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State Companies News

Built Environment Indaba to address substandard project delivery, other challenges

By: Darren Parker 12th March 2024 Poor-quality projects, site invasions and inadequate transformation are some of the key issues that will be addressed at the inaugural Built Environment Indaba, which will be held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand, on April 4 and 5. “We have a lot of incomplete projects. We also have... →

South Africa won’t need Electricity Minister by end of 2024

By: Bloomberg 12th March 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said an anticipated improvement in electricity supply should see him out of a job by the end of 2024. The country, which has been plagued by crippling power cuts, will get an additional 6 000 megawatts of supply from State sources by the end of the year,... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Eskom mulls integration of Vgbe report recommendations into revised recovery plan but hints at ‘inaccuracies’

By: Terence Creamer 11th March 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says Eskom’s new CEO, Dan Marokane, will offer a comprehensive outline of a revised generation recovery plan that will seek to integrate recommendations arising from various expert reports into the state of the coal power stations, including the... →

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Curtailment framework in play for current renewables bidding round, Ramokgopa confirms

By: Terence Creamer 11th March 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and the Independent Power Producer Office (IPPO) have both confirmed that the curtailment framework outlined by Eskom in January is immediately available to wind IPPs preparing to bid under Bid Window Seven (BW7) of South Africa’s public renewables... →

Substation with wind turbines in the background

GDP figures cap decade of negative GDP per capita growth – BLSA

By: Schalk Burger 11th March 2024 While the gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the fourth quarter of 2023 was 0.1%, growth was negative in terms of GDP per capita, given that population growth is outpacing it. "We have been trending lower since 2013, and have now crowned a decade of negative per capita growth. South Africans... →

Locomotives used by Transnet Freight Rail

Mgojo says collaborative efforts will enable Transnet to report higher volumes than initially forecast

By: Terence Creamer 8th March 2024 Business Unity South Africa president Mxolisi Mgojo reports that the collaboration between business and government to turn around the performance of Transnet could result in the struggling State-owned freight logistics group moving significantly more volumes in the year to March than was guided... →

Business Unity South Africa president Mxolisi Mgojo

Gordhan to retire after elections

By: Reuters 8th March 2024 Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, will retire after this year's general elections on May 29, he told Reuters on Friday. Gordhan oversees State entities including struggling power utility Eskom and logistics firm Transnet, whose poor performances have dragged down economic growth in... →

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan

Business, govt meet to discuss electricity, logistics reforms

By: Creamer Media Reporter 8th March 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the latest meeting held between senior business leaders and President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet; the feedback provided on efforts to tackle loadshedding; and a report back on the Transnet Recovery Plan and the reforms in the logistics sector. →

Business, govt meet to discuss electricity, logistics reforms

Construction of Turffontein Clinic resumes

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 7th March 2024 The construction of Turffontein Clinic has restarted following a temporary stoppage, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) says in a statement. The two-storey, 1 870 m² facility is said to be rapidly taking shape, with the foundational structure emerging. →

Scopa/SIU MoU flags Eskom intelligence, National Skills Fund reports for investigation in seventh administration

By: Sashnee Moodley 6th March 2024 The Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Special Investigating Unit have assured that the Eskom intelligence report and the National Skills Fund matters will be flagged for consideration in the seventh administration, following the dissolution of the sixth Parliament in May. The SIU and... →

Eskom says it is on track for permanent repair of Kusile stack by December

By: Terence Creamer 5th March 2024 Eskom insists it is on track to complete the repairs to the ducts in the west stack at the Kusile power station by December 2024, ahead of the March 31, 2025, deadline set by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) when it last year authorised the use of temporary stacks... →

TNPA to appoint developer soon for common-user infrastructure required for LNG terminal

By: Terence Creamer 4th March 2024 South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) expects to appoint a developer within months for the common-user infrastructure required to support the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of Richards Bay, in KwaZulu-Natal. In January, the State-owned company... →

Port of Durban

Third locally built patrol ship for the South African Navy 'blessed' in Cape Town

By: Rebecca Campbell 4th March 2024 The third of the South African Navy’s (SAN’s) multi-mission inshore patrol vessels (MMIPVs) was “blessed” at a ceremony in Cape Town, on Friday. The ceremony took place at the facilities of the ship’s builder, Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT). The MMIPV programme was developed and implemented... →

Photo by Damen Shipyards Cape Town
One of the South African Navy’s three new MMIPVs

Assessment of Eskom coal fleet warns ‘fixation on the EAF is a dead end’

