Engineering News | Construction

https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Advertise on this page? Click Here to Learn More

Construction News

Eskom moves to finalise just energy transition framework as shutdown of Grootvlei, Komati and Hendrina draws near

By: Terence Creamer 17th November 2020 State-owned power utility Eskom expects to complete its socioeconomic impact studies by the end of March for the planned shutdown of the Grootvlei, Komati and Hendrina power stations, in Mpumalanga, which are the first of ten coal plants scheduled for decommissioning by 2040. The decommissioning... →

WBHO sees plunge in profit as Covid-19, loss-making projects take toll

By: Irma Venter 17th November 2020 Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) on Tuesday reported a massive turnaround in fortunes from 12 months ago when it boasted R513-million in operating profit for the year ended June 30, to a position where it suffered an operating loss of R585-million. Group CEO Wolfgang Neff cited the main reasons... →

OTGC abandons plan to develop Ngqura liquid bulk storage terminal on viability concerns

By: Creamer Media Reporter 17th November 2020 Joint venture company Oiltanking Grindrod Calulo (OTGC) has decided not to proceed with the development of a liquid bulk storage terminal in the Port of Ngqura. The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) in 2011 awarded OTGC preferred bidder status to develop a liquid bulk storage terminal in... →

Municipalities have integrated 282 MW of embedded power and see benefits in embracing transition

By: Terence Creamer 16th November 2020 A total of 29 South African municipalities have already approved tariff frameworks for small-scale embedded generation (SSEG), with 282 MW of mostly rooftop solar capacity having be formally integrated into municipal networks, the South African Local Government Association (Salga) reports. The... →

Kangnas Wind Farm starts commercial operations

By: Donna Slater 16th November 2020 The Kangnas Wind Farm on November 15 achieved its commercial operations date, making it the first Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) Bid Window 4 wind farm in the Northern Cape to come on stream. Construction started in June, 2018 but was halted by the... →

The Northern Cape-based Kangnas Wind Farm

Octodec records reduced income, defers dividend decision to 2021

By: Donna Slater 16th November 2020 Against a weakening economic environment, the sovereign downgrade in March and the Covid-19 pandemic, JSE-listed real estate investment trust Octodec Investments recorded a 22% reduction in distributable income for the financial year ended August 31 and has deferred its decision to declare a... →

Global Water Partnership Southern Africa teams up with DBSA to realise water projects

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th November 2020 The Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that seeks to promote investment and collaboration for water and sanitation projects in the Southern Africa region. The MoU was signed by... →

Collaboration could eliminate challenges

By: Mamaili Mamaila 13th November 2020 Although the construction industry offers many opportunities for collaboration between consultants and contractors, these opportunities are often not fully explored. “This results in contractual disagreements, and a disjointed and misaligned approach to projects,” says demolition expert Jet... →

KATE BESTER It would be beneficial if contracting and consulting firms were to align their personnel development strategies and actively encourage young engineers to explore these aspects in the industry, within defined frameworks

Sector recovery lies in collaboration – says cement maker

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th November 2020 The construction sector remains under pressure, despite the easing of the national lockdown to Level 1, and contractors need to work with materials suppliers to remain cost competitive, says construction materials company AfriSam. →

AfriSam readymix GM Amit Dawneerangen shares his insight on the state of the construction industry

Structural integrity aids building life cycle

13th November 2020 Asset management company Collaborit has successfully started penetrating the mining and industrial sectors, providing expert solutions and services into the sustainable, proactive management of structural assets such as steel, concrete and masonry. →

THE END IS ALWAYS CERTAIN Every structure has a limited design life and adequate budgeting must be allowed for to ensure regular maintenance is done to ensure this design life is reached

Pandemic challenges exacerbated for industry

13th November 2020 While construction sites were able to reopen in early May for civil projects, ongoing delays in terms of both the public sector being slow to change gears and client’s additional regulations around health and safety, have exacerbated challenges for both property development and construction... →

COVID-19 CONUNDRUM The Power Group’s construction arm has been hit with challenges no one could have foreseen with Covid-19

Economy to affect home builders more

By: Mamaili Mamaila 13th November 2020 The effects of Covid-19 and the sluggish economy remain the biggest challenge for the civil engineering and construction sectors. →

SONGEZO BOOI After almost 12 years, the home-building industry is still struggling to reach its former peak

