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Esorfranki dragged down by lossmaking contracts

By: Irma Venter 13th December 2013 Three loss-making contracts sharply eroded profits at JSE-listed civils and construction group Esorfranki for the six months ended August 31. The company reported a 38.5% increase in revenue compared with the same period last year, to R1-billion, but saw profit for the period plummet 95.3%, to... →

SA contractors not as active in Africa as anticipated, report shows

By: Irma Venter 13th December 2013 The infrastructure boom in Africa has seen investment in 322 megaprojects reach $222.7-billion, says professional services firm Deloitte in its ‘African Construction Trends’ report. Deloitte Southern Africa infrastructure and capital projects leader André Pottas says the report focuses on... →

WARNING LIGHT A crane at a building site in Accra, Ghana. But the Deloitte report warns that Africa is no easy market for contractors

Photo by Duane Daws
WARNING LIGHT A crane at a building site in Accra, Ghana. But the Deloitte report warns that Africa is no easy market for contractors

Growth in renewable energy sector for SA

By: Carina Borralho 13th December 2013 The renewable-energy industry in South Africa is experiencing significant growth as a result of government initiatives, says consulting firm Frost & Sullivan energy and power analyst Joanita Roos. “The South African Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is... →

$223bn in megaprojects under way in Africa – Deloitte report

By: Irma Venter 27th November 2013 The infrastructure boom in Africa had seen investment in 322 megaprojects reach $222.7-billion, said professional services firm Deloitte on Wednesday as it released its ‘African Construction Trends’ report in Johannesburg. Deloitte Southern Africa infrastructure and capital projects leader André... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Medupi power station

GBCSA launches pilot socioeconomic rating tool

By: Natalie Greve 27th November 2013 In a bid to acknowledge the socioeconomic achievements of new green building projects and refurbishments, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has launched the pilot Socioeconomic Category (SEC) for Green Star South Africa (SA) rating tools. Currently being tested across several... →

Green Building Council of South Africa CEO Brian Wilkinson discusses the newly launched pilot Socioeconomic Category Recorded: 27.11.13 Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd Video Editor: Shane Williams

Work under way to select onshore site for South Africa’s carbon capture and storage pilot

By: Schalk Burger 22nd November 2013 Academics, policy makers and government are in the process of developing the Pilot carbon dioxide (CO2) Storage Project (PCSP) that will demonstrate the potential viability of long-term carbon dioxide storage in deep underground geological basins and the project has been granted R197-million over... →

NMMU building first in SA to receive new Public and Education Green Star rating

By: Creamer Media Reporter 19th November 2013 The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s (NMMU’s) new R116-million Business School is the first in South Africa to receive official green design rating accreditation for a public and education building from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA). The four-star green design rating... →

Service improvements possible with solar-powered classrooms, clinics

By: Schalk Burger 8th November 2013 Solar photovoltaic-powered school classrooms and healthcare centres are aimed at enabling electronic education and healthcare in remote and non-electrified areas of Africa, says electronics giant Samsung Africa president and CEO Sung Yong Hong. The classrooms use global system for mobile... →

R60m Sasolburg business incubator aims to support SMMEs

By: Joanne Taylor 8th November 2013 The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Sasol have inaugurated the first building of the ChemCity Business Incubator (CBI), in Sasolburg, which will support and promote the development of small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs). Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies and Sasol... →

Sasol completes Phase 1 of its eco-industrial park

By: Joanne Taylor 1st November 2013 Phase 1 of Sasol Group’s new ChemCity Eco Industrial Park (CEIP), a 172 ha site in Sasolburg, in the Free State, has been completed. Phase 1 comprised 110 light-industry stands of between 630 m2 and 990 m2, of which 17 have been transferred to their new owners. →

Rooftop solar panels for Rustenburg mall

1st November 2013 JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties recently signed agreements with Solar Century Africa and Stated-owned power utility Eskom to install a utility-scale solar power plant on the rooftop of Growthpoint’s Waterfall Mall, in Rustenburg. →

SOLAR ROOFTOP The Waterfall Mall solar power plant will generate 892 MWh of electricity a year

Law changes seen spurring increase in use of solar heating in commercial buildings

By: Schalk Burger 1st November 2013 The National Building Regulations Act amendments, implemented in January, should drive an increase in the use of large-scale solar water heating in commercial buildings and retrofitting to existing buildings that use large amounts of hot water, says solar water heater importer and distributor... →