By: Terence Creamer 1st March 2024 An expert assessment of the state of Eskom’s 14 coal-fired power stations conducted between March and May 2023 describes the prevailing “fixation” on the coal fleet’s energy availability factor (EAF) as a “dead end” that was leading to poorer plant performance. Conducted for the National Treasury... →

Eskom board tasks Marokane with three priorities in his first 100 days as CEO

By: Schalk Burger 1st March 2024 State-owned power utility Eskom's board of directors has tasked incoming CEO Dan Marokane to prioritise three key areas – assessing the generation operational recovery plan, reviewing Eskom’s unbundling plans and engaging with internal and external stakeholders – in his first 100 days in office.... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Eskom CEO Dan Marokane

Business welcomes appointment of new Transnet leadership

By: Creamer Media Reporter 1st March 2024 Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the business community's reaction to the appointment of permanent executive leadership at Transnet; signs that the turnaround and reforms at Transnet are starting to show some results; and when these developments are likely to start having a... →

Business welcomes appointment of new Transnet leadership

Eskom to take over Ekurhuleni loadshedding owing to city’s noncompliance

By: Darren Parker 29th February 2024 State-owned utility Eskom will resume direct loadshedding for City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) customers after the city's repeated failure to adhere to its obligations in this regard. Eskom said in a statement on February 29 that it would take over the role of loadshedding for the CoE's customers from... →

Cabinet and business praise Sasol and TFR for ‘first-of-its-kind’ partnership to repair 128 ammonia tankers

By: Terence Creamer 29th February 2024 Both Cabinet and organised business have lauded the five-year public-private partnership agreement between Sasol and Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), under which the energy and chemicals group will fund the maintenance and repair of a dedicated fleet of 128 ammonia tankers. In a statement following... →

Acting TFR CEO Russell Baatjies and Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler (seated at centre) sign the agreement, in front of their respective teams, including (standing from left to right) Mario Klaasen, Loven Naidoo, Bonginkosi Mabaso, Pierre Koch, Pierre Taljaard and Kevin Govender, with Ayanda Mokhesi seated to the left of Baatjies and Brad Griffith and David Mokomela seated to Grobler’s right

Business sees appointment of Phillips as key step in accelerating Transnet Recovery Plan

By: Terence Creamer 29th February 2024 Organised business says the appointment of a permanent executive team at Transnet – led by CEO Michelle Phillips, who has been acting in the role since September and who has been with the utility for 20 years – will enhance stability in the relationships between Transnet and the business sector... →

Sasol to fund TFR’s maintenance of 128 ammonia tankers

By: Terence Creamer 28th February 2024 JSE-listed Sasol has signed a five-year public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), under which the energy and chemicals group will fund the maintenance and repair of a dedicated fleet of 128 ammonia tankers that service Sasol’s Secunda and Sasolburg facilities.... →

TFR acting CEO Russell Baatjies and Sasol CEO Fleetwood Grobler sign the agreement, alongside their respective teams

Multi-Party Charter reveals its plans to end loadshedding if ANC can be ousted

By: Darren Parker 28th February 2024 The 11 political parties that are members of the Multi-Party Charter (MPC) for South Africa have voiced a unified plan to end loadshedding once and for all if only they could collectively oust ruling party the African National Congress (ANC) at the upcoming national elections on May 29. The MPC... →

Watch Engineering News' coverage of the Multi-Party Charter (MPC) for South Africa's briefing on how it plans to end loadshedding, along with an exclusive interview with DA leader John Steenhuisen.

dtic opens entries for Black Industrialists, Exporters Awards

By: Sabrina Jardim 28th February 2024 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) has opened entries for the Black Industrialists and Exporters Awards, the ceremony for which will take place at the Sandton International Convention Centre, on March 20, as part of the second Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference.... →

169 Zondo Commission 'recommendations' still under investigation – Mashatile

By: Sashnee Moodley 27th February 2024 The Integrated Task Force, set up by the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks, is coordinating the implementation of 205 'recommendations' that came out of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. Of these, 36 recommendations have resulted in three convictions... →

Deputy President Paul Mashatile

Ramokgopa says govt close to finalising structure for private grid financing

By: Terence Creamer 26th February 2024 Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says all the work being done by government on the financial structure to facilitate private investment into the country’s transmission infrastructure is being consolidated under his Ministry, including the work being done on the issue by the National... →

