Energy crisis being addressed, but implementation is slow, admits DMRE DG

One of the biggest positive developments over the last 12 months has been the “convergence of ideas on what we need to do to resolve the energy crisis”, said Department of Mineral Resources and... 

New-vehicle sales continue to drop, truck sales jump as rail system falters

Total new-vehicle sales in October dropped by 2%, to 45 445 units, compared with the same month last year, reports naamsa | The Automotive Business Council. This was the third consecutive month of... 

SA shark-barrier tech scores first commercial installation

The eco-friendly SharkSafe Barrier technology, developed by marine biologists at Stellenbosch University (SU) and their collaborators, and manufactured in the Western Cape, has been installed at a... 

Avis launches iLease as an alternative to vehicle ownership

Avis Fleet has introduced iLease, the company’s first leasing product, in South Africa. iLease allows consumers the use of a vehicle for any duration between 12 and 48 months, as an alternative to... 

European Space Agency cofunds autonomous shipping project

A project that seeks to guarantee uninterrupted data connectivity at sea should be able to boost the shipping industry’s ability to deploy safe and accurate autonomous shipping technology.... 

Transnet Ports to weigh interest in small- to medium-scale LNG imports

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has published an expression of interest (EoI) document to determine market appetite for small- to medium-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports through... 

EV buyers survey notes increase in EV exposure, while high prices remain problematic

AutoTrader’s 2023 South Africa Electric Vehicle (EV) Buyers Survey shows that 63% of respondents believe they would purchase an EV within the next five years, down from 65% in 2022. Some marginally... 

Broad-based strain evident in the logistics sector, Ctrack index shows

The Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (CTFI) retreated further during August, to an index level of 118.8, the lowest since February, when it was at 116.7.  This represents a 1.5% decrease. It is... 

Association warns of looming spate of retrenchments at dealerships, retail stores

The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) says a number of dealerships and retail stores have announced their intent to restructure, which could lead to a spate of retrenchments in the automotive... 

Africa using only ‘very small’ percentage of its wind power potential, says GWEC

Africa is using less than 1% of its wind power potential, which is “very, very, very little”, says Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) Africa director Wangari Muchiri. A new report released at... 

Cape Town deploys new safety team at public transport facilities

Cape Town has added a Public Transport Facilities Safety Team to its Transport Enforcement Unit. The Western Cape Mobility Department is funding the new team as part of its safer public transport... 

Serco rolls out solar at Gauteng facility, Cape Town to follow at year-end

Truck and trailer body-building company Serco is now fully powered by solar energy at its Boksburg facility in Gauteng. The installation consists of a 150 kW hybrid solar system with 370 x 405 W... 

Rubicon signs partnership with Italy’s WeCo Batteries

South African solar and backup energy solutions provider Rubicon has announced a partnership with Italian energy storage business WeCo Batteries.  Under this partnership, Rubicon and WeCo Batteries... 

Scania introduces its Euro 6 V8 770S model to those seeking cleaner trucking 

Scania Southern Africa has launched its Euro 6 V8 770S truck in South Africa, in an effort to support breaking the link in the domestic market “between increasing transport demand and increased... 

September used-car sales down 9% from August numbers – AutoTrader

Domestic used-car sales generated R39.1-billion in the third quarter, this according to AutoTrader used-car sales data. However, for the first time in three months, September used-car sales went... 

Africa needs an energy transition that reflects its reality – Congo, South Sudan Ministers

Africa is largely transitioning "from nothing”, says South Sudan Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol. Speaking on Africa’s agenda for the forthcoming COP28 at the African Energy Week held in Cape... 

TotalEnergies hopeful Mozambican LNG project can restart next year

TotalEnergies is “hopeful” it will be possible to restart the $20-billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in northern Mozambique in early 2024, says TotalEnergies Gas, Renewables and Power... 

Ford to add plug-in hybrid to Ranger bakkie line-up in 2025

Ford will add a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to its Ranger bakkie line-up from early 2025. The source plant for the vehicle has not been confirmed yet, says Ford Motor Company of Southern... 

Govt taking too long to wrap up power projects – Ramokgopa

Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says he “laments” the time it takes government to go from issuing requests for proposals (RFPs) to announcing preferred bidder status and reaching... 

'Anchor demand' a must for renewables masterplan to succeed – Montmasson-Clair

The energy sector requires consistent demand from a consistent flow of renewable-energy projects in order to invest in local manufacturing, and not “haphazard demand that comes and goes”, says... 

