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Environmental News

ESG matters at the fore in M&A transactions, says law firm

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd January 2020 Environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters rapidly rose up the corporate agenda in 2019, such that ESG is now a mainstream issue across all areas of corporate life, including in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills states in a new report, entitled ‘M&A... →

Prize-winning edible straws

By: Debbie French 22nd January 2020 A passion for environmental sustainability recently bagged a second-year Chemical Engineering student at Stellenbosch University (SU) a massive cash prize. Moved by a Facebook post of a sea turtle with a plastic fork stuck in its nose, 19-year old Leila Siljeur felt she had to do something to... →

Children across South Africa learn about renewables in vernacular

By: Simone Liedtke 21st January 2020 English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Setswana speaking children across South Africa are learning about the role that wind power is playing as the world transitions to renewable power for a cleaner, healthier planet through a beautifully illustrated story book, named Let the Wind Blow. The South African... →

World risks 'disaster' as reuse of natural resources declines

By: Reuters 21st January 2020 The proportion of raw materials the world is reusing has fallen, researchers said on Tuesday, warning of a "global disaster" as annual consumption of natural resources rose to 100-billion tonnes for the first time. Just 8.6% of the 100-billion tonnes of materials – including minerals, metals,... →

Minister extends deadline for mines to meet financial provisioning regulations

By: Simone Liedtke 20th January 2020 The long-awaited notice extending the transitional timeframe for compliance with the Financial Provisioning Regulations of 2015 has been published by Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy. In terms of the extension notice, the applicable Mineral and Petroleum Resources... →

Sibanye obtains 'A' rating for climate change disclosure

By: Creamer Media Reporter 20th January 2020 Precious metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater on Monday revealed that it was the only company from South Africa to have achieved an 'A' rating for its climate change disclosure by nonprofit global environmental disclosure platform CDP. "CDP’s annual environmental disclosure and scoring process is... →

Company launches unique water plant, empowers community

By: Mamaili Mamaila 17th January 2020 Mineral water company Aqua Air Africa (AAA) officially launched Africa’s first atmospheric water-generating plant at the Ga-Rankuwa industrial site, in Gauteng, in November. →

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND The construction of the atmospheric water geberating plant began in 2018 with a team of committed engineers and local small, medium-sized and microenterprises

Water reuse schemes offer investment opportunities for PPPs

17th January 2020 In the water and wastewater treatment industry, proven technologies are paving the way for a strong business case for bulk water reuse, says optimised resources management company Veolia Group. →

THE NEXT STEP Government needs to attract private sector funding to meet its water and sanitation infrastructure development requirements

SAB, AB InBev ahead of renewable energy target for 2020

By: Simone Liedtke 16th January 2020 Beer maker South African Breweries (SAB) and its parent company AB InBev Africa have announced that its breweries across South Africa will have on site solar facilities by the end of this month. This forms part of a multibillion-rand investment to ensure 100% of electricity requirements at AB... →

Green Scorpions deadline looms for Eskom’s emissions-breaching Kendal power station

By: Terence Creamer 15th January 2020 State-owned electricity utility Eskom, which is struggling to keep the lights on as a result of high levels of unplanned breakdowns across its coal fleet, could be forced to shut down units at the Kendal power station at the end of January unless ongoing noncompliance with the country’s minimum... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Kendal power station

Environmental issues a top global risk – WEF

By: Marleny Arnoldi 15th January 2020 The World Economic Forum (WEF) expects economic and political polarisation to rise this year as significant short-term risks to climate action and public health systems. This while collaboration between world leaders, businesses and policymakers is necessary to stop severe threats to... →

South Sudan plans environmental audit of oil fields in move to curb pollution

By: Reuters 10th January 2020 South Sudan is launching a tender for a comprehensive environmental audit of all its oil-producing fields in a bid to reduce pollution following years of neglect, the government said on Friday. Oil sales bring in almost all the revenue of the East African nation, which has boosted output to stand... →

South Africa has huge 'green fuels' potential. But it needs to act now

10th January 2020 In this opinion piece, first published in The Conversation, professors David Walwyn and Rod Crompton make the case for South Africa to pay greater research and development attention to the production of green hydrogen using a combination of wind and solar power and electrolysers. In addition,... →

