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Infrastructure News

Aveng receives R282m settlement payment for outstanding claim

By: Schalk Burger Updated 8 minutes ago JSE-listed construction engineering group Aveng says it has reached settlement on and received payment of R282-million for a long-outstanding claim, which was previously disclosed in its December 2021 interim results as an amount that had been subject to protracted legal proceedings. The... →

NPC calls for declaration of ‘energy emergency’ to facilitate rapid building of generation and storage over 24 months

By: Terence Creamer Updated 41 minutes ago The National Planning Commission (NPC) has called for the declaration of an ‘energy emergency’ to override any red tape currently preventing the construction of new electricity capacity, as well as to make it possible to build 10 000 MW of new generation and 5 000 MW of new storage capacity over... →

Just Transition Framework means South Africa can ‘proceed apace’ with $8.5bn partnership

By: Terence Creamer 5th July 2022 President Cyril Ramaphosa says the publication of the Just Transition Framework will enable South Africa to “proceed apace with harnessing the benefits” of the Just Energy Transition Partnership concluded with the US, the UK, Germany, France and the European Union in late 2021. The partnership... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Drakenstein municipality explores IPP procurement to combat load-shedding

By: Terence Creamer 5th July 2022 The Drakenstein municipality in the Western Cape – encompassing Paarl, Wellington, Mbekweni, Gouda, Saron, Hermon and Simondium – reports that it is exploring the procurement of electricity from independent power producers (IPPs) to mitigate the negative impact of ongoing load-shedding by Eskom.... →

Treasury says Pension Funds Act changes encourage infrastructure investment

By: Terence Creamer 5th July 2022 The National Treasury has published amendments to Regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act that encourages infrastructure investments by retirement funds, while still leaving the final investment decision to fund trustees. The amendments will take effect on January 3, 2023. →

Providing water should not be political – Senzo Mchunu

By: Sane Dhlamini 5th July 2022 Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu has said that providing water should not be a political nor a rhetorical issue, but, rather, it should be a question of providing a basic service, which is a basic right. He was speaking to local media during his visit to the Nelson Mandela Bay... →

Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu

Afrimat, Hemporium build world’s tallest hemp-product building

By: Irma Venter 4th July 2022 In a global first, 84 Harrington Street is the world’s tallest building being constructed using hempcrete blocks and hemp building materials, says the partnership between two Cape Town-based companies, Hemporium and Afrimat Hemp. The joint venture believes the project is “setting the benchmark on... →

Image of 84 Harrison street building in Cape Town

Eskom working on grid-access Web portal to improve connection visibility

By: Terence Creamer 4th July 2022 Electricity utility Eskom is developing a Web-based portal that will offer real-time visibility of locations in South Africa where new generators can be immediately or easily connected to the grid. The utility has, for the past three years, been arguing that between 4 000 MW and 6 000 MW of... →

RocketNet, Zoom Fibre to bring fibre to Boabab project in Saldanha Bay

By: Schalk Burger 4th July 2022 Internet service provider RocketNet has partnered with fibre optic network provider Zoom Fibre to roll out high-speed fibre Internet in Saldanha Bay. The fibre network will serve as the backbone on which the Saldanha Bay municipality will build its smart city infrastructure, says RocketNet CEO... →

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

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... →

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... →

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).... →

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... →

More schools means more infrastructure needed

1st July 2022 The Kenyan government’s plan to construct an additional 10 000 classrooms to accommodate an expected surge in student numbers once learners’ transition from primary to junior secondary schools under the Competency-Based Curriculum is welcome and necessary. However, the transition will require... →

A large round drum used as a peptic tank made of Weholite ready for delivery to Kenya's new school projects

SANITATION SUCCESS In order for sanitation works of this magnitude Megapipe suggests the projects use its Weholite HDPE technology

Best practices for small businesses

1st July 2022 Experienced engineers are crucial in such a critical and technically-minded sector as engineering, and it is consequently not surprising that the industry players place a premium on the employment of those who have the years under their belts, says engineering firm Zimile Consulting Engineers CEO... →

