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Norway bans sale of Rolls-Royce subsidiary to Russian group

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd March 2021 The Norwegian government has vetoed the sale, by UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce, of its Norwegian subsidiary company Bergen Engines to Russian locomotive and railway equipment manufacturing and services company TMH Group. Rolls-Royce Bergen produces medium speed... →

Canada, AfDB formalise gender-focused Climate Fund for Africa

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 Development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Canada on March 17 signed an agreement to formalise the Canada–African Development Bank Climate Fund (CACF), which is a transformative special fund aimed at providing concessional loans for climate... →

Move to impact-based weather forecasting assisting South Africa, says Creecy

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd March 2021 The South African Weather Services (SAWS) plays an important role in mitigating the impacts of severe weather, natural disasters and climate-related challenges, and its success in mitigating the impacts of Cyclone Eloise this year was mainly the result of its progress in the 2020/21 financial... →

Changes to water-use licence issuing powers to help agricultural industry, says AgriSA

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 Agricultural industry organisation AgriSA has welcomed the decision by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) acting director-general Deborah Mochotlhi to give regional DWS offices and catchment management agencies the power to issue water-use licences for low-risk and low-volume... →

Attacq maintains interim profit

By: Marleny Arnoldi 23rd March 2021 JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Attacq has posted a 57.5% lower distributable income per share for the six months ended December 31 at R148-million, mainly owing to rental discounts of R53-million incurred during the period. The rental discounts were mainly granted to support... →

Attacq's Nexus Waterfall property

Remote-operation drilling footprint providing sizeable benefit – Master Drilling

By: Martin Creamer 23rd March 2021 An increased remote-operation drilling footprint is providing considerable benefit for Master Drilling, the JSE-listed drilling services company said on Tuesday, when it reported 72.7%-higher 2020 net cash generation of $25.5-million, 18%-lower debt to $42.1-million, and a halved gearing ratio to... →

Master Drilling results covered by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer

Against the odds, solar-plus-storage project emerges with lowest RMIPPPP bid

By: Terence Creamer 23rd March 2021 The fact that a hybrid generation project – combining solar photovoltaic (PV), a battery energy storage system (BESS) and a small portion of gas – emerged with the lowest evaluation price in the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) has been described as... →

Agriculture bodies call for increased access to growing Brics markets

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), industry organisations Agri SA, the African Farmers’ Association of South Africa (Afasa), the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) and the National African Farmers’ Union (Nafu) have met with the Department of Trade, Industry... →

Private equity firm looking to invest R350m in South Africa's mining, manufacturing sectors

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 South African private equity firm Moshe Capital Fund Managers aims to invest up to R350-million in manufacturing, industrial and mining products or services and secondary agriculture in South Africa, says Moshe Capital founder and CEO Mametja Moshe. The company predominantly invests in... →

Absa report shows second quarter of raw material constraints in manufacturing supply chain

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 Financial services firm Absa's 2021 first-quarter Manufacturing Survey shows that, for a second quarter in a row, manufacturers are reporting issues in the supply chain that are resulting in raw material shortage constraints negatively affecting their production processes. “Currently, a major... →

MetroFibre secures R2.5bn debt funding package

By: Natasha Odendaal 23rd March 2021 Gauteng-based fibre infrastructure provider MetroFibre Networx has secured a R2.5-billion debt funding package from Investec to support its fibre deployment across South Africa. The funding agreement builds on an existing relationship between the two companies since 2016, when MetroFibre... →

Core stage of Nasa’s biggest ever rocket has passed final major test

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd March 2021 The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) successfully conducted a second ‘hot fire’ test of the core stage of its new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket late last week. The SLS core stage, the prime contractor for which is Boeing, is powered by four Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25... →

Photo by Nasa
The SLS core stage second hot fire test being conducted at the B-2 test stand

TCTA put forward as new water agency implementor

By: Natasha Odendaal 23rd March 2021 State-owned entity Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) had been put forward as a possible potential proto-agency for the implementation of the new National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA). On February 11, 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the establishment of a national... →

