Idéle Esterhuizen

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Idéle Esterhuizen

Report raises concern over SA’s approach to construction tender evaluation

19th April 2013 With the South African government earmarking R827-billion for infrastructure development over the next three years, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has indicated its concern after its recent Construction Industry Indicators (CII) report revealed that only about 50% of South... →

DiamondCorp finalises funding package for Lace mine

19th April 2013 JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Southern African diamond development and exploration company DiamondCorp has finalised the £23-million finance package for the 47-level block cave development at its Lace mine, in the Free State. The company reported on Wednesday that it had received the final... →

SA mining output up 7% year-on-year in February, reflecting low 2012 base

19th April 2013 JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mining production in South Africa increased in February, growing 7% year-on-year, following the downwardly revised 6.7% growth in January, Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA’s) preliminary ‘Mining: Production and Sales’ report has shown. The highest positive... →

Continental Coal finalises Mashala Resources deal

18th April 2013 ASX- and Aim-listed Continental Coal on Thursday said its 74%-owned South African subsidiary had completed the acquisition of the outstanding minority interests in coal mining junior Mashala Resources. The acquisition afforded Continental Coal South Africa with, besides others, 100% interests in... →

RBPlat reports higher production despite tough market conditions

18th April 2013 Notwithstanding a challenging business environment, black-empowered platinum producer Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) reported a 4% year-on-year increase in total tonnes delivered to concentrators during the quarter ended March 31, while milled tonnes increased by 8% and the built-up head grade... →

SA miners most exposed to risk of tumbling gold prices – Fitch

18th April 2013 South African miners had the biggest exposure to the risk of falling gold prices, owing to high production costs that were rising further at a fast pace, ratings agency Fitch said on Thursday. The agency indicated in a statement that, while prices could recover quickly if worries over the... →

Rebosis expects Comp Commission approval of Sunnypark Centre deal soon

18th April 2013 JSE-listed black-managed Rebosis Property Fund expected the Competition Commission to approve its acquisition of the Sunnypark Centre, in Pretoria, within the next week, while transfer was anticipated in the third week of May, CEO Sisa Ngebulana said on Thursday. The deal was among agreements... →

Fading confidence in collective bargaining could lead to job cuts, warns law firm

18th April 2013 The apparent opting out of labour union membership in South Africa amid a wave of wildcat strikes, could mark a rise in employee terminations, should companies lose confidence in collective bargaining, law firm Routledge Modise employment director Prince Mafojane has said. “The spate of... →

Hospitality to buy 100% stake in Radisson Blu Gautrain hotel for R443m

17th April 2013 Hospitality Property Fund’s (HPH’s) wholly owned subsidiary HPF Properties (Propco) has entered into a new sales agreement with Savana to acquire 100% of the Radisson Blu Gautrain hotel and conference centre, in Sandton, for about R443.39-million. Propco had cancelled the initial sale agreement,... →

Zeder agrees to buy Capespan for R285m

17th April 2013 Investment company Zeder, through its wholly owned subsidiary Zeder Financial Services, on Wednesday said it had reached an agreement to acquire the entire shareholding held by Total Produce in global fruit procurement company Capespan Group for R258-million. The amount was to be paid in cash by... →

N1-N2 Winelands improvements to benefit surrounding communities, create jobs

16th April 2013 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) spokesman Vusi Mona has rejected reports that the N1-N2 Winelands toll highway project would adversely affect members of impoverished communities in the area. Mona indicated that since preparations for the N1-N2 Winelands toll highway... →

Davis agrees to step down as Glencore-Xstrata merger clears last major hurdle

16th April 2013 Xstrata CEO Mick Davis has agreed to not take up the six-month role of CEO and executive director of the combined Glencore Xstrata group – one of the conditions set by China’s Ministry of Commerce (Mofcom) for it to approve the $33-billion deal. Swiss commodities trader Glencore announced on... →

Preparations for construction of Air Products’ R300m ASU plant to start in June

16th April 2013 Site clearance and preparation for the construction of industrial gas supply company Air Products’ R300-million air separation unit (ASU) in the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) would start in June, with construction and commissioning scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2014.... →

