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Infrastructure News

Underspending on repairs, maintenance impacting on Joburg infrastructure – JoburgCAN

By: Sabrina Jardim 9th May 2024 Following a decade of underspending on repairs and maintenance on infrastructure, JoburgCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), says it is “gravely concerned” over the budget allocations for the maintenance of fixed assets in the City of Johannesburg’s draft budget for... →

Hope fades for 44 trapped in collapsed South Africa building

By: Reuters 9th May 2024 Relatives of 44 construction workers trapped under a collapsed building in the South African city of George faced a fourth day of anguished waiting on Thursday as heavy machinery worked at the site in a race against time to find any survivors. Of 81 people who were on site when the five-storey... →

TPT to continue to invest in Durban Pier 2 while legal spat over private partner plays out

By: Terence Creamer 8th May 2024 South Africa’s Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says it will continue to invest in Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 while legal proceedings around its selection of International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI), of the Philippines, for a 25-year partnership at what is South Africa’s largest... →

Port of Durban container operations

Engineering organisations, labour dept urge patience as cause of George building collapse awaits determination

By: Schalk Burger 8th May 2024 Civil engineering and construction industry organisations the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice), Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) and Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) have urged patience to allow for investigations into the cause of the building collapse in... →

Photo by Reuters
A rescue worker and his dog search for survivors of the building collapse

NamPower grid-strengthening and battery storage project secures $138.5m World Bank backing

By: Terence Creamer 7th May 2024 The World Bank has approved a $138.5-million finance package to support the integration of renewable energy into Namibia’s electricity system by strengthening its transmission grid and integrating a second utility scale battery storage system into the country’s network. The initiative, which is... →

Dozens trapped in building collapse in South Africa

By: Reuters 7th May 2024 Rescuers searched through the debris of a multi-storey building collapse in the South African city of George that left four people dead and dozens still trapped early on Tuesday. Twenty-four construction workers who were at the site of the unfinished building when it collapsed have been removed... →

Rescue workers at the site of a building collapse in George, in the Western Cape

WBHO completes two solar plants, impactful community initiatives in Lichtenburg

By: Marleny Arnoldi 3rd May 2024 Construction group Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) and renewable energy company Sola Group have completed construction of the Merak 2 & 3 solar photovoltaic projects near Lichtenburg, in North West. The two solar plants, with capacities of 130 MW and 126 MW, respectively, span an area of 4 km2... →

WBHO and Sola Group's Merak 2 & 3 solar plants

AMSA expects to break ground on Vanderbijlpark’s 200 MW solar plant this year

By: Darren Parker 2nd May 2024 Steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) is planning to start construction on a 200 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant at its Vanderbijlpark facility, in Gauteng, towards the end of the year, CEO Kobus Verster has told Engineering News. He explained that the installation would serve as... →

AMSA's Vanderbijl Park facility with open ground in the foreground

The ample open ground at AMSA's Vanderbijl Park facility will be used to build a 200 MW solar power plant

City Power seeks funding, manufacturing partners for informal settlement ‘energy box’

By: Terence Creamer 30th April 2024 Johannesburg’s City Power is seeking manufacturing and venture capital partners to further develop and pilot a rugged ‘energy box’ concept in one of the city’s 312 informal settlements as a possible greener and safer alternative to the illegal connections that currently predominate. Chief... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Joburg has 312 informal settlements where illegal connections pose an electrocution risk

Rand Refinery donates R2m to seven Gauteng schools

By: Sabrina Jardim 29th April 2024 As part of its commitment to education, precious metals refiner Rand Refinery has donated R2-million to seven primary and secondary schools in Gauteng. The company says this donation will be allocated towards refurbishments at, and procurement of modern educational tools by, the selected schools. →

Standard Bank mobilises debt fund to support sustainable infrastructure in Africa

By: Sabrina Jardim 26th April 2024 Financial services firm Standard Bank has committed to Acre Impact Capital’s Export Finance Fund I to support the financing of sustainable projects in Africa. Acre Impact Capital manages Export Finance Fund I, which seeks to invest in climate-aligned and sustainable infrastructure projects in... →

Sanitation solution developed for underserved communities, schools

By: Simone Liedtke 26th April 2024 The introduction of the Enviro Loo Clear Non-Sewered Sanitation System (NSSS) marks a substantial advance in addressing pressing issues of sanitation and water scarcity, says sanitation service provider Enviro Loo COO Mark La Trobe. The self-sustaining, flushing toilet system that recycles 100%... →

NON-SEWERED SANITATION SYSTEM The self-sustaining, flushing toilet system that recycles 100% of used water targets underserved communities, and is environmentally sustainable and practical for widespread implementation

PRASA partially restores five more railway corridors

By: Irma Venter 26th April 2024 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it has restored another five Metrorail corridors across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. These rail services were interrupted by Covid-19, vandalism, crime and poor maintenance practices under previous management teams. →

Can South Africa turn around 30 years of real economy underperformance?

