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19 000 artisans to be trained as part of Gibela programme

31st July 2015 State-owned passenger rail operator the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) R51-billion locomotive build programme, which is being carried out by black-empowered locomotive manufacturer Gibela Rail Consortium, will need about 1 375 skilled artisans to build the 600 trains and 3 600... →

Newly launched UPS system a reliable backup solution

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 Local power solutions provider Jasco Power Solutions states that its uninterrupted power supply (UPS) system, the Gamatronic UPS range, introduced to the local market in March provides reliable backup power when State-owned power utility Eskom faces the challenge of maintaining a steady power... →

Gas power plant adds to Moz energy mix

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 Financial services provider Investec says it has gained invaluable experience through its funding of a Mozambican power generation project, the Kuvaninga Energia project, which reached financial close in December 2013 and is scheduled for commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2015. The... →

FAZEL MOOSA The benefit of any form of infrastructure is the value that it adds to the community around it

Sustainability not a priority for South African business

12th December 2014 Less than half of South African businesses are considering switching to green energy sources, despite overwhelming dependence on reliable power and water supply to sustain growth strategies, an international study by advisory and outsourcing services provider Grant Thornton has shown. The Grant... →

Medupi fires first coal in conveyors

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 Engineering solutions provider ELB Engineering Services says that its conveyors moved the first coal to the mill bunkers of boiler 6 at Medupi power station in Lephalale, Limpopo last month. ELB Medupi project manager Hertzog Verhoef says the coal to bunker process started on October 15, when... →

HERTZOG VERHOEF The Medupi power plant project provided us with an opportunity to establish ELB Construction

State rail company invests in track management

By: Bruce Montiea 12th December 2014 In support of its Market Demand Strategy (MDS), State-owned freight and logistics company Transnet is concentrating on refurbishing the country’s rail track system through training and the introduction of new rail track monitoring and management methods, says Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) track... →

ON TRACK
Transnet Freight Rail’s aim is to identify the problems that affect the country’s rail tracks and find the most suitable solutions

Transnet Freight Rail track and technology principal engineer Kanak Mistry discusses the parastatal’s training initiatives

Mozambique to get new railway line in December

12th December 2014 Engineering, management and specialist technical services company Aurecon is providing design services to the new Moatize Nacala Port and Railway project to be concluded in December in Mozambique. The Moatize Nacala railway is part of the Nacala logistics corridor commissioned by global mining... →

Photo by Bloomberg
CURVING The railway line is expected to increase coal exports

Rail graduates ‘seeds’ for future industry growth

By: Schalk Burger 12th December 2014 The graduation of 85 employees of State-owned logistics company Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) in rail sciences planted the seeds for future rail industry growth and formed an integral part of TFR’s R201-billion rail infrastructure roll-out plans, Transnet CEO Brian Molefe said at the graduation... →

Additional earlier and later trains for commuters

By: Bruce Montiea 12th December 2014 To continue offering safe, convenient and efficient service to passengers, rapid transit train Gautrain’s airport service from Sandton to OR Tambo International Airport was improved in August with earlier trains in the mornings and later trains in the evenings, says Gautrain CEO Jack van der... →

RUSH HOUR The overall Gautrain airport service continues to show positive growth since it started operations on June 8, 2010

R18.7b increase in road-to-rail programme

12th December 2014 State-owned logistics and rail company Transnet has increased its capital investment by 66.8% to R18.7-billion in its road-to-rail programme aimed at transferring the majority of the country’s cargo from the road network to the rail network. The success of the road-to-rail programme has been... →

ON THE TRACKS The success of Transnet’s road-to-rail programme has been confirmed by the company’s growth in revenue and profit

SA company delivers passenger coaches to Angolan client

By: Bruce Montiea 12th December 2014 Ten passenger coaches and one power car were delivered to Angola’s major railway line Caminho de Ferro de Benguela (CFB), in Lobito, by South African manufacturing and exporting company Dominex in a project that was completed in October, says Dominex CEO Kirk Christodoulakis. The project... →

IN THE AIR Dominex delivered eight sleeper coaches, two restaurant/kitchen coaches and one power car to Angola’s major railway line, Caminho de Ferro de Benguela

