David Oliveira

https://staging1.creamermedia.com/

David Oliveira

David Oliveira is a Creamer Media Senior Staff Writer for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

Tel: +2711 622 3744

Email: newsdesk@engineeringnews.co.za

Nigerian university expansion project receives AfDB loan

7th July 2017 The African Development Bank (AfDB) last month signed agreements for a corporate loan to finance the expansion of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. The expansion project consists of the construction of new facilities – including a 400-bed teaching hospital, an industrial... →

Turbulent political climate set to remain – Malala

30th June 2017 South Africa’s turbulent political climate, which has been rocked by accusations of State capture and the surprise Cabinet reshuffle in March, is set to continue, political analyst Justice Malala has warned. “We are going through a time when we have outsourced our democracy,” he said on Friday,... →

Photo by Reuters
President Jacob Zuma

New Tshwane light-steel frame building erected at speed

30th June 2017 South African light-steel frame (LSF) construction company Futurecon has completed the construction of a R7-million 454 m2 facility, in Tshwane, for optometric service provider Spectacle Warehouse last month. Project architect Base Architects & Associates MD Darren Ogden explains that the only... →

Poor governance, accountability stymieing rehabilitation after mine closure

30th June 2017 Delegates at the mining seminar of Sustainability Week, which took place at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, in Pretoria, earlier this month, heard that greater levels of governance and accountability were needed to ensure effective land rehabilitation post-mine closure. South... →

AI expected to be key disrupter in transition to smart-city status

23rd June 2017 According to research by Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML), about 54.5% of the global population is living in urban areas, which is expected to increase to about 70% in the next 35 years. As such, the US-based investment service provider highlights that urbanisation and smart cities, as well... →

VescoPlastics’ strong training heritage recognised

23rd June 2017 For its commitment to training, local polymer bearing manufacturer VescoPlastics received the Artisan Award at the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa’s (Seifsa’s) Awards for Excellence, which were held last month at the Industrial Development Corporation Conference... →

Mines urged to ensure their operations are socially, environmentally sustainable

23rd June 2017 Companies across all sectors are having to toe the line and create operations that are environmentally and socially sustainable; however, the path to sustainability is often unclear in a sector largely known for generating huge profit yields with equally huge negative environmental and social... →

South African timber industry could become net importer amid supply pressures

16th June 2017 While the short-term outlook for South Africa’s timber industry looks positive, with positive supply and demand figures, the medium term outook for the industry is under pressure owing to a potential looming timber shortage, as the total area under plantation in South Africa is not expanding in... →

Mercedes-Benz E-Class to support digital vehicle key solution

16th June 2017 Global digital security company Gemalto announced last month that it is providing its Trusted Services Hub (TSH) to support German automotive company Daimler’s new smartphone-based ‘digital vehicle key’ for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class range. The car maker’s innovative solution gives drivers the... →

Malawi and Tanzania sign MOU for Songwe River Basin Programme

16th June 2017 Malawi and Tanzania signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Malawi, which will see the two African nations work together for the development of the Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP). The SRBDP was... →

PPC Imaginarium Awards 2017 winners announced

16th June 2017 South African art and design competition PPC Imaginarium Awards announced its overall winner, category winners and runners-up at a gala event hosted last month at the University of Johannesburg’s Art Gallery in Auckland Park. The winners were selected from the 55 finalists who submitted their... →

Gardner Denver announces deferred stock grant to employees as it lists

16th June 2017 Industrial, energy and medical flow control and compression solutions provider Gardner Denver listed on the NYSE last month, by announcing more than $100-million in deferred stock unit grants to nearly 6 000 of its employees worldwide. In a video message to team members around the globe Gardner... →

Pan African’s Elikhulu tailings project to deliver ‘exceptionally’ low cost organic growth

9th June 2017 Focusing on low-cost, high-value organic growth projects has seen South African precious metals miner Pan African Resources prioritise the R1.7-billion Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant (TRP) project at its Evander gold mine, in Mpumalanga, which is expected to produce 689 000 oz of gold at an... →

Smart electricity meter standards presented

9th June 2017 Underwriters Laboratories (UL) presented on important new standards for testing and certifying smart electricity meters at the African Utility Week, held in Cape Town last month. During the presentation, titled Accelerating Technology Adoption with Product Standards, UL electricity utility... →

