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Eskom attributes three stages of load-shedding to wildcat strike

By: Terence Creamer 1st July 2022 Embattled power utility Eskom has attributed three stages of the current load-shedding, which is being implemented daily at between Stage 4 and Stage 6, directly to the illegal strike under way at varying levels of intensity across its coal fleet. Speaking against the backdrop of a resumption of... →

Photo by Creamer Media Chief Photographer Donna Slater
Eskom CEO André de Ruyter

Focus on ‘core underlying issues’ to tackle load-shedding crisis – EIUG

By: Terence Creamer 1st July 2022 Ending the current restrictions to the addition of new generation capacity and addressing Eskom’s deteriorating generation performance are key to arresting intensifying load-shedding, the Energy Intensive Users Group (EUIG) asserts. CEO Fanele Mondi said in a statement the recent illegal... →

City of Cape Town pursues reinstatement of joint rail enforcement unit

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2022 The City of Cape Town says it is keen to help revive the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) rail enforcement unit (REU), which operated as a three-way government partnership between October 2018, and July 2020. The REU was launched by then Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande at a... →

Eastern Cape port investment should foster auto sector expansion – AIDC EC

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2022 The Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC EC) says it applauds Transnet National Port Authority’s (TNPA’s) announcement that it will inject R9.1-billion into its three Eastern Cape ports over the next seven years. AIDC EC CEO Thabo Shenxane says the centre, as well as other... →

The East London port

June new-vehicle sales up by 7.6%; exports grow by 18%

By: Irma Venter 1st July 2022 Domestic new-vehicle sales in June expanded by 7.6%, to 41 019 units, compared with the same month last year. The new-passenger-car market reached 29 545 units in June – a 20.6% jump on the same month last year. →

Absa PMI’s June decline masks demand, activity deterioration

By: Schalk Burger 1st July 2022 The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) declined to 52.2 index points in June from 54.8 in May; however, the headline PMI masks a worrying deterioration in demand and activity during the month. The business activity index signalled a contraction in output for a third... →

TFR signs cross-border agreement with Railways of Mozambique

By: Schalk Burger 1st July 2022 State-owned rail agency Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has signed a cooperation agreement with Mozambique State agency Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM) to implement an immediate train run-through model that will result in the export of chrome and ferrochrome moving seamlessly from Belfast, in... →

Batteries and decentralised power seen as key way to boost security of supply

By: Cameron Mackay 1st July 2022 Industry body the South African Energy Storage Association chairperson Mikhail Nikomarov emphasises the importance of a decentralised power system and the benefits it can provide, and how this can be supported using battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the local market. “Energy storage... →

Hudaco lifts interim profit despite global market challenges

By: Donna Slater 1st July 2022 Branded automotive, industrial and electrical consumable products group of companies Hudaco grew its turnover for the six months ended May 31 by 12% year-on-year to R3.8-billion. Turnover was also 19% higher than pre-Covid-19 levels. →

Competition Tribunal allows Mpact to intervene in Corruseal, Neopak merger

By: Donna Slater 1st July 2022 The Competition Tribunal has granted paper and plastics packaging manufacturer Mpact leave to intervene in the intermediate merger proceedings between paper packaging company Corruseal and recycled containerboard company Neopak. In March, the Competition Commission prohibited the proposed... →

MTN Group announces key appointments

By: Natasha Odendaal 1st July 2022 Telecommunications group MTN has appointed new CEOs for its operations in Cameroon, Rwanda and Uganda, effective September 1. MTN has also created a new senior MTN Group post: operations executive for Liberia, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau and Congo-Brazzaville effective August 1, reporting to... →

Mondi completes sales of personal care components business to Nitto Denko

By: Donna Slater 1st July 2022 Paper and packaging solutions company Mondi has completed the sale of its personal care components business (PCC), part of the engineered materials business unit, to Nitto Denko Corporation for an enterprise value of R1.05-billion (€615-million). Mondi group CEO Andrew King says the sale of PCC,... →

