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3 500 North West households to be electrified

29th July 2016 State-owned power utility Eskom GM Phil Khumalo says that the utility is committed to electrifying more than 3 500 households in the Madibeng local municipality in North West by the end of this financial year. →

Power builds to continue despite decreased demand across industries

By: Robyn Wilkinson 29th July 2016 Despite a decrease in demand for energy from the mining and related industries, construction, engineering and mining contractor Murray & Roberts Power & Water platform CEO Steve Harrison believes that the power station builds at Medupi, in Limpopo, and Kusile, in Mpumalanga, will continue to... →

MEDUPI POWER STATION Unit 5 at Medupi first fired on oil in June

Agency supports waste-to-energy project in SA

29th July 2016 The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to South African renewable energy project developer MBHE African Power to support a waste-to-energy project in the Drakenstein municipality, in the Western Cape. →

S Africa renewables sector growing well

By: Robyn Wilkinson 29th July 2016 Engineering firm Arup associate director Mariaan Woest believes that the renewables sector is growing well in South Africa, with Arup selected as a consultant on many of the projects approved in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). →

MARIAAN WOEST Micro hydros are the way forward in terms of electricity on a more localised scale

Solar gaining traction in South Africa

By: Robyn Wilkinson 29th July 2016 Adequate, reliable and affordable electricity supply remains a challenge in South Africa for businesses and homeowners, and solar energy is gaining momentum as a key area of focus to provide solutions for these challenges. →

KARAGLEN SHOPPING CENTRE The installation of 1 250 units of solar modules at the centre in Edenvale is one of the biggest solar projects of its kind completed in Gauteng to date

Construction on the largest solar field in S Africa to start in 2017

29th July 2016 Norwegian power producer Scatec Solar plans to start construction by mid-2017 on three new adjacent solar projects in Upington, in the Northern Cape, which will form the largest solar field in South Africa and one of the biggest in the world with a combined peak capacity of 258 MW. →

Clearing environmental hurdles to power supply growth

29th July 2016 Environmental consultant SRK Consulting is developing an enabling framework that will help power projects in South Africa to streamline the process of acquiring environmental approvals, in order to avoid unnecessary delays in implementation. →

Stability and cohesion a way forward for African rail sector

By: Simon Sonnekus 29th July 2016 Companies are under pressure from government and the public to embark on new projects while there are still projects that need to be completed. The countless delays across the rail expansions are concerning, says the RailRoad Association of South Africa (RRA). Negative sentiments by the industry... →

DELAYS
Negative sentiments by the industry on implementing the designation policy and delays of some rail projects have led to discussions with Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies

Photo by Duane Daws
DELAYS Negative sentiments by the industry on implementing the designation policy and delays of some rail projects have led to discussions with Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies

Inspection device to provide safety in rail operations

By: Simon Sonnekus 29th July 2016 The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has developed a prototype survey and inspection device (SID) to survey and inspect South Africa’s railway lines, which is intended to improve safety and operations. Along with reporting on the condition of the rail infrastructure, the SID... →

DEBUT The CSIR's survey and inspection device (SID) was debuted at Africa Rail 2016

Local content priority for PRASA contract

29th July 2016 French multinational rail transport company Alstom, which has a controlling stake in local rail transport consortium Gibela, has reinforced its commitment to ensuring local content forms a significant portion of the multibillion-rand contract signed between Gibela and the Passenger Rail Agency of... →

Concentrated solar plants valuable for South Africa

By: Robyn Wilkinson 29th July 2016 As baseload plants, concentrated solar plants (CSPs) are highly sought after in the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), says infrastructure operations and maintenance (O&M) company Invest in Africa Holdings (IIAH) director Gabriel Reeder. →

MULTIPLE BENEFITS
The Bokpoort concentrated solar plant is providing significant economic and social development for the iKheis municipal community

Investing in Africa Holdings directors Gabriel Reeder and Mandla Sibanda discuss the value of concentrated solar plants in South Africa

Wastewater treatment necessary to grow the economy

By: Nadine James 29th July 2016 Consistent and sustainable water supply is necessary to ensure socioeconomic growth; therefore, wastewater treatment, as a comparatively cost-effective solution that reduces strain on available water supply, is vital to economic growth in water-stressed countries, says waste management company... →