Company imports conduits suitable for SA rail industry

12th December 2014 With the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) latest announcement of a R51-billion ten-year investment into procuring 600 new, modern commuter and passenger trains, the rail sector holds significant opportunities for electrical and mechanical components supplier Elquip Solutions,... →

Specialised equipment used for wind turbine transportation

By: Jonathan Rodin 12th December 2014 Heavy transportation and lifting provider ALE is playing a vital role in South Africa’s renewable energy sector, owing to the development of smarter solutions that are mitigating the challenges created by the increasing size and weight of wind turbines and the associated components. ALE was... →

Construction started on hydro project

12th December 2014 Hydropower developer NuPlanet Project Development achieved financial close and started construction last month on the 4.5 MW Stortemelk hydro project near Clarens, in the Free State. The project, which was awarded preferred bidder status under bid window two of the government’s Renewable Energy... →

Power utility prepares for Medupi integration

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 State-owned power utility Eskom says it is in the process of building two 400 kV transmission lines between the Spitskop substation and the Dinaledi substation, both in the greater Brits area, in the North West, to enable the integration of the first unit of the Medupi power station in... →

Photo by Pimani Baloyi
MEDUPI POWER STATION At full capacity the station will add 4 800 MW to the national grid

Local-content stipulation will thwart import industry

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 Local valve importer CMO Africa says the government regulation, which stipulates that 70% of valves used in State projects be manufactured in-country, will lead to the demise of the valves import industry. CMO Africa MD Mark Bowden told Engineering News at the Mining and Technical Exhibitions’... →

Photo by Bloomberg
VALVES Importing companies account for about 80% of the jobs in the valves industry

Government gears for nuclear energy

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 Government last month announced that it had successfully concluded the second nuclear vendor parade workshop with delegations from China, France, South Korea and the US, in its bid to source experienced nuclear energy partners to help with South Africa’s nuclear power generation programme. The... →

Photo by Duane Daws
TINA JOEMAT PETTERSSON Government has held two nuclear vendor parade workshops

Medupi Unit 6 will contribute power by mid-2015

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 Johannesburg-based chemical manufacturer Reba Chemicals attended this year’s Lephalale Mining Expo, hosted by Mining and Technical Exhibitions (MTE), to establish partnerships that can expand the company’s reach in the area. Reba Chemicals MD Freddy Motau told Engineering News at the expo, which... →

Photo by Duane Daws
LYNNE BROWN The next few years are going to be tough

Chemicals company grows market around Medupi

By: Pimani Baloyi 12th December 2014 Johannesburg-based chemical manufacturer Reba Chemicals attended this year’s Lephalale Mining Expo, hosted by Mining and Technical Exhibitions (MTE), to establish partnerships that can expand the company’s reach in the area. Reba Chemicals MD Freddy Motau told Engineering News at the expo, which... →

Photo by Bloomberg
INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS Reba Chemicals exports its products to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Mozambique

Renewable power a major energy growth source

By: Jonathan Rodin 12th December 2014 According to autonomous organisation the International Energy Agency (IEA), gas and renewable power are expected to be the major sources of energy growth on the African continent in the coming years. More than 620-million people, or two-thirds of the continent’s population, in sub-Saharan Africa... →

Boilermaker affects management changes

12th December 2014 Johannesburg-based company Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Africa, which is constructing boilers for State-owned power utility Eskom’s new Medupi and Kusile power stations, announced a revised top structure, including a new executive chairperson and a new chief executive. The changes, which were... →

Photo by Duane Daws
MEDUPI BOILERS Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Africa took over the boiler contacts that were awarded to Hitach

Conference to focus on the future of transportation

By: David Oliveira 27th June 2014 The yearly Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) will take place at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) international conference centre, in Pretoria, from July 7 to 10. The conference will cover all aspects of transport, including rail, and its theme is ‘Leading... →

Alloys supplier completes project

By: Mia Breytenbach 27th June 2014 Specialist alloys and valve supplier Energy Engineered Products reports it has completed its latest contract for State-owned power utility Eskom’s Kusile power station project, in Mpumalanga. The company completed the supply of products, valued at about R2-million, which included a range of... →

