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Toyota SA targets 2024, made-in-Durban hybrid Hilux introduction

By: Irma Venter 20th July 2023 Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has confirmed that it is targeting the introduction of a mild-hybrid Hilux bakkie into the South African market next year. TSAM says the hybrid version of South Africa’s best-selling vehicle will be produced at its Prospecton plant, in Durban, alongside the rest... →

The mild-hybrid Hilux concept bakkie

Eskom system operator doesn’t foresee grid instability should both Koeberg units be offline simultaneously

By: Terence Creamer 19th July 2023 Eskom’s system operator GM, Isabel Fick, does not foresee the Western Cape power grid being materially destabilised if both of Koeberg’s two nuclear reactors are out of service simultaneously later this year, owing to yet another Unit 1 outage slip. She noted during a webinar that the two Koeberg... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Power lines with Koeberg in the background

Ever-expanding Maltento eyes opportunities in aquaculture, cosmetics

By: Irma Venter 19th July 2023 The Maltento insect farm started as a small, test-scale operation in a home bathroom in Craighall Park, Johannesburg. Almost seven years later, founder and CEO Dean Smorenburg has seen the operation evolve into a fully-fledged business based in Epping, Cape Town. →

Dried black soldier fly larvae

Nestlé launches R79m local coffee mix production plant in Hammanskraal

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th July 2023 Food and beverage company Nestlé South Africa has invested R79-million into localising the production of its Nescafé Gold range of coffee mixes. The company inaugurated its new plant in Babelegi, Hammanskraal, on July 18, which is also where Nestlé’s Maggi instant noodles and Cremora coffee... →

Nescafe gold coffee mixes

Grid still seen as key risk for upcoming renewables round despite reduction in govt guarantee

By: Terence Creamer 18th July 2023 The government-default component of the government guarantees extended to the independent power producers (IPPs) that will be selected to build new solar and wind projects under the upcoming seventh bid window (BW7) of South Africa’s programme for the procurement of renewable energy will be... →

IPP Office head Bernard Magoro

Transnet names ICTSI as new partner for flagship Durban Container Terminal

By: Terence Creamer 17th July 2023 State-owned Transnet has selected International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI), of the Philippines, as the preferred bidder for the 25-year joint venture with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) to develop and upgrade its flagship Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2. DCT Pier 2 is... →

The Durban Container Terminal

Ramokgopa deeply worried about prospect of both Koeberg units being unavailable due to Unit 1 outage slip

By: Terence Creamer 17th July 2023 Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has expressed deep concern that another delay to the return to service of Koeberg Unit 1 could result in both of the nuclear power station’s units being out of service simultaneously later this year. The unit is currently undergoing a long-duration... →

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Mercedes-Benz, Super Group unveil blueprint for new luxury dealerships

By: Irma Venter 14th July 2023 Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) has unveiled the second of its local dealerships to have adopted the German car maker’s new ‘luxury’ retail brand appearance, launched globally in 2018, and in South Africa in 2019. This first dealership to carry the identity was in Sandton. However, the domestic... →

Image of the Mercedes-Benz Constantiaberg dealership

The Constantiaberg dealership

Loadshedding worsens, govt mulls concessions at coal-fired power stations

By: Creamer Media Reporter 14th July 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the return of Stage 6 loadshedding against the backdrop of South Africa marking one year since the launch of the Energy Action Plan to tackle loadshedding, as well as the concessions under consideration by government and Eskom at the coal-fired... →

Loadshedding worsens, govt mulls concessions at coal-fired power stations

Eskom Generation mulling concession models as it seeks to improve coal plant performance

By: Terence Creamer 13th July 2023 Eskom’s generation business is currently weighing various concession models as the utility assesses ways to improve the performance of its breakdown-prone coal-fired power stations in a context of ongoing financial constraints, as well as restrictions on the raising of new debt. Eskom Generation... →

US agency sees Lobito rail corridor helping to diversify critical minerals supply chains

By: Terence Creamer 12th July 2023 US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Scott Nathan has reiterated the American government’s interest in helping to finance the Lobito rail corridor, linking the copper and cobalt mining regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola’s Lobito port.... →

Sasol to appeal latest MES application rejection

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th July 2023 Petrochemicals and energy company Sasol has advised that it will appeal the National Air Quality Officer’s decision to decline its June 2022 application in terms of Clause 12A of the minimum emission standards (MES). The application related to the regulation of the sulphur dioxide (SO2)... →

