Over 40 minerals and metals contained in seawater, their extraction likely to increase in the future

It is generally known that many minerals and metals exist, dissolved in seawater and in the waters of briny lagoons and salt lakes. According to Stanford University in the US, seawater contains 47... 

Small, safe and simple modular nuclear reactors seen as offering potential

Last November, the international nuclear industry was delighted with the news, announced in his Spending Review and [Northern] Autumn Statement by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer (equivalent to... 

Mozambique coal miners’ power station projects making ‘visible progress’

One of the international companies that has developed coal mines in Mozambique’s Tete province, India’s Jindal Africa, a subsidiary of Jindal Steel and Power, has advertised in the Maputo newspaper... 

New body for South African defence industry launched

South Africa’s National Defence Industry Council (NDIC) was formally launched by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula on March 3. “Today marks an historic day in the... 

New defence industry council to develop strategy for sector this year

The National Defence Industry Council (NDIC) should have its strategy for the sector completed by the last day of November, Defence Secretary Dr Sam Gulube has affirmed. He was speaking at the... 

Incoming Necsa chairperson promises to do his utmost in the post

The new Chairperson-designate of the Board of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), Dr Kelvin Kemm, has thanked Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Petterson for nominating him to the post.... 

Mozambique sees advances in precious stones and metals programmes

In Mozambique, the Nampula provincial government has announced that a $50-million gem and other precious stones certification centre will open this month. The centre, an initiative of the country’s... 

SA private sector company developing its own PBMR project

South African private sector company Steenkampskraal Thorium Limited (STL) is developing a design for a small modular reactor (SMR) which it calls the High Temperature Modular Reactor (HTMR). This... 

Vale sees subdued coal market this year as its Mozambique expansion commissions

Brazilian mining group Vale expects continued reduced demand for metallurgical or coking coal during this year. The company has metallurgical coal operations in Mozambique and Australia. “Demand... 

2015 intern programme benefited Denel Dynamics and its interns

South African missile, unmanned air vehicle and space company Denel Dynamics held its annual intern project presentation at its main facility in Centurion, south of Pretoria, on Thursday. For some... 

Air safety in Africa continues to improve – Iata

Africa’s air safety last year was better than over the five year period 2010-2014, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported recently. While the hull loss rate for jet airliners... 

Tshwane police take delivery of new armoured vehicles

Now that the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) has taken delivery of three RG-12 Nyala armoured internal security vehicles from Denel Land Systems, finalising its acquisition of riot... 

Astronomy enters new era as gravitational waves are detected for the first time

In a breakthrough which opens a whole new window on the universe, creates a new branch of astronomy, and vindicates the great physicist Albert Einstein once more, scientists at the US-led Laser... 

Nuclear engineering research in South Africa awarded further funding

The North West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus announced recently that the National Research Foundation (NRF – a major agency of the Department of Science and Technology) had awarded its... 

South African astronomers help unveil obscured galaxies

Astronomers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) have played a leading role in a successful international cooperative programme to locate... 

Strike over bonuses hits Vale’s Mozambique operations

Some 1 400 employees of Vale Mozambique, the subsidiary of Brazilian mining major Vale operating in the south east African country, went on strike last week over bonus payments, the Mozambican news... 

Mining seen as option to cut Angola’s oil dependence

The West African country of Angola has been badly hit by the decline in oil prices. In 2012, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Angola was responsible for 2% of global oil output and oil... 

Mining seen as major option to reduce Angola’s dependence on oil

The West African country of Angola has been badly hit by the decline in oil prices. In 2012, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Angola was responsible for 2% of global oil output and oil... 

South African researchers photograph rarely observed upper atmosphere phenomenon

Images of Sprites were captured from the ground for the first time in South Africa, the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) announced recently. Sprites are visible gas discharges triggered... 

Air travel demand rose significantly last year

The International Air Transport association (IATA) has reported that last year saw the strongest demand for air travel in five years. Measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), global air... 