Company unveils containerised gas-to-power product offering

9th June 2017 Cape Town-based containerised renewable-energy generation company SustainPower hosted their official gas-to-power product launch at African Utility Week (AUW), held in Cape Town last month. The company focusses on containerised gas-to-power and solar solutions with the integration of technologies... →

Residential solar PV poses significant threat to utility model

9th June 2017 Increasing environmental awareness was driving South Africans to invest in a more sustainable future by installing solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop panels, global professional service company Accenture resources associate director Ashley Maistry said at the African Utility Week, held in Cape Town... →

Pan African’s Elikhulu tailings project to deliver ‘exceptionally’ low cost organic growth

9th June 2017 Focusing on low-cost, high-value organic growth projects has seen South African precious metals miner Pan African Resources prioritise the R1.7-billion Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant (TRP) project at its Evander gold mine, in Mpumalanga, which is expected to produce 689 000 oz of gold at an... →

Lawyer calls for zama-zamas to be brought into formal mining fold

9th June 2017 There is a greater socioeconomic issue behind the increasing incidences involving illegal mineworkers, or zama-zamas, and perhaps the time has come to formalise the sector to bring these artisanal- and small-scale miners (ASMs and SSMs) into the mainstream economy, Hogan Lovells partner and... →

TIME FOR FORMALISATION Top mining lawyer Warren Beech calls to formalise the illegal mining trade, thereby, bringing zama-zama into the mainstream economy

Ring main unit launched to cater for increased renewables output

2nd June 2017 Electrical engineering firm Lucy Electric launched its modular Aegis36 ring main unit at Africa Utility Week, which took place in Cape Town last month. The unit is designed for switchgear of up to 36 kV installed in secondary distribution networks and particularly for renewable-energy projects. →

Eskom and Huawei team up to deliver smart grid by 2030

2nd June 2017 To take better advantage of the increasing adoption of smart grid technology, State-owned power utility Eskom announced a partnership with global information communication technology (ICT) company Huawei at the African Utility Week, which took place in Cape Town last month. The Huawei-Eskom... →

Waste management body discusses mine residue stockpiles

2nd June 2017 The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa (IWMSA) convened in Rustenburg, in the North West, last month to discuss a risk- based approach to planning and management of residue stockpiles and deposits at mines. The workshop also provided participants the opportunity to gain a better... →

Varsity launches centre to help mining sector survive Industrial Revolution 4.0

2nd June 2017 The University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Department of Mining Engineering last month launched its Mining Resilience Research Centre (MRRC) at the Hatfield, Pretoria, campus. The centre will take a multidisciplinary and holistic research approach to address the challenges facing the South African... →

Goldplat bolsters management with new FD, nonexecutive director appointments

1st June 2017 Aim-listed Goldplat has appointed Werner Klingenberg FD and Sango Ntsaluba nonexecutive director, with immediate effect. Ntsaluba is chairperson of Goldplat’s South African subsidiary Goldplat Recovery and is a well-known figure in the accountancy and auditing profession of South Africa. →

Mining Resilience Research Centre launch to help sector survive Industrial Revolution 4.0

26th May 2017 The University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Department of Mining Engineering has launched its Mining Resilience Research Centre (MRRC) at the Hatfield, Pretoria, campus. The centre will take a multidisciplinary and holistic research approach to address the challenges facing the South African mining... →

New-look procurement rules punted as possible transformation game changer

26th May 2017 Major reform of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) regulations, which came into effect last month, has been held up as a key tool in driving radical economic transformation in South Africa by providing greater opportunities for small, medium-sized and microenterprises... →

‘Siloed’ approaches to mineral processing giving way to integration

26th May 2017 To keep abreast of the global drive towards system integration as a means of enabling lean production and process optimisation, State-owned minerals technology organisation Mintek is focusing on shifting the South African mining sector to increasing degrees of operation and control of the local... →

New COO for data management company

26th May 2017 Local data management and security company M2TD announced the appointment of new COO Melusi Gumbi earlier this month, who joins the company from local information and communications (ICT) technology service provider Khauleza IT Solutions, where he was the ICT operations executive. M2TD aims to... →