Sasol's operations in Secunda

Daimler’s Atlantis Foundries signs embedded solar power purchase agreement

By: Irma Venter 11th July 2023 Atlantis Foundries (AF) has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with integrated energy solutions company Energy Partners (EP). According to the agreement, EP will engineer, finance, construct and operate the ground-mounted solar-energy system at AF’s production plant, comprising... →

Atlantis Charl du Plessis (GM, EP Power), Walter Mubai (CFO, AF), Pieter du Plessis (CEO, AF), Manie de Waal (CEO, EP Group), and Kurt Miller (Chief Investment Officer, EP Group)

EP Power GM Charl du Plessis, AF CFO Walter Mubai, Pieter du Plessis, Manie de Waal, and EP Group CIO Kurt Miller

Highway truck attacks aimed at creating ‘mayhem and disruption’ – RFA

By: Irma Venter 10th July 2023 Armed gangs this weekend created havoc on the N3 and N4 highways by settings several trucks alight. The first attack occurred on Saturday night on the N3 highway at Van Reenen’s Pass, when armed attackers forced six trucks to a halt, setting them alight. →

Eskom to launch solar, battery tenders in 2024 as part of Komati ‘repowering’

By: Terence Creamer 7th July 2023 Eskom reports that concessional funding of $497-million secured for the repowering and repurposing of the Komati coal power station, in Mpumalanga, is expected to become effective at the end of July. The final unit of Komati, which entered into commercial operation in 1961, was shut on October 31... →

Solar panels in front of Komati's cooling towers

Metals, minerals and the energy transition

By: Creamer Media Reporter 7th July 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about the link between metals and minerals and the energy transition; concerns about security of supply; and the emerging opportunities for South Africa and Africa. →

Metals, minerals and the energy transition

Grid storage uptake in South Africa lacks ‘direction or momentum’

By: Terence Creamer 5th July 2023 A new report published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) highlights that grid storage has yet to gain “direction or momentum” in South Africa, despite a growing recognition of the role that both utility scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) and other storage... →

Updated loadshedding code includes up to 16 stages to reduce grid-collapse risk

By: Terence Creamer 4th July 2023 A new and updated edition of the loadshedding code of practice, which includes up to 16 stages of loadshedding, has been finalised by and expert group and delivered to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for approval. The current NRS 048-9 edition, known as Edition 2, has... →

M&R fails to regain control of RUC, but continues to explore Australia options

By: Terence Creamer 4th July 2023 JSE-listed engineering and construction group Murray & Roberts (M&R) has failed in its bid to regain control of RUC Cementation Mining Contractors (RUC), which was lost to the group when its Australian holding company entered administration in December, together with Clough. M&R told shareholders... →

New-vehicle sales expand by 14% in June, exports down 12.6%

By: Irma Venter 3rd July 2023 Domestic new-vehicle sales in June increased by 14%, to 46 810 units, compared with the same month last year. The new-passenger-car market reached 29 795 units last month – a gain of 0.8% over June last year. →

South Africa can’t afford to kick grid investment can down the road – Ramokgopa

By: Terence Creamer 2nd July 2023 Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa argues that South Africa should give urgent attention to the strengthening and expansion of the transmission grid to avoid any further extension of the prevailing loadshedding crisis, which he says has its genesis largely in the failure of government... →

EV car sales to reach 22m a year in 2025, ICE sales in long-term decline

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2023 Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is set to soar in the coming years, with more than 100-million passenger EVs expected on the roads by 2026, and more than 700-million by 2040. This is a significant increase from the 27-million units recorded at the beginning of this year. →

Efforts under way to improve grid capacity, access

By: Creamer Media Reporter 30th June 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses confirmations by government that it is considering the possibility of public-private partnerships to expand grid capacity; Eskom's new grid access rules; and the market's response to the new rules. →

Efforts under way to improve grid capacity, access

BMW to invest R4.2bn to produce the new X3 in SA, plug-in hybrid included

By: Irma Venter 29th June 2023 BMW will invest R4.2-billion over the next five years in its Rosslyn plant in South Africa to build the new-generation X3 sports-activity vehicle, including a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). South Africa will be the exclusive global supplier of the X3 PHEV, with internal combustion engine... →

Image of the entrance to the BMW Rosslyn plant

Eskom’s ‘onerous’ new grid access rules receive cool reception

By: Terence Creamer 27th June 2023 Eskom’s newly released Interim Grid Capacity Allocation Rules (IGCAR), formulated in response to surging demand for grid access in a context of acute grid scarcity, have received a cool reception from industry, with some of the conditions included in the new framework being viewed as “onerous”.... →

Is SA Inc fighting the construction mafia, or adapting to incorporate it?