UNDERCOVER OPERATION The underground biological wastewater treatment plant should remain operational for up to 25 years

Phase II update: Polihali dam construction expected in 2019

By: Nadine James 29th July 2016 Construction of the Polihali dam – an integral part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase II – is expected to begin in 2019. The Polihali dam, Polihali-Katse transfer tunnel and other infrastructural aspects of the LHWP Phase II should be completed by 2024. Once Phase II is... →

ONTO PHASE II To date, five contracts have been awarded for various elements of the advance infrastructure works

GB14 passenger Bo-Bo loco launched by Grindrod

26th July 2016 Rail engineering solutions provider Grindrod Locomotives has implemented over 20 shunting solutions across Africa, including the latest delivery of six locomotives to the Cote d'Ivoire Sitarail operations since developing its shunting product range in 2012. This GS7 shunting product is a three... →

Gauteng Premier welcomes launch of Mamelodi transport hub

By: Nadine James 11th December 2015 Gauteng premier David Makhura and Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa launched the first phase of the R850-million Denneboom Station Public Transport Interchange (DSPTI) project in Mamelodi last month, calling on residents to support the project. The project forms part of the Solomon Mahlangu... →

TSHWANE REGIONAL MALL An artist's impression of what the Mamelodi mall will look like when it opens in April 2017

Case studies prove success of energy efficiency project

By: Dylan Stewart 11th December 2015 Having been implemented in South Africa in 2010, the Industrial Energy Efficiency (IEE) project, facilitated by the National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Energy, can now... →

MANUFACTURING EFFICIENCY Tenneco PE implemented an energy management system that allowed for energy savings of R2-million within the first year of implementation

Bank’s IPP projects producing over 40% of connected renewables

By: Dylan Stewart 11th December 2015 Renewable-energy independent power producer (IPP) projects financed by South African commercial banking firm Standard Bank are producing more than 40% of the 1 760 MW currently provided by the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP). →

WIND POWER The 140 MW Cookhouse wind farm in the Eastern Cape is one of the projects to have been funded by Standard Bank

Natural gas will power South Africa’s future, says consulting firm

By: Dylan Stewart 11th December 2015 As South Africa grapples with its current and future energy challenges, global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company argues that gas energy, supplemented by renewable power, is a feasible baseload option for meeting the country’s 2025 energy needs. →

EXTENSIVE FUNDING Between R600-billion and R1-trillion worth of investment will be required by 2030 to develop gas-to-power facilities

Photo by Bloomberg
EXTENSIVE FUNDING Between R600-billion and R1-trillion worth of investment will be required by 2030 to develop gas-to-power facilities

Late project delivery part of Eskom’s monetary woes

By: Dylan Stewart 11th December 2015 The behind-time and above-budget construction of State-owned power utility Eskom’s Medupi and Kusile coal power stations, both with an output of 4 800 MW, is a significant contributor to Eskom’s monetary crisis, states KPMG South Africa chairperson Ahmed Jaffer. →

LEARNING EXPERIENCE The construction of Kusile (pictured) will have the benefit of lessons learnt at Medupi

KZN water pipeline project to be completed by mid-2017

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th December 2015 Plans are on track for Phase 2 of Durban’s Western Aqueduct project, the city’s biggest-ever bulk water pipeline project, with completion expected by mid-2017, confirms eThekwini municipality water and sanitation unit head Ednick Msweli. Phase 1 of the project, which spans 20 km from the Umlaas... →

PLANS ON TRACK Completing Phase 2 of Durban’s Western Aqueduct project will ensure that the eThekwini region has some of the best bulk water infrastructure

KZN water project provides multipurpose economic benefits

11th December 2015 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is currently moving ahead with the implementation of the proposed conjunctive Ntabelanga–Lalini scheme, an important component of the KwaZulu-Natal-based Mzimvubu water project. Engineering and environmental consulting company Jeffares and Green (J&G)... →