Energy crisis being addressed, but implementation is slow, admits DMRE DG

One of the biggest positive developments over the last 12 months has been the “convergence of ideas on what we need to do to resolve the energy crisis”, says Department of Mineral Resources and... 

Mantashe seeks to extend the life of Eskom’s coal-fired power stations

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has called on the private sector to “please and come talk to us” if they have any ideas on extending the life of South Africa’s fleet of... 

South Africa should not be pushed into a corner on just energy transition funding – Eskom, SANEDI

While any funding of South Africa’s embattled energy sector is welcome, South Africa should not “be pushed into a corner” on how this money should be spent, says South African National Energy... 

ARM Geometallurgy Research Chair launched at Stellenbosch University

Stellenbosch University (SU) has partnered with mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) to establish the ARM Geometallurgy Research Chair.  The objective of the position is to advance... 

MAN to start local assembly of electric bus in 2024

MAN Truck & Bus has supplied Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) with its first Lion’s Explorer E electric bus. While the bus boasts a locally made body, its chassis was fully imported. 

Sasol, Anglo American Platinum and BMW ink deal to test hydrogen cars in SA

Anglo American Platinum, BMW Group South Africa (BMW SA) and Sasol have partnered to prove that a hydrogen mobility ecosystem can operate successfully within South Africa. The three companies on... 

Tygerberg Hospital to be redeveloped in multibillion-rand PPP project

Requests for proposals (RFPs) to redevelop the Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town are expected to go out next year, says Western Cape government Department of Health and Wellness communication deputy... 

EVs are coming, but can SA’s power grid support this rapidly rising technology?

Whether South Africans like it or not, electric vehicles – EVs, those zero-emission vehicles that must be plugged in to run – are coming. You may adore the purr of a powerful V6 engine, but... 

Ineos acquires Botswana’s Kavango Engineering

Ineos Automotive, the manufacturer of the Grenadier and Quartermaster, has acquired Botswana-based vehicle conversion specialist Kavango Engineering.  The business has been renamed Ineos Kavango,... 

MAN hands over first electric bus to Golden Arrow, local production to start in 2024

MAN Truck & Bus South Africa (MAN SA) has provided Cape Town’s Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) with its first Lion’s Explorer E electric bus. The bus now enters a test period until September next... 

R575m Goodwood social housing project gears up for its first tenants

Tenanting is set to begin in November on the 330-unit first phase of the Goodwood social housing megaproject, which will, once completed, provide affordable rental opportunities for more than 1 000... 

EVs are coming, but can SA’s power grid support this rapidly rising technology?

Whether South Africans like it or not, electric vehicles – EVs, those zero-emission vehicles that must be plugged in to run – are coming. You may adore the purr of a powerful V6 engine, but... 

It’s a yes for EVs, shows City of Cape Town study

The City of Cape Town has wrapped up a three-year electric vehicle (EV) pilot project, which it says proves the business case for the electrification of municipal vehicle fleets.  “Battery EV... 

Broad-based strain evident in the logistics sector – Ctrack index

The Ctrack Transport and Freight Index (CTFI) retreated further during August, to an index level of 118.8, the lowest since February, when it was at 116.7.  This represents a 1.5% decrease. It is... 

Study shows Western Cape had biggest cruise season ever

A new economic impact study shows that the Cape Town Cruise Terminal welcomed 70 cruise ship calls carrying 145 000 two-way passengers and 42 000 crew members between November 2022 and May this... 

Cape Town’s rooftop solar applications reach new record; 100MW-plus already installed

The City of Cape Town says its “rooftop solar boom” has reached a new record, with August seeing the highest ever level of solar photovoltaic (PV) installation applications.  More than 1 500 small... 

MISA warns of spate of job losses at dealerships, retail stores

The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) says a number of dealerships and retail stores have announced their intent to restructure, which could lead to a spate of retrenchments in the automotive... 

New Hyundai boss expects negative 2023 as consumers battle tide of bad news

Newly appointed Hyundai Automotive South Africa (HASA) CEO Gideon Jansen van Rensburg steps into his new role at a challenging time. Not only is the domestic passenger-car market cooling, but the... 

Nissan SA says it may cut jobs as it halts NP200 production

Nissan South Africa (SA) has announced that it may cut jobs at its local operations as it halts production of the NP200 half-ton bakkie.  While the Nissan SA plant in Rosslyn, Tshwane, is set to... 

‘Anchor demand’ a must for renewables masterplan to succeed – Montmasson-Clair

The energy sector requires consistent demand from a consistent flow of renewable energy projects in order to invest in local manufacturing, and not “haphazard demand that comes and goes”, says...