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... →

Pipe supply proves manufacturer’s metal

By: Halima Frost 1st July 2022 Steel and tube supplier Stewarts & Lloyds Pipes & Fittings have successfully delivered over 1.4 km of pipe to a project in Tshwane – cementing its position as a leading pipe supplier in Africa. The project entailed the supply of about 70 pipes of 800 nominal bore (NB) in lengths of 12.19 m, with... →

A number of 12-meter-long blue water pipes on a truck set for delivery at a water works

TRUE BLUE The water pipes for a 1.4 km project have been delivered to site by Stewarts & Lloyds

Manufacturer now offers new stainless steel braided hose

1st July 2022 Earlier this year, industrial hose specialist Truco announced it had started manufacturing stainless steel braided hose at its Chamdor campus in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Initial capabilities are for hose assemblies from 6 mm to 25 cm in diameter. →

A reel of stainless steel braided hose which is impervious to fire chemicals and pressure

STEELING THE SHOW The new sheet braided hose offered by Truco is ideal for use across a range of industries

Association stresses quality control is imperative

1st July 2022 As part of its continuous education process, Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (Sappma) continues to enlighten design engineers, contractors and all users of plastic pipe of the critical importance of getting the highest quality of polymers in the products they specify or... →

A bunch of blue plastic pipes which have a light shining thorug them form back to front

SHINING LIGHT Sappma continues to shine a light on the need for quality products and materials to its members

Consulting engineering sector faces skills depletion

By: Mandisa Nyathi 1st July 2022 The Covid-19 pandemic has led to increased retrenchments and job losses in the consulting engineering industry, which, in turn, has led to a skills drain in the sector, temporary works consultant Waco Engineering Services MD Otto Botha says. →

OTTO BOTHA Government projects are important because engineers gain the required skills and create job opportunities for community members, adding that the Sanral’s decision to cancel R17.47-billion in tenders will lead to delays in executing projects

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.

IEA backs nuclear life extensions as Koeberg pushes ahead with 20-year plan

By: Terence Creamer 30th June 2022 The International Energy Agency (IEA) has come out in support of nuclear plant lifetime extension programmes, as Eskom pushes ahead with its plans to extend the life of the Koeberg nuclear power station, in the Western Cape. A new IEA report, titled ‘Nuclear Power and Secure Energy Transitions’,... →

The Koeberg nuclear power station

DPWI undertaking bulk infrastructure installation at new mixed-use development

By: Donna Slater 29th June 2022 The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) is building and installing bulk and internal infrastructure at the Salvokop Precinct Development – a mixed-use precinct project, which forms part of the greater Tshwane Inner City Regeneration Programme. Located in close proximity to the... →

An image of sod-turning at the Salvokop Precinct Development

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille (middle-left) is joined by Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Mostoaledi (middle-right) and Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu (second-right) at a sod-turning ceremony of the Salvokop Precinct Development.

Opinion: Existing regulatory framework provides good backbone for development of South Africa’s green hydrogen sector

29th June 2022 In this article, Bowmans South Africa’s head of public law and regulatory, Claire Tucker, looks at regulation and incentives for the hydrogen economy. She concludes that, while incentives for developing the sector have not yet been finalised, the existing regulatory framework for these industrial... →

Claire Tucker

South Africa imported record volumes of steel in 2021, new report shows

By: Terence Creamer 29th June 2022 At close to 1.7-million tonnes, South Africa imported record volumes of primary steel in 2021, constituting about one-third of all steel used in the country, a new Steel Report published by the South African Iron and Steel Institute (SAISI) confirms. The report, which is the inaugural edition of... →

Satrix launches smart city infrastructure feeder ETF

By: Darren Parker 28th June 2022 South African index investment business Satrix, a division of Sanlam Investment Management, has announced that its new smart city infrastructure feeder exchange-traded fund (ETF) will offer investors access to the rapidly growing investment opportunity of smart cities. The fund’s initial public... →

Infrastructure delivery key to growing economy, creating local demand

By: Donna Slater 27th June 2022 The construction and development of infrastructure is critical to accelerating demand for associated goods and services, as well as to significantly boost the economy, Infrastructure South Africa investment and unblocking chief director Mashopha Moshoeshoe said earlier this month. Speaking at... →

