

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th November 2024 In light of the world’s population being estimated to grow by at least 1.7-billion by 2050 and the fact that about 4.5-billion people already do not have sufficient access to energy, TotalEnergies outlines in its latest Energy Outlook a new scenario that reflects the current trajectory of various... →

Actom opens new training centre for apprentices

By: Sabrina Jardim 5th November 2024 Electromechanical equipment manufacturer Actom has opened a new training centre facility at its premises in Germiston, Johannesburg. The facility offers a variety of apprenticeship programmes. →

An image of people in the training centre

UJ, Schneider Electric collaborate to provide services to villages in Vhembe district

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 5th November 2024 Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric has highlighted its contribution to the University of Johannesburg’s UJ for Societal Impact project, which has, over the past decade, worked to bring services to the village of Gwakwani, and has now expanded to Matatani and Mbodi, all... →

An image showing Isabella Nomvela, UJ Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment executive dean Prof Daniel Mashao, and Hennie Smith

Left to right, Isabella Nomvela, UJ Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment executive dean Prof Daniel Mashao, and Hennie Smith

Gautrain Management Agency scoops MIKE award

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 5th November 2024 The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) has scooped the 2024 Most Innovative Knowledge Enterprise (MIKE) South Africa Gold Award. The award recognises GMA’s efforts in harnessing its collective knowledge and expertise, leading to better decision-making, innovation and competitive advantage. →

Since the launch of the Gautrain rapid rail link project 14 years ago, the transit system has maintained high levels of operational efficiency, the GMA says

South Africa will champion African energy priorities at G20 next year – Ramokgopa

By: Rebecca Campbell 5th November 2024 South Africa will use its position as Chair of the G20 (the group of 19 major global economies plus the African Union and the European Union) next year to champion Africa’s energy priorities on the global stage. So assured Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa in his keynote... →

Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Eskom’s revenue application displays ‘cavalier disregard’ for negative economic and social impacts

By: Terence Creamer 5th November 2024 The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has urged the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) to reject Eskom’s latest revenue application, which Outa says “displays a cavalier disregard” for the negative economic and socials impacts of yet more above-inflation hikes. In its formal... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Nersa to kick off public hearings into Eskom's revenue application on November 18

CCBA invests $50m in new bottling line in Namibia

By: Schalk Burger 5th November 2024 Beverages multinational Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has invested $50-million in a new bottling line in Namibia, which will produce 27 000 bottles an hour. The upgrade will increase the plant’s output capacity by 30% and stimulate growth throughout the company’s value chain, the company says. →

Crates of Coca-Cola being loaded onto a truck

Mpact completes disposal of Versapak business

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 5th November 2024 JSE-listed Mpact has, through its subsidiary Mpact Operations, completed the disposal of its Versapak business to Greenpath Recycling, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinica Manufacturing. In July, the company entered into a sale of business agreement with Greenpath to dispose of the business. →

Standard Chartered, UK's BII renew $350m trade finance commitment in Africa, South Asia

By: Schalk Burger 5th November 2024 Financial services firm Standard Chartered and UK development finance institution British International Investment (BII) have signed a $350-million risk participation agreement for the trade finance needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and corporates across Africa and South Asia. The... →

S African government investigates spate of food-borne illnesses, encourages food safety practices

By: Sabrina Jardim 5th November 2024 South Africa has recently experienced outbreaks of food-borne illnesses that have led to the tragic death of a number of children and numerous hospitalisations across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. “These incidents are not only a public health challenge but... →

Families appeal for clemency for two engineers after 634 days in Equatorial Guinea prison

By: Schalk Burger 5th November 2024 The families of two detained South African engineers, Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, staged a peaceful protest outside Africa Energy Week at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, with government officials from Equatorial Guinea in attendance at the conference, on November 5. The... →

Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter

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