From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Guy Copans.

Making headlines today:

On the last day of public hearings, arranged by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, into Eskom's application for a massive 60% upward revision in its tariffs for 2008 and 9. Eskom's CEO Jacob Maroga said that South Africa's State power utility was spending R23-million "every working hour" and, thus, urgently required certainty on the composition of the funding mix for its R343-billion capital programme between tariff increases, an injection from its shareholder and borrowings.

He noted that R254-billion of the total expected investment over five years had already been approved by the utility's board, while contracts worth R83-billion had already been placed with suppliers. During the 2008/9 financial period alone, the utility would spend a record R46-billion.

Nersa will make its final determination on June 18.

Petrochemicals group, Sasol, announced on Thursday the names of 50 black economic-empowerment groups - including suppliers, customers and union investment companies - that had been selected to participate in its massive R28-billion broad-based ‘Inzalo' empowerment transaction.

A total of 19 broadbased BEE groups and 31 other BEE groups had accepted the invitation to participate, out of an initial list involving 486 organisations.

The single largest participant, with exposure to R820-million Sasol shares, was announced to be Abrina, a group established by Sasol's retail convenience centre franchisees.

The total share value to be acquired by the selected groups was valued at R4,2-billion, based on Sasol's market capitalisation as of May 27, 2008.

Aluminium producer Rio Tinto Alcan on Thursday indicated that it expected its Coega aluminium smelter to only come on line in 2012.

Rio Tinto Alcan Aluminium CEO Dick Evans said that South Africa's power constraints meant that the energy-intensive project on the country's south-east coast had been temporarily suspended.

The company, which inherited the $2,7-billion project when it bought Canadian aluminium producer Alcan, originally planned to bring the new smelter online in two phases, between 2010 and 2014.

Also making headlines:

SA must boost agriculture to ease current food price hikes
Nersa settles into deliberation mode after intensive hearing process
Western Cape signs deal for second 80-Megawatt wind farm
R42-million medical aid project for SA mine workers unveiled
Australian explorer raises stake in SA PGM project
And, Lerala diamond mine to start production by end June 2008

In political news:

Bush to send top officials to UN food summit
Mugabe buys 600 000 tons of maize from SA to ease food shortages ahead of June 27 election
McCain and Obama try to redraw the political map ahead of election
And, UN Security Council to tackle Sudan and Somalia on Africa trip

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories, visit engineeringnews.co.za, miningweekly.com and polity.org.za