Cameron Mackay

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Cameron Mackay

Cameron Mackay is a Creamer Media Senior Online Writer for Engineering News and Mining Weekly.

300% growth demand noted by solar company

24th March 2023 Renewable-energy solution provider Solar MD has noted a 300% growth in demand for energy storage solutions in South Africa, owing to increasing demand for energy storage products in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. “While the residential sector has shown steady linear growth,... →

Regulatory changes to boost energy projects

24th March 2023 Recent regulatory changes in the local energy sector – such as the lifting of the licensing threshold for independent power generation – will help boost solar energy equipment supplier GameChange Solar’s involvement in energy projects. “The lifting of the threshold, however, is not a switch that... →

S Africa a key energy market

24th March 2023 Despite the disappointment for the local wind industry over the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) Bid Window 6 – which did not approve any new wind generation capacity – wind turbine designer and manufacturer Nordex Energy South Africa regards the country... →

COMPTON SAUNDERS In anticipation of the high demand, Nordex decided last year to introduce newer-generation technology and standardise this technology across its new wind farms

Transferrable skills, collaboration vital for transition, employment

24th March 2023 With the introduction of the just energy transition, there will be a downsizing in personnel in sectors such as coal, which, in turn, will require a transfer of skills to the renewable-energy sector. The world’s leading organisation for project professionals, Project Management Institute (PMI),... →

MEETING THE SKILLS GAP People who are equipped with the leadership and project management skills to support the South African energy transition will be vital to solve local challenges

Private sector seen as key to unblocking transition-enabling grid capacity

24th March 2023 The lack of transmission infrastructure public funding for grid strengthening and expansion has emerged as a binding constraint on connecting much-needed private generation and on South Africa’s transitioning to a more reliable and cleaner electricity sector. Thus, there are growing calls for not... →

DR RETHABILE MELAMU Industry welcomes plans to expand the local grid and the development of clearly defined rules to guide access to the grid for both private- and public-sector projects

Private sector seen as key to unblocking transition-enabling grid capacity

24th March 2023 The lack of transmission infrastructure public funding for grid strengthening and expansion has emerged as a binding constraint on connecting much-needed private generation and on South Africa’s transitioning to a more reliable and cleaner electricity sector. Thus, there are growing calls for not... →

DR RETHABILE MELAMU Industry welcomes plans to expand the local grid and the development of clearly defined rules to guide access to the grid for both private- and public-sector projects

Imports, lack of legislative support curtail sector

10th March 2023 The South African mining sector is a challenging sector for valves suppliers to operate in, as the valves used in the sector have become highly price-oriented. Industry body South African Valve and Actuator Manufacturers Association (Savama) executive committee member Julius Frauendorf says this... →

Skills study, awards show need for industry funding, support

3rd March 2023 Industry body Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (Memsa) conducted and completed a survey and case study last year on Fourth Industrial Revolution- (4IR-) related skills needed in the local mining-equipment manufacturing industry. The study – funded by the Manufacturing, Engineering... →

SUPPORTING MODERNISATION If funds were available to support local manufacturers, and developers were allowed to experience a learning curve, funds could be channelled into innovative products

Company to help sector finance assets during downturn

3rd March 2023 International banking and wealth management group Investec is prepared to support the local construction industry – which has been experiencing a decline in activity for a number of years – by helping local companies find funding solutions for their required capital equipment investments.... →

Firm to streamline blasting for mines

24th February 2023 Despite the steady decline in production from the South African mining sector, there have been some recent mine expansions for minerals in high demand. Wherever possible, blasting and explosives solutions provider BME is pursuing these opportunities as part of the company’s growth strategy, which... →

Growth drives skills demand

24th February 2023 The outlook for surface and underground mining in South Africa is healthy, as local mines are ramping up production and demand grows, leading to the recruitment of more mineworkers. Mining training solutions provider Prisma Training Solutions is looking to capitalise on this industry ramp-up to... →

Juniors provide gap in market for recruiter

24th February 2023 Employment management solutions provider Quyn hopes to capitalise on the recent upturn in the South African mining industry – particularly the range of junior mining groups “coming to the fore” – and leverage its experience in the sector to assist local mining with recruitment. “We’ve recently... →

Foundation being laid for renewed exploration interest

24th February 2023 South Africa has begun to lay down the foundation to position the country as a renewed frontier State for exploration, particularly focusing on critical minerals that will be useful for the future, says research institute Council for Geosciences CEO Mosa Mabuza. Government adopted the 2022... →

Allaying infrastructure obstacles can aid sector

24th February 2023 Despite operational and legislative challenges, local law firm Beech Veltman CEO Warren Beech stresses that South Africa is in an ideal position to capitalise on and benefit from the increasing demand for “battery minerals”. These minerals support the global transition to a green economy and the... →

