Joanne Taylor

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

Joanne Taylor

Joanne Taylor is a former Staff Writer for Engineering News.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Email: newsdesk@engineeringnews.co.za

Campaign to tackle electricity theft making some progress

22nd November 2013 State-owned power utility Eskom has reiterated the crisis regarding electricity theft, its effect on residents and business owners – whether they pay for electricity or not – and how Operation Khanyisa is dealing with this issue. →

SA space agency responds to growing demand for in-orbit satellite testing

15th November 2013 The ever-increasing need for information generated from space requires several satellites to orbit the earth, which subsequently require more antennas worldwide to track and monitor their orbits and functions. This provides an opportunity for South Africa to invest in and develop space programmes... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Sansa chief engineer Eugene Avenant

SA space agency responds to growing demand for in-orbit satellite testing

15th November 2013 The ever-increasing need for information generated from space requires several satellites to orbit the earth, which subsequently require more antennas worldwide to track and monitor their orbits and functions. This provides an opportunity for South Africa to invest in and develop space programmes... →

R60m Sasolburg business incubator aims to support SMMEs

8th November 2013 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Sasol have inaugurated the first building of the ChemCity Business Incubator (CBI), in Sasolburg, which will support and promote the development of small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs). Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies and Sasol... →

Hartbeespoort dam remedial programme showing signs of progress

8th November 2013 Members of the media from Finland, Zambia, Nigeria, Serbia, Tanzania and the UK toured Hartbeespoort last month, to view best environmental practices in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. →

CLEANING UP The DWA and Rand Water have removed 1 000 t of litter and debris from Hartbeespoort dam and its shores

Sasol completes Phase 1 of its eco-industrial park

1st November 2013 Phase 1 of Sasol Group’s new ChemCity Eco Industrial Park (CEIP), a 172 ha site in Sasolburg, in the Free State, has been completed. Phase 1 comprised 110 light-industry stands of between 630 m2 and 990 m2, of which 17 have been transferred to their new owners. →

Groups in high-voltage collaboration

25th October 2013 Building on its commitment to be closer to customers in Africa, General Electric (GE) and China-based high-voltage (HV) transmission equipment manufacturers XD Electric Group have partnered to combine GE’s intelligent controls with XD Electric’s portfolio of HV equipment. →

Shipping group’s philanthropic arm pledges $2.3m for tree planting

25th October 2013 The United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation, the philanthropic arm of UPS, is pledging another one-million trees worldwide and has awarded $2.3-million in grants to support environmental programmes and forestry-focused initiatives worldwide. →

Photo by Duane Daws
ONE-MILLION TREESThe United Parcel Service (UPS) Foundation is pledging funds to plant another one-million trees worldwide

Group unveils integrated airport security offering

18th October 2013 Thales South Africa, part of the global Thales Group, focuses on the security of citizens, infrastructure and nations. Its latest offering is the airport operation control centre (AOCC), which is an integration of all of its security systems, to enable airports to make decisions more effectively. →

Attacq lists on JSE

14th October 2013 Bringing a unique proposition to market, Attacq listed on the main board of the JSE on Monday, under the Real Estate – Real Estate Holdings and Development sector. Prior to the listing, the company raised R800-million through an oversubscribed private placement. →

Atterbury Property Holdings CEO and co-founder Louis van der Watt, Attacq independent nonexecutive chairperson Pierre Tredoux, Attacq CEO Morne Wilken and Atterbury Property Holdings co-founder and Attacq nonexecutive director Francois van Niekerk

SA agency on high space-weather alert as current solar cycle nears peak

11th October 2013 Space weather can potentially have disastrous effects on space and earth based technology infrastructure – from information and communication technology to electrical power distribution systems. Many countries are, therefore, monitoring space weather to develop ways to provide protection from its... →

SA agency on high space-weather alert as current solar cycle nears peak

11th October 2013 Space weather has the capacity to have disastrous effects on space and earth based technology infrastructure – from information and communication technology to electrical power distribution systems. →

Breaking the boundary between university and workplace

11th October 2013 The boundary between university and business needs to become more porous as new graduates grapple with the increasingly complex demands of a changing workplace. →

Photo by Barry Aldworth
SOLAR INNOVATIONBuilding the UJ Solar Car has provided an opportunity for industry to collaborate with UJ on developing and showcasing green technology

Sasol, DTI launch ChemCity Business Incubator

10th October 2013 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Sasol on Thursday inaugurated the ChemCity Business Incubator (CBI), which will support and promote the development of small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs). Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies and Sasol Group executive of public... →

Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies and Sasol Group executive of public affairs Maurice Radebe