Mobile app aims to help South Africans save and invest better

26th May 2017 South African financial services provider Liberty launched its Stash investment application (app) earlier this month to help improve a local savings culture by providing a solution that removes the complexity and fear associated with investing. Stash is designed to mitigate all the complicated... →

New-look procurement rules punted as possible transformation game changer

26th May 2017 Major reform of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) regulations, which came into effect last month, is expected to provide the legislative assistance to drive radical economic transformation in South Africa by providing greater opportunities for small, medium-sized and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
UNDER SCRUTINY Business still uncertain about the implications of South Africa’s new preferential procurement rules

Drilling at Cote d’Ivoire gold project showing promising results

26th May 2017 West Africa-focused gold producer Perseus Mining announced earlier this month the completion of a drilling programme at its Yaouré gold project, in Côte d’Ivoire, with the company having received assay results for about 29 300 samples from the programme, which confirm the tenor of mineralisation... →

Experts discuss Africa’s marine minerals potential

26th May 2017 Seabed mining experts convened earlier this month in Kampala, Uganda, to discuss opportunities and explore the potential of marine mineral resources to contribute to Africa’s development goals. “This workshop on the marine mineral resources of Africa’s continental shelf and adjacent international... →

New water-heating solutions provider unveils product offering

19th May 2017 South Africa has a new entrant into the commercial, industrial and residential water-heating market following the April 2017 launch of water-heating solutions provider HydraTherm’s own basket of water-heating products, which aims to significantly reduce consumer’s electricity costs relating to... →

Kimberley Ekapa mine accused of operating without proper permits

19th May 2017 Informal miners, or zama-zama, in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, marched to the provincial Hawks office earlier this month to lay a complaint that a case against independent diamond miner Petra Diamonds has not been investigated by law enforcement agencies. According to Mining Affected... →

Drilling programme shows promising results for Yaouré gold project

18th May 2017 West Africa-focused gold producer Perseus Mining on Thursday announced the completion of a drilling programme at its Yaouré gold project, in Côte d’Ivoire, with the company having received assay results for about 29 300 samples from the programme, which confirm the tenor of mineralisation in... →

Huge tech rewards for SA opencast mines, but underground operations lag behind

12th May 2017 The adoption of new technology, aimed at improving operational efficiency and lowering costs, is driving the future of the resources sector globally. However, South Africa’s deep-level underground platinum and gold mining sectors, with their unique challenges, have proven to be slower in adopting... →

Evander shafts back in operation after R41.5m refurbishment

12th May 2017 South African gold miner Pan African Resources has completed the R41.5-million stoppage and refurbishment programme for the 7 and 8 shafts at its Evander gold mine, in Mpumalanga. Normal production has resumed. Evander GM Tenda Tendaupenyu noted during a media briefing at the mine last month that... →

Huge tech rewards for SA opencast mines, but underground operations lag behind

12th May 2017 The adoption of new technology, aimed at improving operational efficiency and lowering costs, is driving the future of the resource sector globally. However, South Africa’s deep-level underground platinum and gold mining, with its unique challenges, has proven to be slower in the adoption of new... →

OUT OF THE DANGER ZONE South Africa’s mechanisation strategy involves moving mineworkers away from the rock face where about half of all underground fatalities occur

‘Dynamite’ GDP growth comes in small private-equity investment packages

12th May 2017 According to a report by economic advisory service provider The Economist Corporate Network (ECN) every 0.01% increase in private equity (PE) investment penetration into Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) would inject an incremental $1.1-billion investment over the next five years, providing a... →

Pan African showcases future project pipeline

12th May 2017 To produce gold as cheaply as possible, South African gold miner Pan African Resources is undergoing a significant tailings retreatment project at its Evander mine, in Mpumalanga, which will result in the construction of the R6.35-billion Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant. During a visit to the... →

Asset management company launches new logistics facility

5th May 2017 Asset management company Fortress Income Fund launched its 19 878 m2 Westlake View logistics park in March, further increasing the company’s warehousing and logistics development pipeline. The company currently has a gross leasable area of about one-million m2 that spans Gauteng, the Western Cape... →

Utility expo to highlight off-grid project developments

5th May 2017 African Utility Week, taking place from May 16 to 18, in Cape Town, will showcase how the continent is creating innovative, home-grown solutions for its energy and water challenges, and how these are creating opportunities for utilities and industry suppliers. The event will give voice to the... →

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