Education, Health, Public Works finances are in a bad way, says Auditor-General

Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu has warned that the financial health of the provincial departments of health, education and public works are in a bad way and need urgent intervention. “Urgent... 

Audit outcomes of State-owned entities continue to regress

The audit outcomes of State-owned entities (SOEs) have regressed over the past financial year compared with both the previous year and 2014/15. The 2017/18 general report for the Auditor-General... 

Audit results of government departments show a shocking decline

The Auditor-General has been given more powers to crack down on national and provincial government department and their entities. This follows another year of overall decline in their audit... 

Big plans afoot for training more young people in renewable energy

The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (Saretec), which provides training for wind turbine service technicians and which has recently expanded into training solar photovoltaic (PV)... 

South Africa is making strides in physics, but lags in gender equality

South Africa is making strides in the field of physics, as well as steady progress in developing and appointing black researchers in the field, but is lagging way behind in gender equality, a study... 

South Africa marks ten years of collaboration with CERN

South Africa this week celebrated its ten-year collaboration with CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, best known for major breakthroughs such as the discovery of the Higgs-Boson... 

Companies on a drive to become more efficient

Cape Town’s Groote Schuur hospital, a leading manufacturer of catalytic converters and a well-known car sales dealer have one essential thing in common. They have all managed to radically improve... 

Digitalisation set to shake up the energy sector

Energy experts believe there are great opportunities to save money and boost efficiency with a move towards more digitisation in the energy sector. They are preparing for a shake-up, spurred on by... 

Lessons on transforming manufacturing in India

Transformational changes in manufacturing in India have been unpacked at the Lean Summit Africa 2018, in Cape Town, holding important lessons for ramping up efficiency and boosting competitiveness... 

Calls to even out procurement for wind energy

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has called for energy planners to even out the procurement of wind energy allocations between 2021 and 2030 to prevent a "stop-start" scenario.... 

Fossil Fuel Foundation sees ‘clean coal’ as part of solution for SA

The Fossil Fuel Foundation (FFF) has advocated strongly for coal to be retained as a sustainable part of South Africa's energy mix for the short to medium term. “Contrary to the popular belief that... 

Wind energy OEMs call to boost procurement gap; promise to boost localisation

Major manufacturers and suppliers of wind energy turbines and equipment to South Africa are relieved that the wind industry is on a roll again, but have called on the government to close the... 

Nordex to install more turbines at four South African wind farms

Wind turbine designer and manufacturer Nordex will double the number of local employees and install another 174 wind turbines on four wind farm sites in South Africa. Nordex South Africa MD Anne... 

Wind energy industry commits to investing in South Africa

South Africa’s wind energy industry has adopted a charter, which commits to long-term investment in the development of the country. A commitment statement drafted by members of the industry was... 

Concerns raised over coal-sector job losses

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Black Business Council (BBC) have called for amendments to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018, telling Parliament's Portfolio Committee... 

Salga calls for revision to electricity demand forecasts

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has called for a reduced demand forecast for electricity to be included in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018, in line with the slowdown... 

Concerned citizens have their say on IRP 2018

Concerned citizens and activists have come to Parliament to speak out about the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), with fracking, high electricity tariffs and coal-fired power stations among... 

Cosatu calls for overhaul of draft electricity plan

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has rejected the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018, calling for an overhaul. It also called for a firm commitment not to retrench workers... 

Don’t limit renewables in IRP, urges prominent activist

Prominent activist Liz McDaid has called on the government not to limit the construction of renewable energy capacity under the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018. “A look at the IRP says... 

Cut air pollution and improve health

Government has a golden opportunity to improve public health in South Africa and mitigate global climate change if it drops plans for the construction of more coal-fired power stations and focuses... 

Wind energy set to play important role in diversifying the energy mix

Energy Minister Jeff Radebe says wind power can play a pivotal role in driving South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy.  Its competitive prices are also a drawcard and should be... 

