Engineering News | Real-Economy News

GOLD 1252.31 $/oz

PLATINUM 1556.00 $/oz

R/$ exchange 7.22

R/€ exchange 9.27

Breaking News

An artist impression of the Mookane domestic power project being pursued in Botswana.

POWER GENERATION

First power from 300-MW Botswana coal-fired IPP expected in 2013

Updated 2 hours 42 minutes ago

By: Terence Creamer

Published: 3rd September 2010, 08:45

A tariff offer and a draft power purchase agreement (PPA) for a proposed term of 30 years for the planned 300-MW Mookane domestic power project, which could be developed at a cost of some US$800-million in Botswana, have been submitted to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) by the project's Chinese and Canadian developers. The power station would be Botswana's first... Full Article

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Alstom confirms bid intention for Eskom's R10bn wind, solar projects

The global head of French energy-equipment supplier Alstom Power has confirmed the multinational company's intention to bid for Eskom's two utility-scale... Full Article

OIL

Oil slips ahead of US jobs data, Hurricane Earl

Updated 3 hours ago

Oil fell on Friday for the first day in three as traders awaited monthly US employment data, while Hurricane Earl approached the country's east coast,... Full Article

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Safari lodge's concentrated photovoltaic plant could be precursor to 50-MW project

South Africa's first concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar demonstration plant of 60KW was operational in the Western Cape, and supplying the daytime power... Full Article

STEEL

Steel industry will be forced to comply – Davies

Government is intent on using policy tools to achieve competitive steel pricing to benefit downstream industries, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said... Full Article

AUTO INDUSTRY

BMW, VW plants down as component strike enters second day

Work had stopped on Thursday at most of the around 200 member companies of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers... Full Article

COMPETITION POLICY

SA's antitrust authorities show way in exclusionary-abuse cases, expert claims

South Africa's competition authorities were striking a healthier balance in dealing with cases of exclusionary abuses by dominant companies than was... Full Article

NEW VEHICLE SALES

Carbon tax sees August sales jump, Naamsa warns of job losses due to strikes

The carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions tax levied on the sale of new passenger cars from September 1 appeared to have prompted consumers to go out and buy... Full Article

SA-ZIM

SA ends special deal for Zimbabwe migrants

South Africa will stop at the end of the year a special deal granted to thousands of Zimbabweans, who were allowed to enter Africa's largest economy... Full Article

Latest Videos

Real Economy Report

Our top stories this week: a new rock drill reduces electricity and water use in mines; we look at how ozone can help gold mines to be more... More

Second Take

We speak about the South African carbon emissions tax. More

Video of the Week

Trade numbers between India and South Africa were on the rise, with bilateral trade reaching $2,75-billion in the first quarter of this financial... More

More Podcasts

SAfm Show

Space agency Roscosmos is in satellite talks with South Africa; some South African cities are fired-up about bidding for the 2020 Olympic Games and... More

More Podcasts

News Roundup

Electricity consumption up 0,8% in July

State workers reject offer, take to streets

SA close to joining BRIC group

SARB says policy should stabilise output

Buildworks to move to JSE main board, changes name

Ethiopia rejects dam criticism, targets 10 000 MW

World trade grows by 25% in Q2

Mauritius says needs $7,3bn for public infrastructure

Tullow buys into more licences in East Africa

Big state workers' union rejects pay offer

Volkswagen closes SA plant due to strike

Khula drums up support for SME development drive

Real Economy Report

Videoclips

Alstom Power...

02 Sep 10

Alstom confirms bid intention for Eskom's R10bn wind, solar projects

The global head of French energy-equipment supplier Alstom Power has confirmed the multinational company's intention to bid for Eskom's two utility-scale renewable energy projects, which are expected to cost a combined R10-billion to develop. Earlier in the year, Eskom received $260-million (nearly R2-billion) worth of International Bank for Reconstruction and Development funding for the 100-MW Sere wind farm and a 100-MW Upington concentrating solar power (CSP) as part of a larger $3,75-billion World Bank loan.

South Africa's...