Infrastructure recovery roadmap mulled

By: Mamaili Mamaila 13th November 2020 If South Africa is to have any hope of economic recovery, no sector can afford to do things the way it did before 2020, says the International Zinc Association (IZA). →

REFINED STRUCTURES The construction of a new zinc refinery will reduce dependence on special high-grade zinc imports, and provide a much-needed boost for the construction industry

Construction group welcomes green shoots after lull

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th November 2020 After what has been months of uncertainty about when new projects will come to tender or whether awarded projects will progress, construction company Concor notes that work continues apace on its contracts spread across the construction, infrastructure, civils and mining sectors. →

Lucas Tseki discusses Concor's project's in progress and his takeaways from Covid-19

Hard-hit construction sector pins recovery hopes on infrastructure plan

By: Natasha Odendaal 13th November 2020 South Africa’s construction industry ground to a halt on March 27, as the nation entered a hard lockdown that would last weeks, in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic which spurred governments worldwide to impose emergency restrictions. Six months later, the industry is starting to get back... →

Online hub launched to boost home-grown mining equipment development

By: Donna Slater 12th November 2020 To increase local manufacturing and the attractiveness and attention thereof, the Mandela Mining Precinct (MMP) and the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (Memsa) have launched the Technology Availability and Readiness Atlas (Tara). The launch on November 12 coincided with the... →

PPC enjoys higher retail-led cement demand

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th November 2020 Cement manufacturer PPC has advised that its sales volumes continue to rise after having experienced muted sales in April and May during the harder levels of lockdown in South Africa and other African countries. The company’s sales volumes started recovering in South Africa and Botswana in... →

European firms say South Africa’s poor utilities deter investment

By: Bloomberg 12th November 2020 European businesses are delaying investment in South Africa because of poor power and water supply and the costs of complying with Black economic empowerment legislation, representatives of an industry body said. South Africa has suffered intermittent power outages since 2008 after the state... →

Equites concludes R1.8bn UK distribution centre deal

By: Donna Slater 11th November 2020 South African real estate investment trust Equites Property Fund has, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Equites International, concluded an agreement with Hermes Parcelnet to develop a R1.8-billion (£85-million) distribution centre in a prime location in the UK. The property is expected to be... →

Tribunal confirms settlement agreement between PPC, commission

By: Simone Liedtke 11th November 2020 The Competition Tribunal has confirmed a settlement agreement between Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) and the Competition Commission which, in effect, grants PPC final immunity from prosecution in the cement cartel case. PPC has also been granted immunity from an administrative penalty. →

SANEDI rolls out cool roof project in Cape Town

By: Simone Liedtke 11th November 2020 The South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) is rolling out 26 000 m2 of cool roofing technology in the City of Cape Town as part of the Cool Roofs and Insulation Collaboration. The purpose of the roll out is to demonstrate the power of passive cooling when cool coatings are... →

WCPDF sceptical about real change with State infrastructure tenders, should they realise

By: Marleny Arnoldi 11th November 2020 The Western Cape Property Development Forum (WCPDF) says that, while the “robust infrastructure pipeline” is supposed so set South Africa’s economy back on track and kickstart the flaying property development and construction industries, it remains to be seen if the culture of change around... →

Nigeria gives Dangote, BUA approval to export cement via closed borders

By: Reuters 11th November 2020 Nigeria has granted presidential approval to Dangote Cement and BUA Cement to export cement through its land borders, which have been closed for more than a year to check smuggling, a customs spokesman said on Tuesday. Nigeria closed its land borders last year to curb smuggling of rice and arms,... →

Raubex resilient in the face of Covid-19 impacts

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 9th November 2020 The six-month period to August 31 had proven the resilience of JSE-listed Raubex Group, CEO Rudolf Fourie said on November 9. Reporting on the group's results for the six months, he said that, despite the decrease in earnings for the period, as a result of the Covid-19-related lockdown, strict →

Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City nearing completion

By: Simone Liedtke 9th November 2020 Construction of the new concept Courtyard Hotel at Waterfall City, in Midrand, is nearing completion, with the hotel set to open in the first quarter of 2021. The ten-storey hotel will feature a rooftop function area and a 100-seater conference facility. In addition to 164 rooms (16 of which are... →

