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Infrastructure News

Tech helps address nonrevenue water loss

By: Halima Frost 16th October 2020 According to a rough consensus derived from its end customers and partners, about 38% of South Africa’s produced water is non-revenue water, but water technology company Xylem Water Solutions South Africa says its key technologies assist in addressing this challenge. Non-revenue water is water... →

Gas-powered solutions offer lower upfront cost

By: Darren Parker 16th October 2020 In a capital-constrained Covid-19-affected market, gas-fired generators offer the advantage of a relatively low upfront capital cost, compared with coal- or diesel-fired alternatives, says energy solutions company GE Gas Power Sub-Saharan Africa executive Nosizwe Dlengezele. She adds that it is... →

NOSIZWE DLENGEZELE Gas plays an important role in bridging the energy gap to help create a lower-carbon energy future

Proactive national water programme on the cards

By: Halima Frost 16th October 2020 The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), in partnership with various government departments, is addressing the country’s water woes with the development of a proactive national water programme that aims to offer tangible solutions to municipalities, the relevant government departments and... →

DBSA disruption specialist Johann Lübbe and infrastructure finance specialist Konstant Bruinette discuss the progress being made on a new national water programme that the DBSA is developing.

Data-driven approach for water approached

By: Halima Frost 16th October 2020 The time to apply a data-driven approach to optimise water distribution in South Africa is now, says consultancy firm Royal HaskoningDHV advisory group director Bongani Dladla. “This could be the country’s catalyst for digital transformation – the point when municipalities start using technology... →

TANK TRACING A data-driven approach will help optimise water use and its infrastructure suggest Royal HaskoningDHV

Easy-to-assemble water storage tanks launched

By: Halima Frost 16th October 2020 Steel products and related services company Structa Group recently launched the marketing drive for its new Circotank brand, which offers a range of rolled sectional steel tanks. Circotank is manufactured from galvanised steel sheet, cold rolled, with a stiffening profile. →

TANK TOP The Maxi range of tanks offers water storage capacity of up to 1.5Mℓ

Independent grid and market operator ‘required’ to attract much-needed generation investment – De Ruyter

By: Terence Creamer 15th October 2020 Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has drawn a direct link between securing the investment required to address South Africa’s growth-sapping electricity supply gaps – including some R100-billion to further develop the grid in ways to unlock what will be mostly private generation investment – and the... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter

Ramaphosa promises rapid power roll-out, but two-year timeframe for solving crisis ambitious

By: Terence Creamer 15th October 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa listed the rapid expansion of South Africa’s electricity generation, primarily through the building of additional renewable-energy capacity, as a key priority in government’s long-waited ‘Reconstruction and Recovery Plan’, which he unveiled in Parliament on Thursday. The... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Decline in global steel demand to be less than expected -Worldsteel

By: Reuters 15th October 2020 The coronavirus-related decline in global steel demand this year will be less than expected at 2.4% after a buoyant recovery in China, the World Steel Association (WSA) said on Thursday. The industry group made a downward revision to its June forecast of a 6.4% decline this year after heavy... →

Infrastructure, industrial growth central to Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan

By: Simone Liedtke 15th October 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa has earmarked infrastructure development as one of the first and most important parts of the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. Considering that infrastructure has the immense potential to stimulate investment and growth to develop other economic... →

DTIC approves R50m for Phase 1 revitalisation of Dimbaza industrial park

By: Yvonne Silaule 15th October 2020 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has approved R50-million for the first phase of the revitalisation of the Dimbaza industrial park, in the Eastern Cape, as part of the process of the National Revitalisation of Industrial Parks Programme. The revitalisation work includes the... →

SEW-Eurodrive breaks ground on new South African head office, factory

15th October 2020 Drive and control technologies specialist SEW-Eurodrive on October 1 started construction on its new R200-million head office and factory in Aeroton, Johannesburg. →

SEW-Eurodrive breaks ground on new South African head office, factory

Academia, industry must be involved for railway concessions to be successful, says NMU associate

By: Simone Liedtke 14th October 2020 The ensure the success of railway concessions, Nelson Mandela University Infrastructure Development and Engagement Unit (ID&EU) associate Bongani Mankewu says government “must fathom the significant role to be played by academia and the industry”. He explains that the inception of concessioning... →