Alaris Holdings expands into Europe

By: Natasha Odendaal 1st July 2022 Radio frequency (RF) technology holding and investment company Alaris Holdings has expanded its European footprint with the acquisition of Germany-based Kuhne electronic for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition establishes a valuable base in Europe that supports the company’s global expansion,... →

Enviro dept to reconsider authorisation for Kendal ash dump life extension

By: Donna Slater 1st July 2022 An application to appeal the rejection of an environmental authorisation for Eskom’s Kendal power station to extend the life of its ash dump to 30 years has been set aside by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) for reconsideration. The Kendal power station applied... →

KZN Master Builders elects new council, plans to help grow construction industry

By: Schalk Burger 1st July 2022 Industry organisation the KwaZulu-Natal Master Builders and Allied Industries Association has elected an executive council for the next term of office and Marcus Gonzalves, of FS Gonzalves Construction, was designated as president. It also announced plans to contribute to the growth of the... →

Master Builders Association mourns first woman president Eunice Forbes

By: Schalk Burger 1st July 2022 Industry organisation Master Builders South Africa has announced that Eunice Forbes, who was the first woman to serve as president of a national construction association, has passed away at the age of 80. Forbes was president of Gauteng Master Builders Association, now Master Builders Association... →

Eunice Forbes

Water veteran Claassens retires from TCTA

By: Natasha Odendaal 1st July 2022 Long-standing Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) executive team member Johann Claassens has retired, effective June 30. Johannes Mavuso was appointed at the start of June as a successor to Claassens, with the handover process now completed. →

New 15-megalitre water reservoir for Lenasia and surrounds

By: Natasha Odendaal 1st July 2022 A new 15 megalitre water reservoir has been launched for Lenasia and surrounding communities to improve storage capacity of the Lenasia High Level Reservoir and to ensure reliability of clean water supply. The R45-million multi-faceted project, which started in August 2020, included site... →

Best practices, governance can create sustainable local wildlife economies

By: Schalk Burger 1st July 2022 Sustainable wildlife economies that directly benefit local communities and provide resources to support development, can be created, but require best practices and standardisation to ensure the quality, safety and marketability of products and services, as well as transparency across the value... →

Renewable power costs rise, just not as much as fossil fuels

By: Bloomberg 1st July 2022 It’s costing more these days to build and run solar farms and wind turbines, but they’re still cheaper than power plants that rely on fossil fuels. The costs of renewable plants are rising after years of declines due to soaring prices for materials, shipping and labour, according to a... →

New financing mechanism underpins early climate warnings, adaptation

By: Schalk Burger 1st July 2022 The United Nations Systematic Observation Financing Facility (SOFF) is a new financing mechanism for climate action that has become operational and underpins early warnings and adaptation. The finance mechanism aims to strengthen weather and climate observations, improve early warnings to save... →

Construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant can now start

By: Rebecca Campbell 1st July 2022 Construction of the first unit (that is, reactor) of Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear power plant (NPP) has been licenced by the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA), World Nuclear News has reported. The permit was issued to the country’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA).... →

Brazilian aerospace group turns to automotive giant to help increase production efficiency

By: Rebecca Campbell 1st July 2022 Brazil-based major aerospace group Embraer has entered an agreement with Toyota do Brasil to implement the principles and concepts of the Toyota Production System (TPS) at the former group’s industrial operations. The aerospace group is the world’s leading manufacturer of airliners with up to 150... →

South Africa's worst-ever bout of load-shedding

By: Creamer Media Reporter 1st July 2022 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about South Africa's worst-ever bout of load-shedding and what has led to Eskom having to resort to implementing Stage 6 load-shedding for several days; how other stakeholders have responded to this situation; and... →

South Africa's worst-ever bout of load-shedding

Creecy calls for increased cooperation on biodiversity in Kruger park

By: Yvonne Silaule 1st July 2022 Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy says cooperation on biodiversity conservation is key on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park. The Minister was speaking during her engagement with representatives of the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR),... →

Police have opened two cases of intimidation related to Eskom protests

By: News24Wire 1st July 2022 Police say they have opened two cases of intimidation related to the unlawful strikes at Eskom, which the power utility has blamed for Stage 6 load-shedding. "One was registered at Belfast Police Station while the other was registered at Hendrina Police Station. Both matters are still under... →