Embraer hit by about 50% cut in revenues of its commercial jet business

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd March 2021 Brazilian aerospace group Embraer, one of the world’s leading companies in the sector, has released its results for last year. Embraer’s financial year is identical to the calendar year. The financial results were released on a consolidated basis and according to International Financial Reporting... →

Senqu river bridge construction tender launched in early March

By: Schalk Burger 23rd March 2021 The tender for the construction of the largest of three bridges that will span the Polihali reservoir and that will be built as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase 2 – the Senqu River bridge – was released on March 4. The bridge will be the first extradosed bridge, which... →

Resolving energy challenges is fundamental to economic recovery – Ramaphosa

By: Thabi Madiba 23rd March 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the disruption caused by load-shedding and outlined government’s plans to restructure and strengthen the country’s electricity system to fundamentally change the country’s energy future. Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that for more... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

BLSA calls for further review of embedded generation licensing threshold

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 23rd March 2021 The announcement last week of preferred bidders for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, as well as the request for proposals that starts off Bid Window 5 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, is a step forward for energy... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
BLSA CEO Busi Mavuso

Master Drilling in muted but resilient 2020 performance

By: Martin Creamer 23rd March 2021 Drilling services company Master Drilling, which operates in 23 countries and which is continuing to grow its presence in new global markets, on Tuesday reported a “muted but resilient performance” for the full year ended December 31, thanks to what it described as a “flexible business model and... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Master Drilling CEO Danie Pretorius.

Northam pays most tax as growth strategy heads for 8 500 jobs boost

By: Martin Creamer 23rd March 2021 “We’ve made the single-largest tax payment in the history of the company,” Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne said during last week’s presentation of 74%-higher headline half-year earnings. The JSE-listed platinum group metals (PGMs) mining company’s half-year contribution to the fiscus topped... →

Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne’s half-year presentation covered by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

Three European companies join renewable organisation RES4Africa

By: Schalk Burger 19th March 2021 Three Europe-based companies have joined renewable energy industry organisation Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa Foundation (RES4Africa). The companies are renewable energy company EDP Renewables; energy management and automation company Schneider Electric; and wind energy company Vestas →

USAID provides four investment funds with capital for SME, emerging farmer growth in Southern Africa

By: Schalk Burger 19th March 2021 The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded catalytic funding to four investment vehicles to drive inclusive economic growth in Southern Africa. As a result, R357-million ($24-million) in private sector investment will go towards supporting small and medium-sized enterprises... →

Atterbury reduces water use by 250 000 ℓ a day across eight properties

By: Schalk Burger 19th March 2021 Property investment and development company Atterbury's intensive water consumption reduction drive, using sustainable water management systems at eight of its buildings, has enabled it to use 250 000 ℓ less a day compared with historical consumption. It achieved this through a combination of... →

Northam Platinum building 10 MW solar power plant at Zondereinde smelter

By: Martin Creamer 19th March 2021 Platinum group metals (PGMs) mining company Northam Platinum said on Friday that it was designing and building a 10 MW solar energy plant for the company’s smelter at its Zondereinde mine, in Limpopo province. Located on the northern end of the western limb of the Bushveld Complex, near the town... →

Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne’s half-year presentation covered by Mining Weekly’s Martin Creamer. Video: Darlene Creamer.

SAPVIA welcomes solar in emergency power procurement programme

By: Schalk Burger 19th March 2021 Solar industry organisation the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) says it welcomes the inclusion of solar photovoltaic (PV) projects among preferred bidders for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP) announced by Mineral Resources... →

Renewables announcement provides certainty, but urgency still needed, says Maynier

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th March 2021 Western Cape Finance and Economic Opportunities Minister David Maynier has welcomed the announcement by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, on March 18, of the preferred bidders for the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme and the release of the... →

David Maynier

Business community calls for increased engagement with WTO

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th March 2021 Industry organisation Business Unity South Africa and other business associations, representing 14 countries on six continents, have congratulated Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The business community has also jointly written a... →

M&R's subsector classification shifts to engineering and contracting on the JSE

By: Donna Slater 19th March 2021 Effective March 23, engineering company Murray & Roberts’ (M&R's) classification on the JSE will move from Diversified Industrials to the Engineering and Contracting Services subsector – a new subsector to be introduced by FTSE Russell and the enhanced Industry Classification Benchmark. Group CE... →