Global body forecasts continued growth in wind energy generation capacity

China, the US, Germany, India and Spain are the top five markets for wind energy in the world, with 19.6 GW of installed capacity in 2017, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). GWEC... 

Prices for renewable energy likely to drop further, suggests energy expert

Prices for renewable energy are likely to continue to drop, while the next utility-scale renewable energy procurements will probably come sooner rather than later, suggests energy expert, Professor... 

Wind energy powers up in South Africa

After two years of uncertainty, the wind energy industry is pumping again, with R50-billion of investment realised this year, says South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) chairperson Tebogo... 

Radebe hints at possible Saudi investment to boost South Africa's oil refining capacity

Energy Minister Jeff Radebe has called for a collaborative approach to attract investment in oil refining hubs throughout the continent and has hinted that Saudi Arabian investment in refining... 

Oil, gas outlook positive amid tough conditions, says PwC review

The outlook for Africa’s oil and gas industry is positive, despite tough economic conditions and far fewer discoveries over the past year, PwC’s yearly 'Africa Oil & Gas Review' shows. The review... 

Oil is here to stay, says the IEA

The world’s consumers are not yet ready to say goodbye to the era of oil, while the demand for gas is in the fast lane thanks to its flexibility, says the International Energy Agency (IEA). IEA... 

New oil, gas opportunities emerge in Sudan, Niger

Some countries in Africa are emerging as potentially exciting players in the oil and gas space – from Sudan, which has emerged out of the clutches of civil war, to Niger, which is rising up as a... 

South Africa joins the IEA as an association country

South Africa has joined the International Energy Agency (IEA) as an association country in a move it believes will bring it closer to the cutting-edge of technology and global energy governance. It... 

Saoga upbeat about prospects for the gas industry in South Africa

The South African Oil & Gas Alliance (Saoga) believes there are catalytic opportunities for developing the gas industry in South Africa, which have been buoyed by a renewed focus on attracting... 

Breytenbach stresses need to rebuild trust after renewables delay

Participants in the renewable energy sector say they are encouraged by the dedicated infrastructure team that will be set up in the Presidency, as it will give investors more certainty and... 

Companies on a drive to become more efficient

Cape Town’s Groote Schuur hospital, a leading manufacturer of catalytic converters and a well-known car sales dealer have one essential thing in common. They have all managed to radically improve... 

Digitisation set to shake up the energy sector

Energy experts believe there are great opportunities to save money and boost efficiency with a move towards more digitisation in the energy sector. They are preparing for a shake-up, spurred on by... 

Lessons on transforming manufacturing in India

Transformational changes in manufacturing in India have been unpacked at the Lean Summit Africa 2018, in Cape Town, holding important lessons for ramping up efficiency and boosting competitiveness... 

Calls to even out procurement for wind energy

The South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) has called for energy planners to even out the procurement of wind energy allocations between 2021 and 2030 to prevent a "stop-start" scenario.... 

Fossil Fuel Foundation sees clean coal as a solution for South Africa

The Fossil Fuel Foundation (FFF) has advocated strongly for coal to be retained as a sustainable part of South Africa's energy mix for the short to medium term. “Contrary to the popular belief that... 

Business concerned about coal sector job losses

The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Black Business Council (BBC) have called for amendments to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018, telling Parliament's Portfolio Committee... 

NGOs criticise IRP public hearings process

Energy Governance South Africa (EGSA) has expressed concern about the way the public hearings process into the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) has been conducted in Parliament, saying it had been a... 

Salga calls for new electricity demand forecasts

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has called for a reduced demand forecast for electricity to be included in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018, in line with the slowdown... 

Tullow Oil optimistic about prospects in Africa

Oil and gas exploration and production company Tullow Oil has outlined its sharper and deeper focus on Africa, with upbeat outlooks for its projects in both West and East Africa.   Despite a shift...