From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Affairs, has launched the Electric Vehicle Industry Road Map.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. JSE-listed Wesizwe Platinum continues to advance the development of its flagship Bakubung mine, in the North West province, with the headgear construction some three-quarters complete and the primary shaft at a depth of 120 m at the end of the presink stage.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Sustainable energy specialist BBEnergy recently demonstrated its new concentrated solar thermal plant to media and Eskom management at Eskom’s Rosherville research and development site, in Germiston.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. Vodacom has taken another step to limit its environmental impact while eliminating about 12-million litres a year of water demand on the Midrand municipality’s supplies. Natasha Odendaal has the story. Natasha Odendaal: Telecommunications group Vodacom has unveiled a R4.2-million rainwater harvesting project at its head office, in Midrand.

The Linde Group recently invested in a new R200-million air-separation unit at its Afrox Pretoria West site as part of a three-year R1.5-billion investment programme, which aims to boost customer service levels as well as support the company’s growth strategy in South Africa and emerging sub-Saharan African markets.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s (MBSA’s) Sandown Motor Holdings has won the tender to provide the 134 buses necessary for the roll-out of the 18 km Phase 1B of Johannesburg’s Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The deal is valued at more than R300-million.

Local franchise companies are proving to be more resilient than other business sectors in South Africa, says the Franchise Association of South Africa (Fasa), which hosted the 2013 International Franchise and Entrepreneurial (IFE) Expo at the Sandton Convention Centre earlier this month.  

The careful preparation of clay-rich soils in Limpopo has enabled farmers to cultivate sunflowers without irrigation for the production of edible oil, enabling the sustainable growth of this crop in a water-scarce province, says global consumer goods company Unilever South Africa commodities procurement manager Ashton Eastman. About 35 farmers in the Mookgophong region of Limpopo are part of Unilever’s sustainable sunflower farming initiative, which it supports to secure the production of sunflower oil for margarine. The land under cultivation is about 27 000 ha and a further 12 farmers and another 8 000 ha will be added to the project this year.

Although Africa has learned many lessons from the UK and the US regarding infrastructure development, it was important for countries on the continent to learn from each other, as they shared many of the same challenges, City Insight partner Sue Bannister said on Thursday. Speaking at KPMG’s ninth Africa Conversation, which focused on prioritising Africa’s megacities, she stated that the lack of infrastructure and support was posing a challenge to urbanisation on the continent, while the lack of capacity among staff and management to implement plans was also adding to the challenge.

As data adoption accelerated, JSE-listed telecommunications group Vodacom aimed to secure 30% of its revenue from data traffic within the next three years, CEO Shameel Joosub said on Monday. Speaking at the group’s financial results presentation, at Vodacom’s Midrand headquarters, he commented that voice revenue would continue its decline, but the impact could be offset by the rise in data traffic, which was expected to grow at least 20% a year over the next few years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New Canadian platinum contenders are showing huge confidence in South Africa’s platinum future, despite the metal’s current problems; Mine union pioneer, Dr James Motlatsi, this week called for radical changes to South Africa’s discredited migrant-labour system; and while Australians are succeeding brilliantly in making mining and agriculture work together, South Africans remain hesitant.

Successful new gold mining technology is being tipped as the game changer for the entire South African mining industry and not just gold

South Africa and Botswana are collaborating to boost the export of coal from Southern Africa; South Africa’s new Coal Roadmap process under way places a massive “urgent” sign over securing future coal supplies for Eskom; and The Chamber of Mines this week made an impassioned plea to government to cut ‘red tape’ and replace it with ‘smart tape’ to lure investors.

Anglo American’s much-publicised private power project has been put on hold; Steps are being taken to entrench Ekurhuleni on the East Rand as the workshop of the African continent; and A new R500-million investment is strengthening the Western Cape as a global call-centre hub.

Every Friday morning, SAfm’s AMLive’s radio anchor Xolani Gwala speaks to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News and Mining Weekly.