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Friday, July 31, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Christy van der Merwe.

Making headlines today:

Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan has given the assurance that government remains committed to South Africa's pebble-bed modular reactor nuclear power programme.

Speaking at a press conference this week she stated that government believed that time was of the essence in developing nuclear energy in the country.

Hogan affirmed that there could be little doubt that nuclear was going to be one of the most important components of the country's energy base in the future. Moreover, PBMR could provide the South African economy not only with electricity, but also other benefits, including clean-process heat.

Hogan highlighted that the PBMR Company was home to the largest South African cluster of nuclear engineering and design skills and that it has created the platform for a strong nuclear industrial base in the country.

South Africa's largest steel producer, ArcelorMittal South Africa, will increase the prices of some of its flat steel products from September 1.

The company confirmed this week that prices of some flat steel products would increase by between 250 and 750-rand a ton.

Company spokesperson Sven Lunsche said that price increases would affect between 5 and 10% of products produced by the steel giant. The prices of the remaining products would roll over.

He said that the prices for these particular flat-steel products had increased owing to higher international prices.

Also making headlines:

Super Group will proceed with its 1-billion-rand rights offer, but expects a loss at the end of the financial year.
Sappi sees the pulp market improving, and may post an operating profit in the fourth quarter.
Producer price inflation fell by a record 4,1% in June.
And, Nissan will unveil its first mass produced electric car soon.

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories please visit engineeringnews.co.za.