By: Terence Creamer 26th April 2024 In this essay, Terence Creamer reflects on the factors that have shaped South Africa’s real-economy sectors of manufacturing, mining and agriculture over the past 30 years and considers ways to end the economy’s persistent underperformance →

Plastic pipes key to modernisation

By: Simone Liedtke 26th April 2024 To address the challenges of water scarcity, sanitation inadequacies and the need for efficient waste management there is ongoing reassessment of the materials and technologies used in infrastructure projects, says industry association Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association... →

PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE Given the pressing need for reliable and efficient sewer systems, the selection of materials for pipelines is of paramount importance

Task team established to enhance service delivery

By: Simone Liedtke 26th April 2024 In response to the concerning findings of the Blue, Green and No Drop reports, which highlight a nationwide decline in the quality of water services, government has established a task team dedicated to enhancing service delivery across various municipalities. The task team will aim to reverse the... →

SIGNIFICANT INCREASE
The 2023 Blue Drop report highlighted that the proportion of water supply systems failing to meet minimum microbiological water-quality standards increased significantly

Photo by Adobe Stock
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE The 2023 Blue Drop report highlighted that the proportion of water supply systems failing to meet minimum microbiological water-quality standards increased significantly

NGO unpacks poor quality of S Africa’s wastewater systems

By: Simone Liedtke 26th April 2024 Nongovernmental organisation (NGO) AfriForum’s latest blue and green drop report notes that 81% of sewage wastewater treatment works (SWWTWs) fail to meet minimum standards, which the NGO says endangers water sources nationwide, including those that supply drinking water to communities. This dire... →

FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE
AfriForum’s latest blue and green drop report notes that 81% of sewage wastewater treatment works fail to meet minimum standards, endangers water sources nationwide

Photo by Adobe Stock
FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE AfriForum’s latest blue and green drop report notes that 81% of sewage wastewater treatment works fail to meet minimum standards, endangers water sources nationwide

Jetting units used proactively in maintenance

By: Simone Liedtke 26th April 2024 Severe flooding events along South Africa’s coastal regions have underscored the crucial role of resilient infrastructure in managing excessive rainfall, says pumps supplier Werner Pumps, which has committed to delivering 50 custom-built vehicles, at five vehicles a month, to a municipality in... →

ENHANCED MAINTENANCE The truck-mounted jetting units enhance the capability to efficiently clear stormwater drains and sewerage systems

South Africa aims to set up three JET-aligned skills development zones

By: Terence Creamer 24th April 2024 Three Just Energy Transition (JET) skills development zones focusing on renewables and grids, electric vehicles and green hydrogen value chains are proposed for implementation under the larger JET Investment Plan (JET-IP), for which pledges of $11.5-billion have been made by several developed... →

Ramokgopa describes IPP surpluses as low-hanging fruit amid delay in finding contractual solution

By: Terence Creamer 22nd April 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa describes surplus electricity arising from existing renewable energy facilities as “low hanging fruit” in improving the supply-demand balance and reports that discussions are under way to assess ways to make this energy available to the grid. Speaking... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

South Africa must commit to, accelerate reforms to achieve growth – BLSA

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd April 2024 Last week’s ‘World Economic Outlook’ (WEO) published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was a reminder of how far South Africa is from the kind of economic performance it should achieving as a country, Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busiswe Mavuso writes in her latest weekly... →

BLSA CEO Busiswe Mavuso

NTCSA begins consultations on market code to govern shift towards competitive electricity industry

By: Terence Creamer 19th April 2024 With the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) currently scheduled to be operationalised in July and efforts under way to ensure that the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) Amendment Bill is passed by the current Parliament, work is now advancing on the market code for the future... →

Conditions challenging, but some green shoots emerging – MBA North

By: Irma Venter 19th April 2024 Last year was one of the most challenging years the Master Builders Association (MBA) North has ever experienced, with many of its long-standing members entering business rescue or closing their doors, says MBA North executive director Mohau Mphomela. The 120-year-old employers’ body serves the... →

Record R12.1bn set aside for infrastructure in Cape Town’s R76.4bn budget for 2024/25

By: Irma Venter 19th April 2024 Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has tabled a R76.4-billion draft budget for the city for the 2024/25 financial year. The budget proposes record infrastructure investment of R12.1-billion for the year, and nearly R40-billion over the next three years. →

Private renewables procurement may mitigate boom-bust cycles curbing South Africa’s green industrialisation