Eskom insists downward EAF slide has been ‘arrested’ amid Stage 4 loadshedding

By: Terence Creamer 22nd February 2024 Eskom insists the performance of its unreliable generation fleet is on an improving trajectory, releasing a graphic-heavy statement on February 22 disputing a recent report stating that its performance continued “going backwards”. The statement, which was published only hours after loadshedding... →

Fiscal discipline in Budget, but 5% infrastructure expenditure increase ‘barely positive’ – Minerals Council

By: Schalk Burger 22nd February 2024 Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana maintained focus on fiscal discipline and balancing the need to address socioeconomic challenges facing the country, industry organisation Minerals Council South Africa said in response to the Minister’s Budget Speech on February 21. South Africa, however, needs... →

Minerals Council CEO Mzila Mthenjane

RFP for private transmission investment to be launched in July

By: Terence Creamer 21st February 2024 The South African government will release a request for proposals (RFP) in the coming months seeking private sector investment into a pilot electricity grid infrastructure project. The National Treasury confirms that government has been working in partnership with the International Finance... →

70 out of 72 municipalities approved for Eskom debt relief

By: Darren Parker 21st February 2024 Out of 72 municipality applications for State-owned Eskom debt relief, 70 have been approved, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana revealed in his 2024 Budget on February 21. The 72 applicants represent R56.7-billion, or 96.9%, of the total municipal debt owed to Eskom as at March 31, 2023, with the... →

Lesufi confident e-tolls to end by March

By: Schalk Burger 20th February 2024 Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, in his State of the Province Address (SoPA) on February 19, said the provincial government had met with the Finance and Transport Ministers on January 26, and that he remains confident Gauteng should be able to end e-tolls by March. According to Lesufi, the... →

Aerial view of a GFIP highway and e-toll gantries

SIU gets green light from Ramaphosa to investigate Home Affairs, PRASA

By: Sashnee Moodley 20th February 2024 The Special Investigating Unit is set to probe maladministration at Home Affairs and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa following proclamations signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The investigations at Home Affairs relate to the issuing of permits, visas and citizenship and will span 20... →

Eskom urges public not to build structures below high-voltage powerlines

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th February 2024 State-owned utility Eskom has noticed an escalation in homes and other structures being built within power line servitudes, which is the land below and adjacent to a power line. “This is not only against Eskom regulations but also poses a number of safety risks. We therefore appeal to the public... →

An image showing unsafe structures near powerlines

Structures impacting maintenance of powerlines

Budget must address revenue challenges, infrastructure investments – Mavuso

By: Schalk Burger 19th February 2024 While there has been a clear effort by the National Treasury to rein in spending and turn the trajectory of government's financial performance around, the revenue side of the equation has not been able to deliver enough money to fully restore government finances, and this will be a key indicator... →

EIB in talks with South Africa over loan for ports, freight rail

By: Bloomberg 15th February 2024 The European Investment Bank (EIB) said it’s in talks to loan South Africa money to upgrade its port and freight-rail infrastructure as its first contribution to a decarbonization pact known as the Just Energy Transition Partnership. The loan, the size of which the EIB didn’t disclose, is part of... →

Locomotives owned by Transnet Freight Rail

Vumacam partners with Gauteng government to provide surveillance access

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 13th February 2024 Surveillance services provider Vumacam has partnered with the Gauteng provincial government (GPG), giving the GPG immediate access to an expansive network of over 6 000 cameras in the province, as well as to partner cameras nationwide. In addition to its own infrastructure, Vumacam has access to... →

Am image showing the launch of Vumacam's partnership with the Gauteng provincial government

Vumacam partners with the Gauteng provincial government

South Africa looks to Japanese collaboration on green hydrogen development

By: Darren Parker 13th February 2024 The Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) this week hosted key South African private and public sector delegates and a high-profile Japanese business delegation at a green hydrogen seminar, in Johannesburg, on February 12. This follows the signing of a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) between... →

We speak to Jetro Johannesburg executive director Matoba Shintaro about the Japanese/South African collaboration on green hydrogen

TNPA receives first four of 52 new hydraulic tension mooring units

By: Schalk Burger 12th February 2024 State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has received and operationalised four hydraulic tension mooring units at the ports of Cape Town and Ngqura. This is the first batch of the 52 units procured to improve operational efficiencies at the country's ports by reducing shipping delays... →

New shore tension units acquired by TNPA

Toll tariffs to increase by 6.25%, Sanral announces

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th February 2024 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has announced that its toll tariffs will increase by 6.25% from March 1. The tariffs are adjusted yearly in line with the Consumer Price Index as obtained from Statistics South Africa. →

Sanral communications and marketing GM Vusi Mona

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