By: Irma Venter 27th June 2023 The construction mafia, or so-called ‘business forums’, first reared its head in KwaZulu-Natal in 2014 and 2015, invading construction sites to demand a share of projects, or that companies employ specific people or subcontractors. By 2018 and 2019 this practice also emerged in other provinces,... →

Host of new occupations in automotive sector demands skills

By: Darren Parker 27th June 2023 The demands of digitalisation, electrification, autonomous vehicles, sustainability and changing consumer preferences have given rise to a host of new occupations within the automotive sector, Isuzu Motors South Africa president and automotive executive oversight committee skills development... →

Isuzu Motors South Africa president and automotive executive oversight committee skills development workstream chairperson Billy Tom

Weather and winter tariff on large users helping to moderate electricity demand

By: Terence Creamer 26th June 2023 Eskom is expecting demand for the rest of South Africa’s winter months to remain below levels initially assumed when the utility finalised its base case for the high-demand season (see graphic above), while it is also beginning to report improved generation performance at some of its coal... →

Photo by Eskom
Electricity demand and Eskom's forecast of how electricity demand during winter 2023 will deviate from its winter base case

Energy trading firm believes revenue-neutral wheeling model can help curb municipal grid defection

By: Terence Creamer 23rd June 2023 Regulator-licensed South African electricity trader Enpower Trading is promoting wheeling and trading over municipal networks as a way of combatting the trend of “off-grid flight”, which poses a threat to electricity income that can contribute more than half of a municipality’s overall revenues.... →

Enpower Trading CEO James Beatty

A new approach to grid access in South Africa

By: Creamer Media Reporter 23rd June 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about the grid constraints, particularly in the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape; Eskom's approach to grid access to date and how it proposes to change that; and what else will be needed to deal with the issue of grid constraints. →

A new approach to grid access in South Africa

Tripling of current renewable energy growth necessary to meet Paris Agreement targets

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd June 2023 The International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) has identified in its inaugural ‘World Energy Transition Outlook (WETO)’ a way forward to immediately course correct the 1.5 ˚C climate pathway. The gap between what has been achieved and what is required to mitigate climate change continues to... →

Highly qualified automotive technicians becoming increasingly scarce – NADA

By: Irma Venter 22nd June 2023 Highly qualified automotive technicians are becoming increasingly scarce in South Africa, with their training now encompassing not only internal combustion engines, but also hybrid technology and battery electric vehicles. With most modern cars having upwards of 30 000 parts, and being more of a... →

Namibia agrees to take up 24% stake in $10bn green hydrogen project

By: Terence Creamer 21st June 2023 The Namibian government has confirmed that it will take up a 24% equity stake in a $10-billion green hydrogen project being developed in the Tsau //Khaeb National Park, near Lüderitz. Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi said the decision to take up the position in the project, the investment value of... →

An artist impression of the Hyphen project

Eskom’s new grid queuing rules governed by ‘first ready, first served’ approach

By: Terence Creamer 20th June 2023 State-owned electricity utility Eskom is preparing to issue updated grid queuing rules that will outline how it plans to manage scarce grid connection capacity in a way that avoids “hogging” of capacity and ensures that only “shovel-ready” project are allocated capacity. The new approach is... →

Mining of tax data highlights importance of metros in driving growth and jobs

By: Terence Creamer 19th June 2023 South Africa has started to mine its tax records in a bid to produce highly localised spatial economic data that will offer city and municipal policy makers far greater visibility of the geographic distribution of both industries and jobs within their boundaries, as well as key developmental... →

There is a strong correlation between well-governed and stable cities and increasing productive activity

Volvo Car SA expects big jump in EV sales this year

By: Irma Venter 15th June 2023 It is impossible to know what the real demand is for Volvo Car South Africa’s (SA’s) fully electric vehicles (EVs), as persistent supply challenges have managed to skew the sales numbers, says Volvo Car SA MD Greg Maruszewski. “We don’t really know what the true demand is for our EVs in South... →

Greg Maruszewski

Govt, business partner to resolve South Africa's logistics crisis

By: Creamer Media Reporter 14th June 2023 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer talks about the National Logistics Crisis Committee and why it was established; the involvement of business in the committee; how the committee will approach its work; and how the influence of business will be managed where conflicts of interest may arise. →

Govt, business partner to resolve South Africa's logistics crisis

Cape Town’s draft energy strategy sets goal of adding 650 MW within five years

By: Terence Creamer 14th June 2023 Cape Town’s energy strategy, which has been released for public comment, envisages the addition of 650 MW of new independent generation within five years in line with the city’s stated goal of protecting itself against four stages of loadshedding by 2026. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis indicates that... →

Solar panels with Cape Town in background

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