Amcu indicates it will reject CoM collective bargaining proposal

16th April 2013 Although the Chamber of Mines (CoM) was expecting to receive a formal response from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) regarding its proposed formation of a centralised bargaining forum for the platinum sector soon, Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa told Mining Weekly... →

Firestone enters into talks with interested funders

16th April 2013 ASX- and JSE-listed Firestone Energy has entered into discussions with interested parties regarding future funding. The company, which is currently the takeover target of fellow ASX-listed Range River Gold, indicated that it was currently in the early stages of formulating offers, which were... →

Construction on Bronkhorstspruit biogas plant to start in June

16th April 2013 Construction on the Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant (BBP) would start in June and be completed in the first quarter of next year, the project developer Bio 2 Watt says. Founder Sean Thomas told Engineering News Online that the project, with an initial installed capacity of 3 MW, would reach... →

Textiles competitiveness programme creates over 12 000 permanent jobs – DTI

15th April 2013 The Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) had, to date, created more than 12 000 new permanent jobs in South Africa’s clothing, textiles, leather and footwear sectors, Department of Trade and Industry director-general Lionel October said on Monday. Speaking at the Source Africa... →

IMF recognises new Somali federal government

15th April 2013 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday announced that it now recognised the new Federal Government of Somalia, which took office in September last year, paving the way for the resumption of relations after a 22-year interlude. Recognition of the government, which is headed by President... →

Bühler South Africa launches compact mobile maize-milling plant

12th April 2013 Food processing plant and equipment supplier Bühler South Africa on Friday launched its 2 t/h mobile Isigayo compact mill, aimed at tackling government’s mandate of developing the small-scale milling sector and improving food security in the Southern African region. The equipment supplier’s... →

Afrimat makes offer to remaining Infrasors investors

12th April 2013 JSE-listed construction materials supplier Afrimat has offered remaining shareholders of South African resources group Infrasors 35c a share to acquire their shareholding in the company, the same price at which it bought the initial 50.7% interest from Hanchurch Asset Management and retiring... →

Africa’s focus on ‘new’ infrastructure contributing to maintenance deficit

12th April 2013 The emphasis on building new infrastructure in South Africa, as well as the rest of Africa, was to the detriment of the continent’s existing infrastructure, creating a maintenance deficit, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) learning and development department head Eric Mahamba-Sithole said... →

Randgold ‘rapidly advancing’ growth projects – Bristow

12th April 2013 JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Africa-focused miner Randgold Resources is rapidly advancing its further growth projects and examining new joint-venture opportunities, CE Mark Bristow said on Thursday. At the release of the company’s 2012 annual report, he emphasised that Randgold’s top... →

Cutifani says he’ll initially focus on value creation

12th April 2013 JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner Anglo American’s new CEO Mark Cutifani has indicated that his initial focus would be to find ways to improve value creation within the company. “I will look to start with the value proposition for being a major diversified [company]. I will look... →

Third licence added to Botswana Diamonds/Morminas agreement

11th April 2013 Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds on Thursday said a third license block would now be evaluated on the Save river, in Mozambique, as part of its recently signed option agreement with a Mozambican company Morminas. Botswana Diamonds aimed to explore the potential for alluvial and eluvial deposits that... →

SA mining output up 7% y/y in February, reflecting low 2012 base

11th April 2013 Mining production in South Africa increased in February, growing 7% year-on-year, following the downwardly revised 6.7% growth in January, Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA’s) preliminary ‘Mining: Production and Sales’ report has shown. The highest positive growth rate of 66% in February was... →

Sable Platinum buys 4% stake in Global Initiatives for $4m

11th April 2013 Platinum exploration company Sable Platinum on Thursday said it had entered into an agreement to acquire a 4% equity interest in Botswana-based mining company Global Initiatives for $4-million. In terms of the agreement with Global’s executive director Atang Makgekgenene, Sable had also been... →

Zondereinde strike persists despite interdict

11th April 2013 Striking rock drill operators at JSE-listed Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine have still not returned to work, despite being served with an interdict issued by the Labour Court, which ruled that the current work stoppage at the mine was unprotected. The interdict directed the roughly 500... →

DiamondCorp finalises funding package for Lace mine

11th April 2013 Southern African diamond development and exploration company DiamondCorp has finalised the £23-million finance package for the 47-level block cave development at its Lace mine, in the Free State. The company reported on Wednesday that it had received the final tranche of £1.96-million of funds... →