South African banks impacted but resilient in worst of Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 – PwC

By: Donna Slater 19th March 2021 South Africa’s major banks were impacted negatively by an “unprecedented operating environment” during the Covid-19 pandemic, reports professional services firm PwC in its 'Major Banks Analysis' for the 2020 financial year. The analysis highlights key themes from the combined local currency... →

PwC Africa financial services leader Costa Natsas details how South Africa’s major banks have adapted to an unprecedented operating environment. Video: KT Matlala; Editing Nicholas Boyd.

SAA Technical management hoping to pay 50% of March salaries, leaked letter shows

By: News24Wire 19th March 2021 Management at SAA Technical is continuing with efforts to try to pay employees at least 50% of their salaries due for March, but at this stage, is still waiting for details of "anticipated funding" from its shareholder, the Department of Public Enterprises. This is according to a letter to SAAT... →

Hall Longmore launches fusion bonded epoxy pipe coatings for the local market

By: Donna Slater 19th March 2021 Steel pipe manufacturer Hall Longmore is looking to attract a key domestic market segment with its newly launched dual layer fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) coatings. MD Kennith van Rooyen tells Engineering News the company, which is based in Wadeville, Gauteng, recently commissioned a dual spray... →

Stanford, De Beers invite applicants for Seed Transformation Programme

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th March 2021 Stanford Graduate School of Business and diamond company De Beers Group have invited entrepreneurs with a mindset to grow their businesses to apply for the 2021/22 Southern Africa Seed Transformation Programme (STP). The programme is aimed at supporting business leaders in Southern Africa to... →

Coca-Cola, BanQu launch payment platform for informal waste reclaimers, boosting bankability

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th March 2021 In recognition of Global Recycling Day on March 18, beverage company Coca-Cola South Africa and blockchain-based supply chain and economic passport platform BanQu are rolling out a payment platform to financially empower informal waste reclaimers and buyback centres in a boost to the local... →

RisCura launches country’s first Impact fund of funds investment series

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 19th March 2021 Purpose-driven investment firm RisCura is applying its institutional investment experience to impact investing and has launched the country’s first Impact fund of funds series. The firm says this is in line with the globally recognised definition of impact investing “to generate positive,... →

Pandemic’s implications will continue to depend on the evolution of macroeconomic conditions - Unctad

By: Simone Liedtke 19th March 2021 Although warnings about the spread of viruses have become more frequent in recent years, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) laments in its latest trade and development report update that “nobody anticipated the arrival of Covid-19 or its dramatic global impact”.... →

DMRE to host bidders conference in April as it restarts renewables procurement

By: Terence Creamer 19th March 2021 The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) intends convening a virtual bidders conference in April to provide information on the qualifying criteria and bid submission expectations for the fifth bid window (BW5) of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme... →

Volvo Car SA to bring host of EVs to South Africa, says MD

By: Irma Venter 19th March 2021 Volvo Car South Africa (SA) MD Greg Maruszewski says the local arm of the Swedish car manufacturer plans to bring the full range of Volvo electric vehicles (EVs) to South Africa, but adds that “business dynamics will obviously contribute to the decision”. Volvo Car SA will launch the Swedish... →

Eskom: Load shedding halted from noon on Friday

19th March 2021 Load shedding will be cancelled, for now, from noon on Friday as generation units return to service, Eskom has said in a statement. Earlier in the week, generation capacity had been lost at Medupi, Arnot, Duvha and Kendal power stations. The shortfall was partly attributed to boiler tube leaks,... →

E-waste recycling bin at Roodepoort golf estate to curb growing waste stream

By: Donna Slater 19th March 2021 Recycling company AST Recycling has placed an electronic-waste (e-waste) recycling bin at the Jackal Creek golf estate, in Roodepoort, on March 18, in what it says will be the first of many stations nationally. To help battle the rising tide of e-waste in South Africa, the AST Recycling bin will... →

Members of AST Recycling and the Jackal Creek Estate manager Johann van Niekerk

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