Another limited trading month for EPP

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th November 2020 Poland-focused retail real estate investment trust EPP has advised that all Polish shopping centres and retail locations measuring more than 2 000 m2 in size will be temporarily limited in terms of trading between November 7 and November 29. The Polish government had decided to close parts of... →

South Africa aims to nail down R664bn in investment pledges at Nov gathering amid Covid-19 ‘shock’

By: Terence Creamer 9th November 2020 The third yearly South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC), which will take place on November 17 and 18, will focus primarily on ensuring the investment pledges of R664-billion made in 2018 and 2019 are not derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Government also intends using the platform to... →

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel

KwaZulu-Natal automotive supplier park to be operational from 2021

By: Yvonne Silaule 9th November 2020 Durban’s R2.2-billion automotive supplier park special economic zone will be operational in 2021, with automotive manufacturer Toyota as one of the agreed tenants. It is projected that 1 339 jobs will be created as a result of the investment. →

R292m road construction to unlock economic opportunities for KZN rural community

By: Yvonne Silaule 9th November 2020 As part of government’s Covid-19 economic recovery strategy, more than 2 300 jobs will be created through the newly launched R292-million P714 road construction project, in KwaZulu-Natal. The construction of the road is expected to benefit the community of Ndwedwe, in the iLembe district... →

UK and US groups partner on small modular nuclear reactors

By: Rebecca Campbell 9th November 2020 UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce and giant US private-sector electricity utility Exelon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the development and operation of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants (NPPs). Rolls-Royce is leading a... →

Photo by Rolls-Royce
Artist’s impression of a UKSMR plant

India can be prime public-private partnership example for Africa

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th November 2020 With India having successfully implemented many phases of what is the world’s largest public-private partnership (PPP) programme, it has experience and expertise to transfer to African countries. Panellists during the last day of the Indo-Africa virtual summit, which was held from November 4 to... →

Redefine completes M1 acquisition in Europe

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th November 2020 JSE-listed real estate investment trust Redefine Properties’ European subsidiary has completed the acquisition of the M1 Marki Commercial Centre, near Warsaw, in Poland. As part of the transaction, Redefine will sell its 25% equity interest in Chariot Top Group – which is the sole shareholder of... →

Saice pledges collaboration for proper planning in infrastructure project rollout

By: Marleny Arnoldi 6th November 2020 The South African Institution of Civil Engineers (Saice) has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest call for the public and private sectors to work together in preparation for infrastructure projects that will be rolled out to help revive the ailing economy. The President spoke during the... →

Bearing isolators faring well in bearings sector

6th November 2020 Bearings distributor BMG tells Engineering News that its Garlock Klozure and Guardian Bearing Isolators have fared notably well subsequent to being introduction to the BMG range of isolators. A bearing isolator is an advanced sealing solution that is used to protect bearings on rotating equipment... →

SURE SOLUTION The Garlock sealing solutions offered by BMG have proven effective in many environments

Cooling equipment to increase energy efficiency of data centres

By: Cameron Mackay 6th November 2020 There is a significant push to provide energy efficient technologies for data centre applications to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs. Consequently, data centres can save significantly in terms of energy and associated costs by ensuring their cooling solutions are designed... →

RORY REID MPT are well-known for our critical power solutions, but need to grow the market awareness of our ideal HVAC applications in the data centre arena

Company releases efficient lighting range

6th November 2020 Lighting technology manufacturer BEKA Schréder last month announced the launch of the ECOBAY, a light-emitting-diode (LED) lighting range with a high return on investment. According to BEKA Schréder, ECOBAY is the ideal luminaire for lighting industrial facilities at optimised light levels, and... →

LIGHTING THE WAY ECOBAY has a long lifetime and requires low maintenance, as lamps do not need to be replaced for more than 10 years

Noticeable growth in smart home market

By: Cameron Mackay 6th November 2020 There has been noteworthy growth in the local smart home and building automation market in the past three years, owing to the growing demand for energy efficiency, says automation solutions provider ElectroMechanica (EM) product manager Ryan Whitelaw. EM has focused on expanding its product... →

AUTOMATION AT HOME Coviva is a wireless, smart home control and retrofit technology system that can be used to retrofit older buildings with smart automation solutions

About

Engineering News is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa
Polity

Newsletters

Sign up for our FREE daily email newsletter

Receive daily sector news alerts

More

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Engineering News is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options

Subscribe