CONJUNCTIVE NTABELANGA–LALINI SCHEME Two multipurpose dams will be built on the Tsitsa river, a major tributary to the Mzimvubu river

Rand Water receives delivery of new bridge crane technology

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th December 2015 Demag Crane manufacturer and distributor Terex MHPS South Africa earlier this year supplied a R33-million turnkey solution to State-owned water utility Rand Water, which comprised the design, manufacture and installation of two desludging bridge cranes. Terex MH South Africa senior manager... →

TURNKEY SOLUTION Terex MPHS South Africa's R33-million solution comprised the design, manufacture and installation of two desludging bridge cranes

Consulting firms appointed to conduct geotechnical investigations for LHWP

By: Kimberley Smuts 11th December 2015 Engineering and environmental consulting firm Jeffares & Green’s (J&G’s) geotechnical division, in association with Lesotho consulting firm GWC Consulting Engineers, has been appointed to undertake the supervision of the geotechnical investigations for the Polihali dam and a 38.2 km transfer... →

PHASE 2 IN EARLY STAGES The construction of the dam and tunnel is expected to start towards the end of 2018, with water delivery and hydroelectricity generation expected to begin in 2024

Eskom coal line due for December 2017 completion

By: Nadine James 11th December 2015 State-owned power utility Eskom’s Majuba rail project has had to deal with several challenges since it commenced in 2013. Subsequently, Eskom has revised the project’s completion date to December 2017, says Majuba rail project communications and stakeholder management head Khululiwe Xulu. The... →

Photo by Duane Daws
MAJUBA POWER STATION Eskom's privater coal line will transport 21-million tonnes of coal to the Majuba power station

M1 highway gets R210m facelift

11th December 2015 The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) will spend a total of R210-million to upgrade the M1 highway bridges and associated stormwater drainage systems, says the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). The project, which started on November 16, forms part of the CoJ’s R365-million programme to upgrade the M1 and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
M1 HIGHWAY The M1 and M2 upgrades form part of the City of Johannesburg's 2040 Growth and Development Strategy

Award-winning KZN interchange eases congestion on N2

11th December 2015 State-owned entity the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) reports that upgrading the Umgeni road interchange, located at the N2 and M19 intersection in KwaZulu-Natal’s eThekwini municipality, has eased the flow of traffic for about 14 000 to 16 000 vehicles travelling through... →

FOUR YEARS WELL SPENT The interchange upgrade, which started in 2011, has reduced congestion and journey times, while increasing road safety

Tanks manufacturer builds water reservoir for local community

By: Bruce Montiea 31st July 2015 Having identified a shortage of potable water in the Siyabuswa community, the Dr JS Moroka local municipality, in Mpumalanga, appointed agriculture and industrial liquid storage tank and reservoir manufacturer Aquadam to help install an extra reservoir to service the community. The project got... →

MULEBY SYSTEM TANK Aquadam has been contracted to install its water storage solution for the Siyabuswa community, in the Dr JS Moroka local municipality, in Mpumalanga

Emergency potable water needs prioritising, says Rhodes professor

By: Bruce Montiea 31st July 2015 Regular protests by residents demanding adequate water supply proves that many South Africans are subjected to interrupted and inadequate safe drinking water supply, says Unilever Centre for Environmental Water Quality director and Rhodes University professor Tally Palmer, who tells Engineering... →

ONGOING WATER SUPPLY
Water services authorities must ensure that when water services are interrupted for more than 24 hours, consumers have access to alternative water services

Photo by Bloomberg
ONGOING WATER SUPPLY Water services authorities must ensure that when water services are interrupted for more than 24 hours, consumers have access to alternative water services

Popular Joburg dam gets R25m facelift

31st July 2015 The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) in April embarked on a R25-million eight-month-long rehabilitation project for the City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ’s) 103-year-old Emmarentia dam. The dam is located on the Westdene spruit, which is a tributary of the Juskei river and a popular recreational venue... →

IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE Emmarentia dam’s infrastructure is currently being rehabilitated

Transnet announces record capital investment spend

By: David Oliveira 31st July 2015 State-owned rail company Transnet has increased its capital investment spend by 5.7% year-on-year, achieving a record R33.6-billion investment for the 2014/2015 financial year, the company announced at its financial year-end results earlier this month. A breakdown of Transnet’s capital... →