Sanral signs MoU with Safcec to prioritise small contractor development

By: Irma Venter 14th October 2020 The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec), with the aim of prioritising the development of small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) in the road construction... →

78 MW Bokamoso solar park begins commercial operations

By: Terence Creamer 14th October 2020 Another large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) project procured under the fourth bid window of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) has entered into commercial operation. The fourth bid window eventually closed in 2018, following a four-year... →

The 78 MW Bokamoso Solar Park

Solar ‘new king’ of electricity, but shift to net zero will require ‘unwavering efforts from all’

By: Terence Creamer 13th October 2020 The International Energy Agency (IEA) has declared solar the “new king” of electricity, arguing that, while renewables technologies as a whole are poised for rapid growth over the coming several decades, solar will be “at the centre of this new constellation of electricity generation... →

Gauteng inland port developer takes legal steps to halt ‘irrational’ road realignments needed to unlock Tambo-Springs hub

By: Terence Creamer 12th October 2020 The developer of a private inland port in southern Gauteng, known as Distribution Junxion Port of Gauteng, has initiated legal action against the provincial administration in a bid to prevent it from implementing road infrastructure developments required to facilitate the construction of a... →

Map showing the location of Distribution Junxion Port of Gauteng and Tambo-Springs Logistics Gateway in relation to the road and rail networks in the region.

Infrastructure plan good news for battered metals industry – Seifsa chair

9th October 2020 In his address during the 2020 edition of the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa's presidential breakfast on October 9, outgoing president and chairperson Elias Monage reflected on what has been another difficult year for the metals and engineering sector. He expressed... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Elias Monage

GVK-Siya Zama launches dedicated civils unit

By: Irma Venter 9th October 2020 Construction company GVK-Siya Zama has added a dedicated civils unit to its operational offering. Through this unit, the company aims to create jobs and improve society by filling the void left by many companies in the construction industry that had to close their doors. →

Lifting equipment provides reliability, increased productivity

9th October 2020 Included in equipment supplier Becker Mining South Africa’s range of equipment manufacturer Kito lifting equipment, is the durable Kito high-speed CB manual chain hoist series, which is suitable for use in shipbuilding and restorations. These hoists, which offer swift lifting and lowering speeds... →

VERSATILE HOISTING These hoists, which offer swift lifting and lowering speeds for increased productivity, are designed to safely handle rated loads between 2.5 t and 50 t

Energy expert calls for RMIPPPP overhaul to facilitate cheaper, cleaner emergency power

By: Terence Creamer 8th October 2020 Energy expert Clyde Mallinson is calling on government to urgently overhaul its Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), which he says not only fails to address the country’s immediate electricity needs, but will also lock in dirty and expensive energy for the... →

Clyde Mallinson

World Bank forecasts ‘weak’ recovery for South Africa from Covid-19

By: Terence Creamer 8th October 2020 The World Bank expects South Africa’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic to be weak relative to most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, forecasting an economic expansion of only 2.6% in 2021 on the back of a massive 7.2% contraction this year. In its latest ‘Africa’s Pulse’ publication, the... →

Photo by Creamer Media
World Bank highlights power reforms in South Africa to reduce dependence on Eskom

Bombardier says Transnet contract ‘uninterrupted’ as 10-64 dispute resolution continues

By: Terence Creamer 7th October 2020 Bombardier Transportation, one of four companies to secure a contract to supply 1 064 electric and diesel locomotives to Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) in 2015, reports that it is continuing to execute on the contract, despite the fact that a dispute resolution process is ongoing. In 2019, Transnet... →

The TRAXX AFRICA locomotives delivered to date have been deployed to support the export of manganese ore

Nersa granted leave to appeal R69bn Eskom equity judgment

By: Terence Creamer 7th October 2020 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has been granted leave to appeal the July 28 High Court decision relating to the recovery of R69-billion of government equity, which the court judged had been illegally deducted by Nersa from Eskom’s allowable revenue for the period 2019/20 to... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Eskom CFO Calib Cassim at Nersa hearings into Eskom's allowable revenue in 2019

Johannesburg mayor warns rogue business forums not to delay projects

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 6th October 2020 Johannesburg Executive Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo has warned "business forums" not to interfere in service delivery projects. “The stopping of service delivery projects by business forums will not be tolerated as it delays the completion of projects and the provision of much-needed service to the... →