Growthpoint Properties opens regional office in upmarket Pretoria building

4th October 2013 Property investment company Growthpoint Properties has opened a regional office in the premium 10 000 m2 AAA-grade Menlyn Corner, in Pretoria, which the company owns. →

MENLYNGrowthpoint’s prime office building provides occupants with cost savings owing to its energy efficient design and technologies

Civil engineer hopes autobiography will inspire the next generation

27th September 2013 Retired civil engineer David Easton wrote an autobiography of his lifelong career in the civil engineering industry, highlighting the industry and his progression therein from 1930 to 2008 and now gives presentations to high school learners, based on the book, to encourage them to study civil... →

DAVID EASTON Retired civil engineer highlights the industry and his progression therein from 1930 to 2008

SA manufacturer in deal to supply concrete cabins for solar farms

27th September 2013 Precast concrete manufacturer Rocla has entered into a manufacturing-under-licence agreement with Spain-based precast concrete cabin supplier Prephor to manufacture precast concrete cabins to supply South Africa’s budding photovoltaic (PV) farms. →

CONCRETE CABINPrecast concrete cabin manufacturing is increasing because of the country’s emerging solar power industry

Learners show they are up to the task during energy-saving competition

27th September 2013 St John’s College, in Johannesburg, won first prize in the 2013 Siemens Junior Cyber Junk Yard Challenge earlier this month, – a competition in which talented learners go head-to-head in building models of energy-saving homes. →

ST JOHN’S COLLEGEThe school won first prize with its model of an energy-efficient home at the 2013 Siemens Junior Cyber Yard Challenge

Civil engineering education must evolve to enable NDP success

13th September 2013 Part of the National Development Plan’s (NDP’s) success will be in South Africa’s ability to strengthen civil engineering qualifications to provide the necessary skills to implement it. →

SA should learn from Brazilian plan for labour market, Cosatu argues

13th September 2013 The National Development Plan’s (NDP’s) economic and labour-market strategies are flawed, said Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) secretariat strategies coordinator Neil Coleman at the National Science and Technology Forum’s second proSET President’s Forum, held in Sandton, last... →

Photo by Bloomberg
COSATU South Africa’s National Development Plan indicates that minimum wages should be lowered to allow for more profits that would, in turn, create more jobs

First of nine 3 MW wind turbines complete at Eastern Cape wind farm

13th September 2013 The first wind turbine for South Africa came on line last month, at the Metrowind Van Stadens wind farm, near Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape. →

FIRST WIND TURBINE South Africa’s first wind turbine has been erected in the Eastern Cape

Mall extensions almost complete, Growthpoint reports

13th September 2013 Growthpoint Properties reports a distribution growth of 7.2% for the year ended June 30, outperforming its original forecast and delivering on higher performance prospects announced at its half-year presentation earlier this year. →

NORBERT SASSEGrowthpoint Properties reports a distribution growth of 7.2% for the year ended June 30

Site preparations under way for R300m Coega air separation unit

6th September 2013 Industrial and specialised gas producer Air Products has started to clear the site for its new R300-million air separation unit (ASU), in Zone 3 of the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), in the Eastern Cape. →

SITE CLEARANCEAir Products has started with the site clearance for the construction of its new air separation unit, in the Eastern Cape, which is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of next year

Local company in pneumatic air-hoist breaktrhough

6th September 2013 Pneumatic equipment manufacturer ATS 2000 is the first local company to manufacture pneumatic air hoists, which lift more than 15 t, for industrial and mining applications. It is also a first for Africa and the southern hemisphere. →

AIR HOIST ATS2000 is the first African country to manufacture 25 t air hoists locally

Partnerships and new thinking needed for regenerative-city plans to prevail

6th September 2013 Strong consensus emerged at a recent Infrastructure Dialogues gathering, which took place in Midrand in August, that a combination of behavioural change and partnerships between the private sector, civil society and government are needed in order for city-level regenerative initiatives to have... →

SHAUN NELSouth Africa agreed to reduce its carbon emissions by 37% in 2015 and by 42% by 2025, most of which needs to happen at city level

Acquisitions at scale to retail property fund

6th September 2013 Specialised retail property fund Synergy Income Fund’s R334-million acquisition of Atlantis City Shopping Centre came into effect earlier this month, which will boost the fund’s property portfolio to 15 assets across South Africa, with a combined value of R2.2-billion. →

WILLIAM BROOKSThe Synergy Income Fund reports a strong set of results for its financial year ended June 30, 2013, delivering on its forecast distribution growth to unitholders

Property group plans more Pretoria, Joburg inner-city refurbs

30th August 2013 A group of property investors, owners and management companies are changing the face of the Pretoria and Johannesburg central business district (CBD) buildings by buying, refurbishing or demolishing old dilapidated buildings to make way for retail shops, commercial offices and residential flats. →