BREAKING RECORDS Transnet spent a record R33.6-billion on capital investments, R14.5-billion of which was invested in new infrastructure and equipment

Photo by Duane Daws
BREAKING RECORDS Transnet spent a record R33.6-billion on capital investments, R14.5-billion of which was invested in new infrastructure and equipment

New production line designed for locomotive build programmes

By: David Oliveira 31st July 2015 South African cables manufacturer Aberdare Cables earlier this month launched its latest production line at its Pietermaritzburg manufacturing plant, in KwaZulu-Natal. The new line, supported by the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) designation programme, was designed to produce cables... →

NEW PRODUCTION LINE Aberdares’ new production line employs a 120 mm, 24:1 length-to-diameter ratio extruder, manufacturing up to 140 m of cable a minute

Transnet discusses new coal capacity

By: David Oliveira 31st July 2015 State-owned rail company Transnet would reach its goal of expanding the capacity of the Richards Bay corridor to 81-million tons a year in 2016, said Transnet GM commercial Divyesh Kalan at the second yearly Coal Transportation Africa Summit, which took place in Johannesburg in May. He noted that... →

APPROACHING THE FINISHING LINE Transnet will reach its goal of expanding the capacity of the Richards Bay corridor to 81-million tons a year next year

Photo by Duane Daws
APPROACHING THE FINISHING LINE Transnet will reach its goal of expanding the capacity of the Richards Bay corridor to 81-million tons a year next year

Local manufacturer looks to tighten West African nation’s railways

By: David Oliveira 31st July 2015 Nuts and bolts loosening, tightening and torqueing solutions developer Slogging International’s Slogging Hammer is currently undergoing on-site trials at a railway project for a West African oil and gas exploration company. If these trials prove to be successful, about 6 000 units of the South... →

OPERATOR SAFETY NO.1 The Slogging Hammer is significantly safer than the traditional method of using a wrench and sledgehammer to remove nuts and bolts

Water augmentation project to be completed by October

31st July 2015 The construction of Limpopo’s R13.4-billion two-phase Mokolo and Crocodile Water Augmentation Project (MCWAP) will be completed in October, as flooding problems and labour disputes that initially delayed the bulk water project have now been resolved. Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane says... →

RECEIVING WATER SUPPLY Eskom’s Medupi power station is one of the facilities that will benefit from the completion of the Mokolo and Crocodile Water Augmentation Project

Manufacturer supplies valves to major water project

By: Bruce Montiea 31st July 2015 The valves supplied by global manufacturer and distributor AVK Valves to the North-South Carrier (NSC) pipeline project, in Botswana, are meeting all the client’s requirements, says AVK Valves. The NSC pipeline project – the largest engineering project ever undertaken in Botswana – carries raw... →

INSTALLED BASE AVK Valves supplies valves to major water projects across Africa

Phase 2 of LHWP in full swing

By: Bruce Montiea 31st July 2015 The procurement of consultants for the four-phased, multibillion-rand binational Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), signalled the official start of the physical work component of Phase II of the project, says LHWP implementing agency the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority CEO Refiloe... →

MEGAPROJECT The Lesotho Highlands Water Project is a multibillion-rand, binational water project that will benefit Lesotho and South Africa

South African locomotives specialist ventures further into Africa

By: Creamer Media Reporter 31st July 2015 Locomotive design and engineering company Grindrod Locomotives recently signed a contract worth more than $30-million with Bolloré Group, the first logistics and port operator in Africa with a presence in 46 countries, 250 subsidiaries and 25 000 employees. The project will see a number of... →

N$130m piped water project on course

31st July 2015 Namibia’s N$130-million piped water supply project for the Otjimbingwe settlement, in the Erongo region in central Namibia, is on track for completion early next year. The project was launched in August last year by Agriculture, Water and Forestry Minister John Mutorwa. The project, which is... →

EXTENDED SUPPLY To accommodate future water needs, the Otjimbingwe piped water project is designed to have the capacity to supply neighbouring resettlement farms, as well as the local community

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