Mine haulage transition to electric offered without disruption

By: Martin Creamer 1st July 2022 If the world were to electrify every mine truck, it would stop 198 000 t of carbon dioxide (CO2) a day from entering the atmosphere, which equates to a single electrified mining truck eliminating what would take 46 000 trees to absorb. That mammoth sustainability benefit was driven home firmly... →

ABB's Erik Pretorius interviewed by Mining Weekly's Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

Iron-ore tumbles as recession fears fuel commodities selloff

By: Reuters 1st July 2022 Iron-ore and steel prices tumbled on Friday as prospects of a sharp global economic downturn fanned fears of a slump in demand for commodities, despite signs of a rebound in manufacturing activity in top metals consumer China. The spectre of a global recession fed an already clouded demand... →

Magazine round up | 01 July 2022

1st July 2022 A video round up of this week’s magazine, highlighting our cover story, features and Business Leader. →

Magazine round up | 01 July 2022

A R193bn South African fixed-income manager plans startup fund

By: Bloomberg 1st July 2022 Futuregrowth Asset Management, a South African fixed-income money manager with R193-billion of assets, is raising a fund to invest in startups with a strong developmental impact. The company aims to raise as much as 600 million rand for the Futuregrowth High Growth Development Equity Fund -- a... →

WHO Africa calls for more monkeypox diagnostics as cases rise

By: Bloomberg 30th June 2022 Better African surveillance and laboratory diagnosis to detect monkeypox is needed to stop a silent spread of the virus, both the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said. “If you’re able to control the spread of monkeypox from the source,... →

DPWI reiterates commitment to preventing corruption in public built projects

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th June 2022 The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has signed an anti-corruption pledge alongside independent statutory body the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and seeks to solicit the commitment of infrastructure and construction sector players to also maintain good integrity and... →

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille

DBSA tasked with overseeing Sanral tender reappointment process

By: Donna Slater 30th June 2022 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has appointed the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) as an independent and lead adjudicating body after Sanral’s board in May declined the contracts previously entered into for five strategic projects. As such, the DBSA will act as... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, Sanral chairperson Themba Mhambi and Sanral acting CEO Lehlohonolo Memeza at a briefing on June 30.

Gautrain ridership recovers to 42% of pre-Covid numbers

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2022 Ridership on the Gautrain has recovered to 23 358 average weekday rail trips, which is 42% of pre-Covid-19 numbers, says Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) communication and marketing senior executive manager Dr Barbara Jensen. Average weekday bus trips are currently at 8 681, which is 46% of... →

Port Elizabeth Car Terminal sets new record amid expansion project

By: Irma Venter 30th June 2022 The Port Elizabeth Car Terminal has moved 5 700 export vehicles in a single vessel. This is the highest volume ever moved through the terminal, including the previous record of 4 500 export units moved in a single vessel, set in September, 2019. →

Vehicles being loaded at the Port Elizabeth car terminal

Vehicles being loaded onto the MV Silver Ray for export

Mbalula promises e-toll solution 'for sure' this time

By: News24Wire 30th June 2022 Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula says that a solution to e-tolls will be announced in October, this time "for sure". Mbalula has been promising an announcement on e-tolls since he took office in May 2019 with several deadlines come and gone. Speaking at a press briefing in Pretoria on... →

Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula

R3.4bn in UIF TERS monies returned, Phase 2 of Follow the Money project to start in July

By: Schalk Burger 30th June 2022 Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner Teboho Maruping says R3.4-billion has been voluntarily returned to it by employers that irregularly benefitted from the Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS). The first phase of the UIF's Follow the Money project determined that... →

Growthpoint struggles to secure diesel amid power cuts

By: Bloomberg 30th June 2022 Growthpoint Properties, South Africa’s largest real estate investment trust, said its running out of diesel to operate generators at some of its buildings as the country grapples with the worst electricity shortage since 2019. In a letter to customers at one of its sites in Johannesburg the... →

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