Growth initiatives to continue in 2020 as new laws come into effect

By: Simone Liedtke 9th January 2020 Initiatives to drive growth and stabilise the economy will continue to be a focus in the coming year, especially as efforts to root out corruption and State capture progress, law firm Webber Wentzel says. Robust corporate governance for listed companies will also remain a focus area for the JSE,... →

Pleading for leniency, Eskom wants to slash emissions by 2035

By: , Bloomberg 9th January 2020 Power utility Eskom, South Africa’s biggest polluter, said it will slash emissions of three major pollutants by 2035 while it asks for exemptions to incoming standards to avoid as much as R37-billion in expenditure. The State-owned utility projected that by 2035, as plants reach the end of their... →

Solar installations to continue growing at double-digit rates – IHS

By: Simone Liedtke 8th January 2020 Global solar installations will continue double-digit growth rates into the new decade, global information provider IHS Markit reports in its ‘2020 Global Photovoltaic (PV) Demand Forecast’. IHS estimates new yearly installations to increase by 14% year-on-year to 142 GW this year. →

First Great White shark seen off Cape Town in 20 months

By: , Bloomberg 8th January 2020 The first great white shark in 20 months has been spotted in False Bay off Cape Town, easing concern that one of the region’s biggest tourist attractions had gone for good. The shark was spotted by the operator of a cage diving operation off Seal Island, said Gregg Oelofse, who oversees coastal... →

No end in sight for Eastern Cape drought

By: News24Wire 6th January 2020 Residents of Butterworth in the Eastern Cape are desperately waiting for water that was released from the Wriggleswade Dam to provide them with some respite from a lengthy drought that is showing no signs of ending. The water was released from the dam earlier this month and it was estimated that... →

Years of drought threaten South Africa's wildlife industry

By: Reuters 6th January 2020 A severe drought is threatening South Africa's wildlife industry, with game farmers keeping fewer animals and tourists visiting game lodges in smaller numbers. Parts of the country have been affected by consecutive years of abnormally hot weather and below average rainfall that have scorched... →

Batteries, EVs to play ‘critical role’ in low-carbon future

By: Simone Liedtke 19th December 2019 The switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy alternatives and the electrification of energy is one of the key elements of delivering carbon neutral economies, and batteries are set to play a critical role in delivering this low-carbon future, says investment research and advisory company... →

Pick n Pay aims to cut its food waste by 50% by 2025

By: Simone Liedtke 18th December 2019 Twenty of supermarket Pick n Pay’s biggest suppliers has joined the chain store in a new global project to combat food waste. Backed by ten of the world’s largest food retailers and manufacturers, the initiative will focus on in-store and supply chain food loss and waste. →

National Waste Management Strategy comments now open

By: Simone Liedtke 18th December 2019 Members of the public are invited to submit comments and inputs on the Draft 3rd National Waste Management Strategy. The revised and updated Strategy was published in Government Gazette 42879 earlier this month, on December 3, as a requirement of the Waste Act to establish the National Waste... →

UNDP, Irena help countries to meet climate pledges

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th December 2019 Renewable energy deployment has to accelerate six-fold by 2030 if the world is to achieve the goal of cutting global carbon emissions by 45% and keep temperatures below 1.5 ˚C above pre-industrial levels. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Renewable Energy... →

Development institutions help African countries align with global sustainability plans

By: Marleny Arnoldi 13th December 2019 Three development institutions have partnered to present a digital application at the Conference Of the Parties 25 climate conference, in Madrid, this week, to help African countries that are grappling with implementing key global initiatives. The United Nations Development Programme, the... →

Success of renewables programme continues

By: Darren Parker 13th December 2019 Over the past eight years, the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has attracted about R209.4-billion in committed private-sector investment, with the successful fourth window bids being valued at about R56-billion. South African companies, such as... →

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY 27 preferred bidders signed agreements last year and their respective renewable energy projects are well underway

Additional renewable energy development zones proposed

13th December 2019 The second phase of the Strategic Environmental Assessment for wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy in South Africa proposes three additional renewable energy development zones for wind and solar PV energy projects. The renewable energy development zones support the responsible implementation... →

RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ZONES The Phase 2 proposed zones support the responsible implementation of the Integrated Resource Plan 2019

Maintenance work on tunnel completed

13th December 2019 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has indicated that the inspection and maintenance work on the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) tunnel – which was closed on October 1 and was scheduled to open November 30 – was completed as planned. The recharge of the tunnel started on November... →

USEFUL BEAUTY The Katse dam not only supplies water to the South Africa but also hydro electricity and tourism to the Kingdom of Lesotho

Water project underway and making progress

13th December 2019 Last month, the official ground-breaking function for Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) took place and was attended by Kingdom of Lesotho Minister of Water Samonyane Ntsekele and South Africa Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. “Implementing Phase... →

DAM BIG PROJECT The site of the 2.3-billion-cubic-metre Polihali dam

Environmental studies essential to REIPP success

By: Darren Parker 13th December 2019 In most renewable-energy independent power producer (REIPP) project cases, environmental sensitivities can be successfully avoided if developers embrace advice given by environmental consultants during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) stage. This enables developers to better ensure that... →

NOT WINGING IT Embracing the advice given by professional environmental consultants early on can lead to the avoidance of many environmental issues

Government reaffirms support for rural, township economies

By: Mamaili Mamaila 13th December 2019 To improve access to information and bring economic infrastructure support closer to township and rural-based enterprises, government is expanding incubators and digital hubs to townships and rural areas, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. →

Photo by SA Investment Conference
VIBRANT THINKING South Africa's small, medium-sized and microenterprises are demonstrating out-of-the-box thinking in business skills

Science, innovation investment crucial to Africa’s development

By: Mamaili Mamaila 13th December 2019 Africa still does not realise the potential and opportunity that science and innovation hold for its development, says South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor. →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
NALEDI PANDOR The time has come for Africa to be serious about investing more in research, development and innovation

Diversified miner announces R20-billion investment drive

By: Mamaili Mamaila 13th December 2019 JSE-listed diversified mining company Exxaro officially announced its commitment of R20-billion towards President Cyril Ramaphosa’s investment drive for South Africa at the 2019 South African Investment Conference, which took place in Johannesburg, last month. →

Exxaro CEO Mxolisi Mgojo discussed the company’s investments ahead of the 2019 South African Investment Conference. Camerawork: Creamer Media’s Kutlwano Matlala. Editing: Creamer Media’s Nicholas Boyd. Recorded: 31.10.2019

Eskom wants emission exemptions

By: , Bloomberg 12th December 2019 Eskom Holdings, South Africa’s biggest polluter, has asked for additional emission exemptions at two of its biggest plants, a request that will increase environmental protests against the State-owned utility at a time when it’s already being slammed for rolling power cuts. Eskom, which is... →

African cities bet on new technology to fix growing water shortages

By: Reuters 11th December 2019 From solar-powered ground pumps to 3D-printed filters, new technology can help solve water shortages in African cities facing rapid growth, entrepreneurs and policymakers said. These were among the solutions discussed at a summit hosted by the Islamic Development Bank in Senegal's capital Dakar... →

4IR could lead to ‘profound changes’, says German embassy

By: Simone Liedtke 10th December 2019 The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) would “radically transform the working environment” and affect almost every industry and country and, in so doing, lead to “profound changes in systems, production and government”, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to South Africa cooperation head... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Embassy of Germany cooperation head Fabian Kyrieleis

Carbon capture, storage seeing growing momentum

By: Simone Liedtke 10th December 2019 Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has seen growing momentum and increased ambition this year, says the Global CCS Institute. This vital suite of climate change technologies is expected to play a fundamental part in achieving the transition to a net-zero economy and help decarbonise... →

Water levels at world’s biggest dam sink to two-decade low

By: , Bloomberg 10th December 2019 The Kariba dam has plunged to its lowest level since 1996, raising further risks to the hydropower plants that Zimbabwe and Zambia depend on for nearly half of their power. Water levels at the world’s largest man-made freshwater reservoir that straddles the two countries, fell to 10% of usable... →

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