Nedbank unveils 100% renewable-energy-powered bank branch

By: Natasha Odendaal 29th October 2013 Banking group Nedbank has transformed a Cape Town-based banking branch to run exclusively on renewable energy, while feeding excess electricity into the national grid. The Lansdowne Corner branch is powered off-the-grid through a hybrid energy installation, which is capable of supplying the... →

DEA head office wins green building award

By: Creamer Media Reporter 21st October 2013 The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has awarded the Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA’s) new head office the Green Star World Leadership Award. The building is currently under construction, with the department expected to take occupation in June 2014. The building was rated... →

Green building takes off globally

By: Kim Cloete 17th October 2013 The construction of green buildings has taken off globally, with the industry worth about $100-billion and doubling every three years. World Green Building Council chairperson Rick Fedrizzi has noted that both client demand and market demand were propelling the industry’s growth, as companies... →

GBCSA to rate socioeconomic impact of green buildings

By: Natasha Odendaal 8th October 2013 The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) expects to start piloting a new rating tool recognising the socioeconomic achievements of green building projects. The pilot socioeconomic category (SEC) for Green Star South Africa (SA) rating tools will be unveiled at the GBCSA annual... →

GBCSA to unveil interior rating tool

By: Natasha Odendaal 4th October 2013 The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) plans to unveil a new rating tool for interiors in response to market demand. The Green Star SA – Interiors rating tool will assess the design, construction and refurbishments of interior spaces in both existing and new buildings, and extend to... →

New R150m facility to consolidate distribution to Africa

By: David Oliveira 4th October 2013 Pump manufacturing company Grundfos’ new 9 000 m2 facility, in Meadowbrook, which cost about R150-million to construct, was officially opened on August 14 and will serve as the company’s assembly and distribution centre for Africa. “The company decided to consolidate its facilities, in Pretoria,... →

RENEWABLE ENERGYThe Meadowbrook building uses three wind turbines that generate electricity directly into the building’s grid to power the pumps and lighting when solar power is not available

Growthpoint Properties opens regional office in upmarket Pretoria building

By: Joanne Taylor 4th October 2013 Property investment company Growthpoint Properties has opened a regional office in the premium 10 000 m2 AAA-grade Menlyn Corner, in Pretoria, which the company owns. →

MENLYNGrowthpoint’s prime office building provides occupants with cost savings owing to its energy efficient design and technologies

Learners show they are up to the task during energy-saving competition

By: Joanne Taylor 27th September 2013 St John’s College, in Johannesburg, won first prize in the 2013 Siemens Junior Cyber Junk Yard Challenge earlier this month, – a competition in which talented learners go head-to-head in building models of energy-saving homes. →

ST JOHN’S COLLEGEThe school won first prize with its model of an energy-efficient home at the 2013 Siemens Junior Cyber Yard Challenge

Green systems financier targets diesel power

By: David Oliveira 27th September 2013 Green energy technology service provider New Southern Energy (NSE) is supplying a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel system, generator and batteries for an energy efficiency greenfield project at a game lodge in Arniston, in the Western Cape. Construction at the game lodge, which started late... →

COST-EFFECTIVE POWER Photovoltaic systems are a better electricity generation option for sites using more expensive alternatives, such as diesel-powered generators

SA unit main cause of ‘very disappointing’ year for Aveng

By: Irma Venter 20th September 2013 “The bottom line is that we have to stop scoring own goals and execute profitable work,” says Aveng CFO and acting CEO Kobus Verster. He notes that continued losses at Aveng’s South African construction business, Grinaker-LTA, are largely to blame for the negative performance of the construction... →

Geothermal systems installed at Steyn City development

By: Ilan Solomons 20th September 2013 Geothermal technologies are increasingly becoming a global means of effectively heating and cooling industrial and residential buildings, owing to rising electricity costs and increasing levels of consumer environmental awareness, says local environmental contracting company Environmental... →

PALAZZO STEYN Environmental Drilling & Remediation Services in July completed the installation of 18 borehole closed-loop geothermal heat pump systems at the private residence of South African billionaire Douw Steyn’s Palazzo Steyn

M&R outlines labour losses and concerns, confirms more competition provisions

By: Irma Venter 13th September 2013 Murray & Roberts has accrued around R350-million in losses in its South African business owing to labour unrest and strikes in the 2013 financial year, says CE Henry Laas. He says the deteriorating labour situation in South Africa is a “big problem”, and that he is concerned about the spate of... →

WBHO targets Central and West Africa as it builds continental portfolio

By: Irma Venter 13th September 2013 Construction group Wilson Bayley Holmes Ovcon (WBHO) has established an international civil engineering and building division to drive further growth in Central and West Africa, adding to the work the company’s roads and earthworks division is already doing on the continent. WBHO CEO Louwtjie Nel... →