Mchunu calls for the fast-tracking of projects to restore water supply in Ugu municipality

By: Yvonne Silaule 27th June 2022 Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu has called for the fast-tracking of two bulk water projects in the Ugu district municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal. In recent months, the municipality has been under the spotlight owing to its inability to provide reliable water supply to residents, who took... →

Earth & Wire targets Eastern Cape for first long-duration storage roll-out

By: Terence Creamer 27th June 2022 Independent renewable energy company Earth & Wire expects to begin installing its first long-duration energy storage system in South Africa in 2024 after announcing a 300 MW/1 200 MWh order for a battery system from Ambri, of the US. First deliveries are scheduled for the second quarter of 2024,... →

Artist impression of the Ambri storage system

Sanral success stories

By: Tracy Hancock 24th June 2022 Despite the negative impact of its recent tender cancellations, South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it continues to improve, manage and maintain the national road network. In Limpopo, the R37 improvement project between the Modikwa mine and Burgersfort worth R616-million is... →

CHANGING IT UP The Kokstad Interchange project along the R56 provincial route will take 33 months to complete

Industry body assures job security for welders

By: Halima Frost 24th June 2022 Despite a marked increase in the uptake of robotic welding systems, owing to Covid-19 and the fast-tracking of automation, artisanal welding will never be completely replaced, says Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) Certification CEO Herman Potgieter. “The Covid-19 pandemic has played a... →

A man in a ditch welding a water pipe out in the open, which would be inaccessible to a robotic welder

Southern African Institute of Welding Certifications CEO Herman Potgieter discusses the uptake of technology in the welding sector.

Pipe welding work completed

24th June 2022 A successful example of technical solutions provider BMG Fluid Power team’s ability to carry out on-site welding during the installation and replacement of piping, plate work, stainless steel and other components has been highlighted during the installation of pipework over a 48-hour shift shut... →

A Jasic branded welding machine with a Jasic welding mask being used by a BMG welder with sparks flying

WONDER WELD BMG’s range of Jasic welding equipment was the preferred brand for on site welding at a pipework installation

New waterjet machine bought

By: Halima Frost 24th June 2022 To meet growing demand for specialised cutting services, waterjet cutting specialist Aquajet has procured a new precision waterjet machine from jet machining manufacturer Omax to complement its three existing Omax machines. “The machine is part of our ambitious expansion, which aims to increase... →

BIGGER BETTER The larger premises and addition of new machines will increase productivity output for Aquajet

Testing phase of steam drum finalised

By: Halima Frost 24th June 2022 Earlier this month, steel fabricator and welding specialist Hydra-Arc finished the post weld heat treatment (PWHT) and pressure test of the third of four drums on an order for a client in the sugar industry. The order – procured in August last year, which will be supplied and commissioned by... →

A welder at Hydra Arc's Middleburg premises is seen welding a large drum which will be used in the sugar industry

UNDER PRESSURE The pressure testing and post weld heat treatment of three of four drums on order has been finalised

Majority of Sanral road network exceeds design life

By: Tracy Hancock 24th June 2022 With 83.6% of the national road network under South African National Roads Agency Limited’s (Sanral’s) jurisdiction exceeding its 20-year design life, there is increased risk of rapid deterioration during the wet season, owing to the old, cracked surfaces being susceptible to moisture ingress,... →

CUSTOMARY CONDITIONS To be considered a well-maintained road network, it is the in-house norm at Sanral that not more than 10% be in a poor to very poor condition

Green ratings offer benefits during economic crunch

By: Cameron Mackay 24th June 2022 Premium and Grade-A offices that are Green Star-certified provide an average one-year income return of 8.4, compared to an average of 8.3 for non-Green Star-certified Prime and Grade-A offices, according to the MSCI South Africa 2021 Green Annual Property Index. Further, vacancy rates – based on... →

Image of Redefine Properties chief sustainability officer Anelisa Keke

ANELISA KEKE Redefine has been instrumental in selecting appropriate buildings for certification and recertification, in consultation with our external advisers

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