Infralink opens Zim’s first toll plaza

11th April 2013 Construction consortium Infralink on Wednesday officially opened Zimbabwe’s first toll plaza – Ntabazinduna – 20 km outside Bulawayo. The plaza was the first of eight to be constructed as part of the R1.4-billion Phase 1 of the Zimbabwean government’s strategic initiative to upgrade the logistics... →

Southern Africa’s reserve margin to stabilise as power capacity is added

9th April 2013 The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) member countries planned to commission about 18 000 MW of additional power generation capacity by 2016, which would improve the current negative reserve margin to as much as 15%, SAPP Zimbabwe coordinator center manager Lawrence Musaba indicated on Tuesday.... →

DoE to approach small power producers for REIPPPP before year-end

9th April 2013 The Department of Energy (DoE) will, before the end of this year, advertise for small power producers, with projects under 5 MW, to participate in its small-generator programme under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), DoE deputy director-general of... →

Gas key to SA’s future power mix

8th April 2013 Gas would form a key part of South Africa’s future power generation mix, with the focus to fall on liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the short term and on shale gas in the long term, Standard Bank power and infrastructure head in South Africa Ntlai Mosiah said Monday. “The implications for South... →

Zondereide strike continues

8th April 2013 JSE-listed platinum producer Northam Platinum confirmed on Monday afternoon that the roughly 500 rock drill operators at its Zondereinde mine, who downed tools on April 4 in demand of a 38% increase in their monthly production bonuses, have yet to return to work. The miner indicated that the work... →

Scharrighuisen, trusts to pay R40m to settle claims

5th April 2013 As per a settlement agreement that was concluded on April 4, the Marinvia Trust, the CIMS Trust, Sylco, Clasina Scharrighuisen and Marcel Scharrighuisen have agreed to, jointly and seperately, be liable to pay an amount of R40-million into the trust account of legal advisers Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr... →

Source Africa 2013 trade show to kick off in Cape Town

5th April 2013 The quality, reliability and sophistication of African textiles and apparel suppliers, and service providers to prospective international buyers, will be showcased at the Source Africa 2013 trade show next week. The show will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from April 9... →

Sierra Rutile markedly improves production in Q1

5th April 2013 Aim-listed mineral sands producer Sierra Rutile recorded improved production during the first quarter of 2013, with rutile output growing by 21% to 25 087 t and ilmenite production increasing by 22% to 5 567 t, compared with the 2012 comparable period. This was in part attributable to the Sierra... →

Northam loses R46.2m in Zondereinde strike

5th April 2013 JSE-listed platinum producer Northam Platinum on Friday said it had lost about R46.2-million in revenue since rock drill operators at its Zondereinde mine have refused to go underground since April 2. The company reported that operations at the mine had been halted, with the rock drill operators... →

Cable theft, faulty train cause major Metrorail service halts in Gauteng

5th April 2013 Commuter rail operator Metrorail said a power failure, following the theft of about 55 m of overhead power cable at Centurion on Friday morning had halted the train service on the Pretoria–Johannesburg corridor, affecting trains to and from Johannesburg. On the same corridor, a faulty train had... →

Umgeni Water seeks contractor for 55 Ml/d raw water treatment works

5th April 2013 State-owned water utility Umgeni Water has called on competent contractors to tender for the construction of the 55 Ml/d Lower Thukela Bulk Water Supply Scheme (LTBWSS) adjacent to the Thukela river, in KwaZulu-Natal. Corporate stakeholder manager Shami Harichunder told Engineering News Online... →

Africa’s inability to meet energy demand is costing jobs and growth

5th April 2013 It is estimated that at least $40-billion a year is required to meet future demand in the African power sector, compared with current yearly investment of less than one-quarter this amount, New Partnership for Africa’s Development energy programme head Professor Mosad Elmissiry said at the... →

Growthpoint launches R150m Gauteng industrial expansion

5th April 2013 Property development firm Growthpoint Properties has launched a R150-million client-driven industrial property development and redevelopment programme in Gauteng. In Meadowbrook, Germiston, Growthpoint was developing a R100-million state-of-the-art facility for multinational group Grundfos. The... →

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