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May 17, 2024

BEYOND RESILIENCE

Mining-focused manufacturers see innovation as key to survival and future growth

Cover Story

Mining-focused manufacturers see innovation as key to survival and future growth

By: Sabrina JardimAmid the challenges of loadshedding, logistical constraints and volatile commodity prices, South Africa’s mining-focused manufacturers and equipment suppliers view ongoing innovation, including embracing digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI), as increasingly central to their survival... →

First Word

South Africa’s reputation as an investment destination of choice must be regained

By: Martin CreamerThe 136-year-old Johannesburg Stock Exchange, whose roots and history stretch back to the earliest days of the mining boom in South Africa, is in need of smart augmentation and South Africa Incorporated must put its shoulder to the wheel to achieve that. Points raised at last week’s AGM point to... →

News & Insight

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

By: Darren ParkerSteelmaker 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 to convert one Vanderbijlpark blast furnace into an electric arc furnace by 2028

By: Darren ParkerSteelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) CEO Kobus Verster has confirmed that the company will be converting one of its three blast furnaces into an electric arc furnace (EAF) within the next four years. The company currently has two blast furnaces in operation at its Vanderbijlpark facility.... →

Cape Town targeting this year as starting date for turning landfill waste into power

By: Irma VenterThe City of Cape Town (CoCT) says it is moving closer to turning landfill waste into energy, with two projects that are designed to produce electricity from the combustion of landfill gas moving towards implementation. Landfill gas, primarily made up of methane, is produced when organic matter,... →

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

By: Terence CreamerJohannesburg’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... →

Clean energy critical minerals can transform sub-Saharan Africa, says IMF

By: Schalk BurgerSub-Saharan Africa holds an estimated 30% of the world’s volume of proven critical mineral reserves and managing their use properly as part of the global transition to clean energy has the potential to transform the region, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) states in its ‘Regional Economic... →

Millennials, Gen-Zs want cars but are struggling to afford them – WesBank

By: Irma VenterYoung South Africans, aged 35 and younger, are demonstrating a growing preference for private mobility. This is evident in recent WesBank data that shows a consistent increase over the past three years in the number of vehicle finance applications for new and pre-owned cars by Millennials and... →

MTN achieves 98% network availability in Limpopo province

By: Natasha OdendaalAs telecommunications giant MTN South Africa accelerates its nationwide modernisation programme, the company has achieved a record 98.33% daily network availability in Limpopo. The 2024 resilience plan, which was completed in the first quarter of the year, aims to ensure that all sites have... →

New-vehicle sales gain 2.2% after eight months of decline, Suzuki swoops into second place

By: Irma VenterNew-vehicle sales have finally moved into positive territory following eight gruelling months of decline. Not all market segments experienced growth, however. →

Solar rental firm begins testing roll-out model for underserved communities

By: Terence CreamerLocal solar-as-a-subscription service provider Wetility is deploying a rooftop solar solution in a lower-income community as part of a proof-of-concept study to firm up the feasibility of extending the offering to other underserved areas. COO Franta Pour tells Engineering News that the company’s... →

Spending on telecoms services forecast to decelerate this year

By: Natasha OdendaalWhile global spending on telecommunications and pay television (TV) services increased during 2023, growth started slowing in the second half of the year, with expectations that it will slow further in 2024. According to the latest International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Semi-annual... →

Startup to build 120 off-grid e-truck charging sites

By: Irma VenterElectric vehicle charging startup Zero Carbon Charge has launched a new subsidiary, Zero Carbon Logistics, which it says will roll out 120 off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) electric truck charging sites on national highways across South Africa. According to Zero Carbon Charge, the project will... →

Thumbs up to newly passed Climate Change Bill

By: Tasneem BulbuliaIndustry organisation the Energy Council of South Africa has welcomed the passing of the Climate Change Bill by Parliament on April 25. “The Climate Change Bill is a critical piece of legislation that seeks to enable the development of an effective climate change response and a long-term just... →

Two BW6 solar projects with a combined capacity of 360 MW reach commercial close

By: Terence CreamerTwo solar photovoltaic (PV) projects selected as preferred bids under Bid Window 6 (BW6) of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE’s) renewable energy procurement programme reached commercial close on April 30. The projects, which were part of a group of six PV projects to advance... →

Editorial Insight

Green stimulus

By: Terence CreamerSouth Africa’s manufacturing sector is in dire need of stimulus. In its recently released ‘Industrial Policy & Strategy Review’, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) confirmed that the sharp fall in the share of manufacturing in the country’s GDP and employment has posed a... →

Mining Weekly News

Barrick highlights discovery and development as critical to value growth in mining

By: Martin CreamerDiscovery and development are the only true drivers of value creation in the mining industry, Barrick president and CEO Dr Mark Bristow highlighted on Wednesday, when this standout gold and copper mining company once again declared a dividend in reporting its first quarter results that position... →

Miner ups full-year output and grades, lowers cost and capital guidance

By: Martin CreamerExecution and preparatory work on key gold projects are on track in South Africa, and early works on the copper project in Australia are to commence, Harmony Gold reported on Tuesday. In South Africa, the Moab Khotsong gold mine extension and the Mine Waste Solutions development are on track,... →

Shanghai Platinum Week: Hydrogen’s going to feature big, says World Platinum Investment Council

By: Martin CreamerThe growth in demand for platinum applications in China is extremely high, making detailed access to the China market hugely advantageous. Providing this detailed access from July 8 to 11 will be the far-reaching Shanghai Platinum Week 2024, which is sandwiched between the London Platinum Week in... →

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