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Thursday, November 19, 2009.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon de Ryhove.

Making headlines today:

German vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen will test the mettle of its new entry into the bakkie market at the Dakar Rally, in Argentina.

The Volkswagen Amarok will be seen at the rally for the first time, where it will the official support vehicle for the sports event.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will supply 35 Amaroks to the Dakar Rally organiser, the Amaury Sport Organisation.

The rally starts on January 1, and ends on January 17 in Buenos Aires, in Argentina.

South Africa is looking at ways to help power utility Eskom bridge its funding gap without having to rely on its requested annual 45% rise in power tariffs for the next three years.

Cabinet spokesperson Themba Maseko says that Government is looking at interventions to reduce the hikes while at the same time ensuring Eskom meets its obligations to build new power stations.

He says that the Cabinet is looking at alternative funding options, finding state resources from within the fiscus and even looking abroad.

Eskom has said it would rely on tariff increases, borrowing and government loans to fund its expansion programme, crucial to keeping the lights on in Africa's biggest economy.

Also making headlines:

The South African Reserve Bank says that the recovery in the South African economy appears to be lagging behind that of the global economy.
Cash-flush Reunert sniffs targets outside its traditional business areas.
The total value of recorded building plans passed at current prices continues to decline.
And, global carbon dioxide emissions are set to fall an estimated 2,8% this year because of the financial crisis.

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