By: Terence Creamer 18th April 2024 The combination of public and private procurement of large-scale renewables in South Africa signals increased stability for manufacturers of key components, a new GreenCape report argues. Published ahead of the release of the much-anticipated South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM),... →

Together with large-scale procurement, rising rooftop solar installations are offering greater market stability that could stimulate local manufacturing

Impact manager Acre raises $100m for African climate infrastructure

By: Reuters 17th April 2024 Two former BNP Paribas bankers have raised almost $100-million for a new fund which aims to unlock billions of dollars of funding for climate-aligned infrastructure projects in Africa. Acre Impact Capital, a private-debt impact investment manager, is looking to address the estimated $100-billion... →

Treasury extends deadline for Budget Facility for Infrastructure submissions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 16th April 2024 The National Treasury has extended the deadline for submissions to the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) to May 17 to allow more time for project sponsors to package and submit their proposals. The department earlier published a call for proposals for consideration under the BFI. →

Cape Town to tighten procurement process in effort to combat extortion

By: Irma Venter 12th April 2024 The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says the yearly review of its Supply Chain Management Policy proposes additional measures to reduce the risk of extortion impacting city projects. The proposed Supply Chain Management Policy Amendments are out for public comment until May 10. →

Cape Town’s MyCiTi depot construction 65% complete

By: Irma Venter 12th April 2024 The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says construction work on two new MyCiTi depots, located on the corner of Spine Road and Mew Way between Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, is now 65% complete. City officials add that the bus transit project is on track to be concluded by May next year. Construction... →

Institute warns of looming change in standards

By: Halima Frost 12th April 2024 As the unit standards of the current National Qualifications Framework (NQF) expired in June 2023, with the last enrolment of learners in June 2024, professional body Institute for Work at Height (IWH) continues its efforts to maintain some form of standardisation in the sector. As a result of... →

Two men on a scaffold wearing PPE and safety harnesses

STANDING FOR STANDARDS The Institute for Work at Height continues its efforts to maintain some form of standardisation in the sector

Wind energy poses increased fall risks

By: Halima Frost 12th April 2024 As the demand for greener energy helps drive the increased uptake of wind energy, the dangers that face workers in the sector are becoming even more evident. As reported by the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration in a report named ‘Green Job Hazards’, workers in the wind energy... →

Two men wearing PPE and safety harnesses working on teh turbines of a wind turbine stack

TALL ORDER Maintaining safety standards especially in the wind turbine installation and maintenance sector has come to the fore as the development of green energy gains impetus

Nedbank looks to investment banking for growth under new CEO

By: Bloomberg 11th April 2024 South Africa’s Nedbank Group is hoping to hire more investment bankers as it seeks to take advantage of a surge of deals in renewable energy, water and logistics in Africa’s most developed economy. With the bank’s home country in the throes of an electricity crisis and intensifying water... →

Photo by Bloomberg
Nedbank outgoing CEO Mike Brown

DBSA launches African Journal of Infrastructure Development

By: Creamer Media Reporter 10th April 2024 Development finance institution the Development Bank of Southern Africa this week held its second yearly Infrastructure Research Colloquium at the DBSA Campus, in Midrand. The colloquium provided a stepping stone for the launch of a new continental infrastructure journal, the DBSA African Journal... →

DBSA CEO Boitumelo Mosako

Africa Data Centres breaks ground on new solar farm in the Free State

By: Darren Parker 8th April 2024 Technology group Cassava Technologies subsidiary Africa Data Centres (ADC) has broken ground on the construction of a solar farm in the Free State in collaboration with solar power company Distributed Power Africa (DPA) Southern Africa. The first phase will entail the construction of a 12 MW... →

Cesa calls on incoming govt to not lose grip on infrastructure development

By: Marleny Arnoldi 8th April 2024 Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) CEO Chris Campbell highlights the importance of ensuring that infrastructure development and service delivery continue uninterrupted, as South Africa heads into national elections in May. Regardless of the political landscape, the country’s progress and... →

Cesa CEO Chris Campbell

Rainmaker Marketing releases Western Cape Property Market Report

By: Sabrina Jardim 5th April 2024 The Western Cape enjoys the lion’s share of semigration activity in South Africa and, as a result, has to cater to the shift in the market’s needs, says global property and lifestyle marketing agency Rainmaker Marketing director Stefan Botha. He was commenting on the publication of the agency’s... →

Rainmaker Marketing director Stefan Botha.

Globeleq says R5.7bn Red Sands will be largest standalone battery storage project in Africa

By: Terence Creamer 5th April 2024 Leading African independent power producer Globeleq says the 153 MW/612 MWh Red Sands project, which was recently awarded preferred bidder status under South Africa’s inaugural battery storage public procurement round, will be the largest standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Africa... →

Globeleq CEO Mike Scholey

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