NEW BUILD SUPPORT
Energy Engineered Products has supplied valve products to Eskom’s Medupi, Kusile and Ingula power generation projects

Photo by Energy Engineered Products
NEW BUILD SUPPORT Energy Engineered Products has supplied valve products to Eskom’s Medupi, Kusile and Ingula power generation projects

Locomotive manufacturer sources local suppliers

By: David Oliveira 27th June 2014 Rail technology manufacturer Bombardier Transportation South Africa (BTSA) is in the process of negotiating and signing supplier subcontracts for the supply of 240 electric locomotives at a base cost of R10.4-billion to State-owned rail operator Transnet. Bombardier Transportation business... →

Photo by Bombardier
TRAXX AFRICA Bombardier has been manufacturing this dual-voltage, multi-systems locomotive for ten years

Delay in pumped-storage scheme schedule shortened

By: Mia Breytenbach 27th June 2014 State-owned power utility Eskom plans to evaluate the remaining scope of work of the Ingula pumped-storage scheme to synchronise the project’s first unit to South Africa’s electricity grid as close to the original project timeframe as possible Eskom group capital acting group executive Dan... →

Photo by Eskom
SCHEDULE ACCELERATION Eskom will determine how to accelerate the Ingula project schedule to achieve earlier power commission

Renewables council to present united voice

By: Pimani Baloyi 27th June 2014 The newly launched South African Renewable Energy Council (Sarec) aims to consolidate the voices of the renewable-energy sector and represent them to government and other stakeholders as the country’s renewable-energy sector experiences unprecedented growth, says the council. Sarec comprises the... →

DAVIN CHOWN
Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme has helped address community development challenges

Photo by Duane Daws
DAVIN CHOWN Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme has helped address community development challenges

Continuous welded rails strengthen network

27th June 2014 In rail engineering, Plasser South Africa’s Linda Ndlovu tells Engineering News, the joint where the ends of two rails are connected to each other, by means of fish plates, causes dynamic impact loads resulting in, among other things, rail failure, geometric unevenness, crushing of the ballast at... →

DEVELOPED TO COMPLY
Rail track maintenance and track laying machines manufacturer Plasser & Theurer developed a welding robot that would fully comply with EN 14587-2 standard

Photo by Plasser South Africa
DEVELOPED TO COMPLY Rail track maintenance and track laying machines manufacturer Plasser & Theurer developed a welding robot that would fully comply with EN 14587-2 standard

Renewable energy to account for more than 20% power by 2030

27th June 2014 Renewable energy is expected to account for 20% nameplate capacity in South Africa’s total power generation capacity by 2030, states consulting firm Frost & Sullivan in its report, titled ‘The renewable energy services market and its potential in South Africa.’ Frost & Sullivan energy &... →

JOHAN MULLER The renewable-energy sector has a lower job creation potential compared with the transport and tourism sector

CIS technology introduced onto local market

By: Pimani Baloyi 27th June 2014 Local solar supply and installation specialist Sinetech has introduced Japanese-manufactured copper, indium and selenium (CIS) solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to the local renewable-energy market. Sinetech GM Herbert Teubner tells Engineering News that the company first introduced the... →

CIS MODULE The modules offer a higher performance ratio than crystalline silicon and have higher efficiency

Local supplier launches new range of transducers

By: David Oliveira 27th June 2014 Electrical parameters measurement solutions company LEM launched the new LTC series closed-loop transducers, which control energy in rail transportation systems, in South Africa in January this year. Johannesburg-based electronic-component specialist and sole distributor of LEM products in South... →

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS All locomotive manufacturers use transducers and LEM is an internationally recognised transducer manufacturer

Photo by Duane Daws
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS All locomotive manufacturers use transducers and LEM is an internationally recognised transducer manufacturer

Train coaches converted into science centre

27th June 2014 The then Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom inaugurated a new science centre housed in two old train carriages at the Matjiesfontein Transport Museum, in the Western Cape, in April. The science centre is intended to be part of a longer term Science and Technology Train, which... →