Regulation change encourages investment

24th February 2023 Most accidents that occur on mine sites involve heavy equipment, vehicles and workers. This prompted the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to this year bring into effect Chapter 8 of the Mine Health and Safety Act Trackless and Mobile Machinery (TMM) Regulations, specifically in terms of... →

Consultants equipped to support industry’s sustainability drive

24th February 2023 With a growing range of operational risks and pressures – from climate change vulnerability to cost inflation – South African mining companies are taking an increasingly integrated approach to sustainability. With its multidisciplinary professional teams, global centres of excellence in niche... →

ANDREW VAN ZYL While mitigation strategies aim to reduce the operation’s impact on global warming, there is growing risk to operations from various aspects of climate change

Bank to support new era of sustainable solutions

24th February 2023 Despite industrial and economic challenges, 2023 potentially signals the start of a “great era of change and opportunity” for local mining and for South African bank Nedbank CIB, as the bank provides solutions aligned with the decarbonisation trend. “These opportunities manifest in the provision... →

Returning in-person Indaba to host Africa energy discourse

10th February 2023 The fifteenth edition of the Africa Energy Indaba (AEI) – which will be hosted from March 7 to 9 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, in the Western Cape – will be hosted as a fully physical event for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic and aims to “bring people together to... →

CONTINENTAL CAPABILITIES Access to clean energy and the ability to harness and distribute power is critical for African leaders to adopt to encourage growth and stability across Africa

Association hopes industry becomes profitable again

20th January 2023 The Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) hopes that profits increase this year for the local business conferences and exhibitions industry, but EXSA GM Lee-Ann Alder recognises that rising living costs remain a significant challenge going forward. “We foresee that 2023 will... →

Company leveraging experience to navigate evolving industry

20th January 2023 Exhibition stand design and construction company RedAnt Design intends to leverage its 22 years of industry experience to navigate the evolving landscape of the local business conferences and exhibitions industry. RedAnt produces exhibition stands, which help companies achieve a “powerful brand... →

RETURNING ATTENDANCE RedAnt needs to advocate for physical exhibitions in terms of high-impact designs and cost-effective manufacture

Company builds centralised control room for mine

2nd December 2022 Engineering, integration and manufacturing company Iritron completed a 360° control room at a mine in the Northern Cape province this year. The control room is a showcase for the implementation of smart technology, digitalisation and mechanisation using smart control room equipment and... →

SMART CONTROL ROOM The control room is a showcase for the implementation of smart technology, digitalisation and mechanisation

Role of PGMs in creating hydrogen economy

2nd December 2022 South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy is under way, and the country contains the world’s largest reserves of the platinum-group metals (PGMs) essential to this transition. The demand for PGMs will increase as they are critical to the realisation of a hydrogen economy, which is one of... →

Construction company contributes to DRC mine accommodation

2nd December 2022 South African construction company Moladi has supplied its removable, reusable, recyclable and lightweight plastic formwork mould construction system for miner Ivanhoe Mines’ Kamoa copper mine, in Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The plastic injection-moulded panel formwork... →

BENEFICIAL CONSTRUCTION Moladi links with local communities so they can participate in the construction process enhancing job creation and skills development

Supplier aids tunnel construction

2nd December 2022 Construction materials supplier Peikko South Africa has partnered with a local construction company to develop an innovative ventilation tunnel design for a headgear structure in a mine located in the Limpopo province. Peikko South Africa supplies a large selection of products for both precast... →

DANIEL PETROV The local engineering, procurement and construction contractor conducted the manufacture and installation of the precast concrete elements on-site

Company supplies innovative products to sector

25th November 2022 The prevalence of build projects for new warehouses, distribution centres and other logistics infrastructure has provided local steel supplier Macsteel with opportunities to supply its innovative products for steel construction and cladding projects. Some of these products include Novotexi and... →

INNOVATIVE ROOF BUILDING Sky Forming streamlines the roofing of megabuild projects

New branches bring steel closer to customers

25th November 2022 The new branches in Polokwane, in Limpopo, and Windhoek, in Namibia, have enabled steel products supplier Stewarts & Lloyds (S&L) to bring steel closer to customers, who would normally have had to wait for deliveries from a larger branch. “We’ve brought the steel to their doorstep; customers can... →

EXPANDED FOOTPRINT The two new outlets have helped to supply in areas where there is demand

Capabilities of local industry rewarded

25th November 2022 The 2022 Steel Awards – presented by industry body the Southern African Institute for Steel Construction (SAISC) last month – honoured the capabilities of the local steel construction industry. “Category winners and runners-up projects have shown once again that the South African steel industry... →

RECOGNISING INNOVATION The Steel featured more categories - including automotive, agri-industrial, mining, residential and others – and also added categories for Regional Winners

Trade, property developments, standards can grow industry

25th November 2022 The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will offer growth opportunities for the local steel cladding sector as States ramp up extraction of their mineral and other natural resources, says Southern African Metal Cladding and Roofing Association (Samcra) executive director Dennis White.... →