Inaugural public−private training programme for African infrastructure sector starts

By: Simone Liedtke 6th October 2020 The Global Infrastructure Hub (GI Hub) and Meridian have announced the start of training for the first cohort of fellows of the Africa Infrastructure Fellowship Program (AIFP). The AIFP is a public−private initiative designed to upskill African government infrastructure specialists and enable... →

CESA touts technical expertise as route to economic growth

By: Simone Liedtke 6th October 2020 The absence of technical expertise in infrastructure procurement is starting to have an increasingly adverse effect on the quality and sustainability of South Africa’s infrastructure, laments industry body Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA). The association says the country needs to be... →

South Africa unlikely to force specific investments on retirement funds

By: Bloomberg 6th October 2020 South Africa’s government is unlikely to force retirement funds to plow money into specific companies or projects, an industry body of fund managers and insurers said. Of the economic plans under discussion to revive South Africa’s economy, none are calling for prescribed assets to be used as a... →

Ethiopia says GERD dam will begin generating power in next 12 months

By: Reuters 5th October 2020 Ethiopia's giant new hydropower dam on the Blue Nile will begin generating power in the next 12 months, the country's president said on Monday. “This year will be a year where the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will start generating power with the two turbines," Sahle-Work Zewde said in a speech... →

DBSA appoints Rakgate to head Infrastructure Fund

By: Terence Creamer 5th October 2020 The State-owned Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has, from October 1, appointed Mohale Rakgate as its new group executive for the Infrastructure Fund, which has been established by government to support an accelerated roll-out of economic and social infrastructure. Infrastructure is... →

Mohale Rakgate

Ethiopia bans flights over dam for security reasons - aviation chief

By: Reuters 5th October 2020 Ethiopia has banned all flights over its giant new hydropower dam on the Blue Nile for security reasons, the head of its civil aviation authority said on Monday. Ethiopia is locked in a dispute with Egypt and Sudan over its $4-billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Cairo has said could... →

Patel prioritising AfCFTA trading by start of 2021 as he takes on key African role

By: Terence Creamer 5th October 2020 South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel, who has been elected to chair the African Ministers of Trade (AMOT), says he will prioritise the finalisation of the outstanding work and negotiations required to enable the start of trading under the African Continent Free... →

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel

Tambo Springs rail concession fails, talks on to secure new deal

By: Irma Venter 5th October 2020 Infrastructure development at the Tambo Springs Logistics Gateway is continuing, despite the inability of State-owned freight logistics group Transnet to deliver on the construction of a rail terminal in the agreed time, says Tambo Springs Development Company (TSDC) CEO Tumi Mohulatsi. In June... →

Tumi Mohulatsi

Spanish solar tracking group establishes formal presence in South Africa

By: Terence Creamer 5th October 2020 Spanish solar tracker and structures specialist STI Norland has, since the start of October, established an active presence in South Africa, which it views as an attractive market for utility scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects. An office and warehouse facility is being established in Port... →

The 94.3 MWp Sishen PV Plant in the Northern Cape

City of Cape Town drafting ‘mini IRP’ as it prepares way for IPP procurement

By: Terence Creamer 2nd October 2020 The City of Cape Town, which has been pushing for the right of municipalities to procure electricity directly from independent power producers for several years, is currently compiling what it describes as a “mini” integrated resource plan to guide its future procurement decisions and actions.... →

One year later and still no clarity on e-tolls – Outa

By: Irma Venter 2nd October 2020 Cabinet’s failure to make a decision on a funding mechanism for Gauteng’s freeways is affecting long-term road planning and allows the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) to avoid responsibility for an incoherent e-toll collection strategy, says the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse... →

Afrimat Construction Index tanks in Q2, but ‘strong performance’ in second half predicted

By: Irma Venter 2nd October 2020 The second-quarter (Q2) Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) has dropped sharply on the back of the national lockdown regulations imposed between April and June to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. JSE-listed openpit miner Afrimat produces industrial minerals, bulk commodities and construction materials. →

Renewed hope for industrialisation and transformation ahead of wind procurement

By: Terence Creamer 2nd October 2020 The failure of the R536-million DCD Wind Towers facility, established in the Coega Special Economic Zone in 2013, has become the poster child for the damage inflicted when South Africa’s political infighting and intrigue gives way to policy uncertainty and stalled implementation. The investment... →

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