Manufacturer finalises product specification for locomotive project

By: David Oliveira 27th June 2014 Locomotives manufacturer General Electric (GE) South Africa Technologies reports that it is engaged in the initial design reviews for the 233 Evolution series diesel locomotives it will be supplying to State-owned rail operator Transnet. President and CEO of GE South Africa Tim Schweikert tells... →

TIM SCHWEIKERT This project is really about speed, getting the suppliers qualified and getting first article inspections completed as soon as possible

Photo by Edelman
TIM SCHWEIKERT This project is really about speed, getting the suppliers qualified and getting first article inspections completed as soon as possible

Projects to influence South African commuter behaviour

By: David Oliveira 27th June 2014 The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) national signalling upgrade project and its acquisition of new rolling stock from French manufacturer Alstom will significantly impact on commuter behaviour in South Africa, says consulting engineering firm GIBB GM Johann Rauch. GIBB is the... →

BACK TO RAIL Transnet’s manganese railway line upgrade project shows the rail operator’s intent to improve its services and move freight back to rail

Photo by GIBB
BACK TO RAIL Transnet’s manganese railway line upgrade project shows the rail operator’s intent to improve its services and move freight back to rail

Company receives $50m financing

By: David Oliveira 27th June 2014 Freight and logistics services provider Grindrod Freight Services partnered with infrastructure investment company Pembani-Remgro-Infrastructure Fund to form Mauritius-based rolling stock leasing company GPR Leasing Africa, in January. Financial institution Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) was appointed... →

GREG McKENZIE It was a complex set of terms we provided GPR Leasing, which set out the basis on which the funding would be made available

Photo by RMB
GREG McKENZIE It was a complex set of terms we provided GPR Leasing, which set out the basis on which the funding would be made available

Skills development through consortium

By: David Oliveira 27th June 2014 The Bombardier Africa Alliance (BAA) consortium is currently in the design phase of the Durban portion of State-owned rail operator the Passenger Rail Association of South Africa’s (PRASA’s) national resignalling project. The project involves the resignalling of 260 km of double-track and 42... →

PRASA RESIGNALLING PROJECT
The project involves the resignalling of 260 km of double-track and 42 major train stations on the Durban commuter rail network

Photo by Bombardier
PRASA RESIGNALLING PROJECT The project involves the resignalling of 260 km of double-track and 42 major train stations on the Durban commuter rail network

Factors contributing to power project’s delay resolved

By: Mia Breytenbach 27th June 2014 With State-owned power utility Eskom having reached key milestones in resolving issues that have caused delays in synchronising its new-build Mepudi power station project Unit 6 onto the national electricity grid, Eskom is confident that the unit will be synchronised to the grid by the end of the... →

TEETHING PROBLEMS
Eskom emphasises the importance of embedding lessons learned from Medupi’s Unit 6 to drive efficiencies in the rest of the utility’s fleet

Photo by Eskom
TEETHING PROBLEMS Eskom emphasises the importance of embedding lessons learned from Medupi’s Unit 6 to drive efficiencies in the rest of the utility’s fleet

Preliminary work for new builds conducted

By: Mia Breytenbach 27th June 2014 While work is progressing at State-owned power utility Eskom’s new build projects, Eskom group capital acting group executive Dan Marokane says the utility has conducted preliminary work for potential additional new build projects. These projects include a third coal-fired power station,... →

NEW BUILD PREPARATION
Eskom is awaiting government direction regarding the proposed new nuclear and coal–fired power station builds

Photo by Duane Daws
NEW BUILD PREPARATION Eskom is awaiting government direction regarding the proposed new nuclear and coal–fired power station builds

Private sector to support additional power supply

By: Mia Breytenbach 27th June 2014 Although additional baseload power stations will be required to combat the shortage in the electricity supply industry in South Africa, the exact time at which the next new baseload power station would be commissioned, after the commissioning of the current new build projects, is extremely... →

POWER SUPPORT
Sanea suggests that the private sector should be included with greater momentum to provide additional power supply

Photo by Bloomberg
POWER SUPPORT Sanea suggests that the private sector should be included with greater momentum to provide additional power supply

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