Consultants equipped to help develop education infrastructure

18th November 2022 Infrastructure consulting business DBI Consulting can support the delivery of key infrastructure for education institutions and facilities. “A skilled and educated workforce serves as a key component of a prosperous country. We cannot expect this economy to grow without significant investment in... →

MONTY DITIBANE We have a vast set of knowledge and expertise in building schools, and we interpret what the Constitution specifies as requirements for education infrastructure

Company to supply civils companies

18th November 2022 Local steel products supplier Stewarts and Lloyds formed Stewarts and Lloyds Projects & Contracts – a new addition to the Stewarts and Lloyds Group – to support the local civil engineering industry by supplying materials required for engineering and construction. The coexisting footprint of... →

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT Mlati emphasises the importance of the company’s technical expertise in providing solutions for integrated piping systems for the local industry

Company supports infrastructure for African mines with digital tech

18th November 2022 Professional consulting firm WSP has been awarded two major separate infrastructure projects in the African mining sector after leveraging its recent acquisitions in the sector, states WSP Africa transport and infrastructure MD Terence Milne. “WSP Africa is providing the designs for these... →

TERENCE MILNE Our edge has been developed through our involvement in the design and digital management of high-profile international projects in digital platforms

Independents bullish on oil and gas outlook in Nigeria

11th November 2022 The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) – implemented in Nigeria last August – provides an ideal regulatory framework for the industry, as well as opportunities for smaller oil and gas companies, such as Nigerian oil and gas company Zigma, to become more involved in the industry, says Zigma founder and... →

FUNMI OGBUE There have been many discoveries in Africa, and Nigeria has not benefited significantly from these investments

Volatile prices present opportunities for exporters

11th November 2022 Africa has significant oil and gas resources that can help accelerate growth on the African continent if used strategically, and while new resources are discovered progressively, they are not distributed equally, with 38 out of 53 African countries being net oil importers, says research company... →

SUPPLY OPPORTUNITIES The Russia‐Ukraine conflict has encouraged an uptick in African natural gas supply to support European countries looking to wean themselves off of Russian supply

South Africa falling short of exploration target amid glacial cadastre progress

21st October 2022 South Africa’s minerals potential is not in doubt, with known geological opportunities in chrome, platinum-group metals, gold, iron-ore, titanium minerals and diamonds, as well as several other minerals regarded as critical for the global energy transition. Nevertheless, there is widespread... →

Product range, upgrades help company in turbulent market

14th October 2022 Local steel products supplier Stewarts & Lloyds is constantly focusing on expanding its product range, with one of the largest and most comprehensive range of products in the local market when compared to its competitors. The company is also engaging with suppliers and upgrading its... →

CAPACITY UPGRADES The company's profile-cutting capabilities in the manufacturing division have also been upgraded this year

Improved systems mitigate challenges

14th October 2022 PFERD, manufacturer of tool solutions for work on surfaces and material cutting, has invested in improving its supply chain, warehousing and logistics systems to mitigate the raw material shortages and supply chain constraints in the global market. The company’s training facilities and... →

REALISING 4IR BENEFITS Companies need to understand the importance of using appropriate and high-quality consumables for robot applications

Lighting solutions for M&P facilities

14th October 2022 Luminaires supplier BEKA Schréder provides a full lighting solution, supported by an extensive product offering, for local manufacturing and processing (M&P) facilities. "There's a need to be compliant with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as the Act is specific about light level... →

COMPREHENSIVE LIGHTING the LEDTEC is an LED low-bay range designed for energy-efficient lighting in industrial, commercial and petrochemical retail environments

Metrology, innovative tech can advance manufacturing sector

14th October 2022 For consumers to benefit from fair trade – and to achieve efficient component manufacturing and effective protection of the environment – all measurements performed during the production and quality control processes, including weight and dimensions of manufactured products, need to be accurate,... →

SAVING TIME AND COSTS Computed tomography imaging allows for the nondestructive scanning of manufactured items.

Company aims to expand product range

30th September 2022 Local industrial equipment supplier Shumani Industrial Equipment is expanding its product offering to compete in the South African mining sector. While the company’s exposure to the mining market is limited, its products can be used for support functions in mining, rather than for the production... →

Industry must adapt to new vehicle transition

23rd September 2022 A significant growth opportunity for the local automotive component manufacturing sector lies in how successfully South Africa positions itself in the newenergy vehicle (NEV) assembly space for battery electric vehicles and hydrogen-based fuel cell electric vehicles. This is vital, given how key... →

Association’s initiatives plugging skills gaps

23rd September 2022 The National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM’s) skills development and career pathway management initiatives – such as High Gear and the Yakhi’Future platform – have provided ideal platforms for local training institutions to understand the requirements of the... →

CURRICULUM IMPROVEMENTS High Gear has focused on ensuring that lecturers and educators can teach these curriculums in a more engaging manner, using digital learning tools

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