31 Aug 10

Strong science and technology sector ‘a necessity, not a luxury'

Research and development (R&D) in the fields of science and technology should form an integral part in tackling some of South Africa's core developmental challenges, said Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor on Tuesday. Speaking at the Council for Science and Industrial Research biennial conference, the Minister said that South Africa had shown a gradual decrease in industrialisation trends as well as a reduction in investment in the R&D space in recent years.

South African...

30 Aug 10

SA and India could reach $10bn trade target early

Trade numbers between India and South Africa were on the rise, with bilateral trade reaching $2,75-billion in the first quarter of this financial year, spurring hopes that the $10-billion trade target could be reached before the set date of 2012, said India Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Monday. He added that even though bilateral trade did take a dip in 2009, reaching around $7-billion, all indications were that if trade continued on its current trend for the next three quarters, the $10-billion target could be reached as soon as March 2011.

Denel CEO Talib...

27 Aug 10

Denel says turnaround strategy proves successful

Defence and aerospace company Denel, which implemented a far-reaching turnaround strategy five years ago, has slashed its losses from R533-million in 2009, to R246-million this year, it reported on Friday. In 2005, the State-owned defence industrial group posted a R1,6-billion loss. Denel CEO Talib Sadik said that three of its four industrial clusters were able to report a profit this year, and that the Denel Saab Aerostructures (DSA) business was currently the only sore thumb, posting a loss of R328-million.

Aurecon CEO Paul...

27 Aug 10

Large SA engineering group says orders on recovering trend following recession

Orders at emerging market-focused consulting engineering group Aurecon - formed in 2009 through a merger of South Africa’s Africon and Ninham Shand, as well as Australia’s Connell Wagner - have stabilised and have even started to strengthen again, following a contraction precipitated by the global financial crisis of 2009. The company, which employs some 6 000 people, many of who are engineers or technically qualified professionals, and has offices in 80 countries, is South Africa’s largest multidisciplinary consulting engineering practice with particular expertise in transport, resources, buildings, water and energy.

Company Profiles

Video of the Week

poden_09062010

09 Jun 10

Weekly podcast – June 9, 2010

The global steel industry has returned to a solid growth footing in 2010; the RMB/BER Business Confidence index fell by seven points to a level of 36 in the second quarter; and Exxaro plans to develop clean energy power projects with a total capacity of 350 MW.

poden_02062010

02 Jun 10

Weekly podcast – June 2, 2010

The new east-to-north directional flyover at the Gillooly's interchange is opened to traffic; Eskom's discussions with Anglo American regarding a price agreement for the Skorpion zinc mine are "progressing well"; and the CrossPolo becomes the second model of the refreshed Polo series to be introduced locally.

poden_26052010

26 May 10

Weekly podcast – May 26, 2010

Gautrain announces costs to use the Gautrain first-phase service; Eskom is granted an urgent court interdict to prevent union members from striking from May 26 onwards; and transport workers call for possible sympathy stoppages.

poden_19052010

19 May 10

Weekly podcast – May 19, 2010

SA transport unions reach a proposed wage deal with Transnet; South Africa could sell its stake in ArcelorMittal's South Arica unit if competition authorities find the company raised steel prices without good reason; and 300 000 jobs could be created in South Africa's renewable energy sector over the next ten years.

Engineering News...

04 May 10

Kumba considers terminating supply to ArcelorMittal SA, as iron-ore dispute heats up

South African iron-ore miner Kumba Iron Ore (KIO) on Tuesday effectively moved its ongoing dispute with ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) from the realm of a pure dispute over pricing, into one that could now also affect supply, indicating to Engineering News Online that it could as "a last resort" terminate supply to Africa's largest steel producer. In a note to shareholders, the JSE-listed miner said that, unless there was urgent resolution on an interim pricing and payment mechanism, the basis upon which it would continue to supply iron-ore the steel producer could be affected.

SAfm Show

More Multimedia

Real Economy Report Videoclips Company Profiles Video of the Week SAfm Show

Magazine

As SA cities weigh their 2020 Olympic options, scepticism abounds

In the aftermath of hosting a successful R30-billion FIFA World Cup, some South Africa cities are said to be fired up to bid for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, which could require investments of more than R40-billion. Full Article