JEFF’S PLACEOne of the inner city revival projects underway in the Pretoria CBD

African countries want ownership of energy projects – Nepad official

30th August 2013 Planning and coordinating body of the African Union, the New Partnership for AfricanAfrica Development (Nepad), had established that countries in Africa wanted to take ownership of the energy projects in their regions, said Nepad head of energy programmes Professor Mosad Elmissiry at the Africa... →

Photo by Duane Daws
MOSAD ELMISSIRYOne of the objectives of SE4ALL is ensuring energy access for the world population by 2030

Growthpoint delivers 7.2% growth, assets exceed R60bn for the first time

28th August 2013 Growthpoint Properties on Wednesday reported distribution growth of 7.2% for the year ended June 30, outperforming its original forecast and delivering on higher performance prospects announced at its half-year presentation. CEO Norbert Sasse attributed the group’s strong performance to the... →

Growthpoint CEO Norbert Sasse

Strong planning urged as SA begins to come to terms with its water scarcity

23rd August 2013 It is common cause that South Africa is facing various challenges with regard to its water resources and the manage- ment thereof. It is also well recognised that South Africa needs to intensify its efforts to protect its already limited water resources and materially improve the efficiency of... →

Kenya-Uganda leg of larger power transmission project under way

23rd August 2013 The Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) awarded Spain-based international sustainable energy company Abengoa a contract for the construction of a 132 km electricity transmission line between Kenya and Uganda. →

132 km POWER LINEAbengoa’s power transmission lines will connect Kenya with Uganda

Building infrastructure specialist opens new Gauteng showroom

23rd August 2013 Electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist Legrand has made a further commitment to the South African market with the complete renovation and extension of its existing premises in Sandton, Gauteng. →

Study claims steel is closing car-body weight gap with aluminium

23rd August 2013 The latest studies, released in May, in a continuing series of research studies indicates that steel autobody structures can be as lightweight as the current aluminium bodies and meet all safety crash-test performance standards. →

Photo by Bloomberg
STEEL VS ALUMINIUMNew studies reveal that steel is more light weight for vehicle manufacture than aluminium while also meeting the crash test safety requirements - Bloomberg

Retention structure technology proves effective

23rd August 2013 Seven years after the completion of a new boundary-wall retention structure for the Italian Embassy, in Ethiopia, the solution has proven to be structurally durable and environmentally friendly. →

Strong planning and management urged as SA begins to come to terms with its water scarcity

23rd August 2013 It is common cause that South Africa is facing various challenges with regard to its water resources and the management thereof. It is also well recognised that South Africa needs to intensify its efforts to protect its already limited water resources and materially improve the efficiency of... →

Emira turnaround plans result in 3.5% distribution growth

20th August 2013 JSE-listed Emira Property Fund on Tuesday reported distribution growth of 3.5% for the financial year ended June 30, achieving a noteworthy turnaround from last year’s decline in distributions. The company indicated that it paid specific attention to improving vacancies, which were down to 5.6%,... →

Emira Property Fund CEO James Templeton

More to come from renewable-energy partnership programme

16th August 2013 The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) has finalised two of the 28 projects aimed at scaling up renewable energy and energy efficient solutions in key emerging markets and selected developing countries in Africa and Asia. →

Photo by Reuters
POWER SUPPLY FOR WATERThe eThekwini municipality in Durban has already brought two mini hydroschemes on its existing infrastructure to the tender stage

R2.5bn De Aar project consolidates Solar Capital’s SA market standing

9th August 2013 Solar energy company Solar Capital signed its second Independent Power Purchase Agreement with the Department of Energy. →

Photo by Duane Daws
75 MWThe 75 MW farm with its 1-million solar panels will generate enough electricity to power about 14 000 South African homes every year

Low vacancy rates in Joburg’s inner city could boost investor interest

9th August 2013 There is less than a 1% chance of finding a decent flat to rent in the Johannesburg inner city, as vacancies have reached a historic low that is likely to pave the way for new investor interest in the precinct, says national property investment and management group Trafalgar MD Andrew Schaefer. →

Course aims to upgrade skills of horizontal directional drillers

9th August 2013 A horizontal directional drill (HDD) operator management course has been developed to improve the skills and safety of operators in the field, as this method is becoming increasingly popular in built-up environments. →

HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING This method is becoming the preferred way of laying pipes, conduits and cables

Challenge fund aims to support African off-grid power innovations

9th August 2013 The US African Development Foundation (USADF) is partnering with electric services and capital company General Electric (GE) Africa to launch the Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge (Power Africa Challenge). →

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