Aveng sees profit slide as Grinaker-LTA posts R950m loss

By: Irma Venter 10th September 2013 “The bottom line is that we have to stop scoring own goals and execute profitable work,” said Aveng CFO and acting CEO Kobus Verster on Tuesday. Speaking in Johannesburg, he noted that continued losses at Aveng’s South African construction business, Grinaker-LTA, were largely to blame for the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Kobus Verster

IDC to issue bonds up to R12bn, dangling R2.7bn youth carrot

By: Martin Creamer 9th September 2013 South Africa’s State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which plans to issue bonds up to R12-billion in the next 18 months, on Monday announced stepped-up R2.7-billion funding to boost youth entrepreneurship. The State-owned corporation, which disbursed a record R16-billion into the... →

Photo by Duane Daws
IDC CEO Geoffrey Qhena

Partnerships and new thinking needed for regenerative-city plans to prevail

By: Joanne Taylor 6th September 2013 Strong consensus emerged at a recent Infrastructure Dialogues gathering, which took place in Midrand in August, that a combination of behavioural change and partnerships between the private sector, civil society and government are needed in order for city-level regenerative initiatives to have... →

SHAUN NELSouth Africa agreed to reduce its carbon emissions by 37% in 2015 and by 42% by 2025, most of which needs to happen at city level

Energy Intensive User Group project director and adviser Shaun Nel gives his view on how regenerative cities could be a success. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Shane Williams.

Two new engineering buildings opened at Stellenbosch University

By: Leandi Kolver 5th September 2013 The Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) Faculty of Engineering on Wednesday officially opened two new buildings that were designed according to green principles. The newly constructed 4 000 m2, R38-million Knowledge Centre, which comprised the Engineering and Forestry Library, two large lecture... →

GBCSA moves to new green office

By: Leandi Kolver 5th September 2013 The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has moved into its new green office at the Black River Park complex, in Obervatory, Cape Town, and will seek to secure a Green Star rating for the building. The GBCSA had to move after having outgrown its previous office space. →

WBHO aims for Africa and higher margins with new division

By: Irma Venter 2nd September 2013 Construction group Wilson Bayley Holmes Ovcon (WBHO) has established an international civil engineering and building division to drive further growth in Central and West Africa, adding to the work the company’s roads and earthworks division was already doing on the continent. WBHO CEO Louwtjie... →

Photo by Duane Daws
WBHO CEO Louwtjie Nel

Kleinmond-harvested rainwater not fit for human consumption – WRC

By: Leandi Kolver 30th August 2013 A recent study by the Water Research Commission (WRC) has found that untreated water collected by rainwater harvesting tanks provided in a low-cost housing project in Kleinmond, in the Western Cape, did not meet drinking water standards. The Kleinmond Housing Scheme, which comprises 410 units,... →

New children’s hospital aims for global green-building recognition

By: Sashnee Moodley 30th August 2013 Construction of the green Nelson Mandela Children’s hospital, which will be located in Parktown, Johannesburg, is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2013 and the building’s architects hope to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. →

Resolution on Gautrain delay and disruption claim moves to 2016

By: Irma Venter 29th August 2013 The delay and disruption claim the Bombela consortium had filed against the Gauteng government regarding the construction of the Gautrain “was taking a long time”, and would only be resolved by 2016, said Murray & Roberts CE Henry Laas on Thursday. Last year August the construction and... →

Photo by Duane Daws
The Gautrain

Murray & Roberts takes R350m strike knock

By: Irma Venter 29th August 2013 Murray & Roberts accrued around R350-million in losses in its South African business owing to labour unrest and strikes in the 2013 financial year, CE Henry Laas said on Thursday. Speaking in Johannesburg, he said the deteriorating labour situation in South Africa was a “big problem”, and that he... →

Photo by Duane Daws
The Medupi power project

M&R, Competition Commission to work through five more collusion cases

By: Irma Venter 29th August 2013 Construction and engineering group Murray & Roberts said on Thursday that it had made financial provision for another possible penalty from the Competition Commission, following on from the settlement of 17 cases of collusive behaviour earlier this year. The commission in June imposed a... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Murray & Roberts CE Henry Laas

Group Five hopes restructuring will lift margins

By: Irma Venter 23rd August 2013 JSE-listed construction company Group Five has reported net profit of R299-million for the financial year ended June 30, reversing a R230-million loss recorded in 2012. Revenue from contiuing operations was up 27% to R11.13-billion. With almost all of the group’s problem contracts in the Middle... →

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