New-generation air traffic control radar developed by European group

Worldwide, air traffic control (ATC) is facing an increasing number of major challenges. These include the continuing increase inner traffic; an increase in the variety of aircraft types to be... 

Science department, offshore oil industry set up joint research forum

The South African Marine Research and Exploration Forum (Samref) was recently launched by Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor. The Forum is a joint initiative of the Department of Science... 

Denel sets up new international joint venture in Asia

South Africa’s State-owned defence industrial group, Denel, has set up another international partnership, based in Hong Kong. This new subsidiary is Denel Asia and it is a joint venture (JV) with... 

Discussions under way on Rooivalk attack helicopter upgrade

South Africa’s State-owned defence industrial group Denel is in advanced discussions with the Department of Defence and the South African Air Force (SAAF) for upgrading the latter’s Denel Aviation... 

Mozambique heavy minerals operation in financial noose, but creditors not pulling yet

Irish domiciled miner Kenmare Resources has technically been in default since January 31, the Mozambican News Agency AIM has reported. As a result, the company’s shares fell in value by almost 20%... 

Meeting airline safety and security challenges amid big regional disparities

Every day, some 100 000 commercial aviation flights take-off and land, transporting on average one million people and 150 000 t of cargo, over a global network of 54 000 routes. These figures were... 

SA defence group promoting high-tech education, training

The Acting CEO of South Africa’s State-owned defence industrial group Denel, Zwelakhe Ntshepe, is “delighted” at his company’s role in helping prepare young South Africans to participate in the... 

Southern African Large Telescope confirms discovery of huge supernova

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), based at Sutherland in the Karoo region in the Northern Province, has played a key role in the discovery of what could the biggest ever supernova... 

German company develops integrated border surveillance systems

Comprehensive land and sea border surveillance and security systems are entirely feasible with today’s technology. So assures specialist German-based Airbus DS Electronics and Border Security, part... 

China seeks to create a ‘new normal economy’

China is seeking to reform its economy by means of its 13th Five-Year Plan, to create what is being called the New Normal Economy. This is intended to address the challenges facing the country,... 

China aims to create more jobs, cut poverty by 2020

China is seeking to become what its government calls "a modestly prosperous society" by 2020. The instrument to achieve this will be the 13th Five-Year Plan, which starts this year. Beijing has... 

Legal, illegal Mozambique rubies and legal Angola diamonds in the spotlight

Mozambican mining company Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada has made public its concerns about unfair competition by illegal miners. The company operates a ruby and corundum mine at Namanhumbir in the... 

African carriers still hampered by national policies

The fact that North American carriers are currently driving global airline profitability cannot simply be ascribed to the fact that they are private-sector companies, International Air Transport... 

Global airline profitability hits new levels, driven by North American carriers

Strong growth in passenger travel has resulted in record profitability for the global airline industry. "Our outlook for this year [2015] has improved to a $33-billion net profit expectation, for a... 

Airbus reports good progress with its flagship wide-body airliner programmes

European major airliner manufacturer Airbus, part of the Airbus Group, announced significant developments in its two most recent wide-body airliner programmes, the A350 XWB and A380 Superjumbo at... 

British, Chinese companies to develop Moz coal mine, power station project

London Stock Exchange AIM-listed company Ncondezi Energy has announced that it has entered into a binding Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with China’s Shanghai Electric Power Company (SEP) to... 

SA industry to benefit from new nanotechnology centre

The Nanomaterials Industrial Development Facility (NIDF), a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), that... 

Pandor highlights importance of new nanotechnology centre

Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor has hailed the new Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Nanomaterials Industrial... 

Global air transport body expects continuing difficulties for air cargo

The global air cargo industry has experienced a difficult 2015, despite the drop in the fuel price. While the first quarter had seen growth, the rest of the year has not lived up to that promise.... 

Deal to give SA access to satellite-based air traffic surveillance

South Africa’s air traffic control and management agency, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), has entered into a data services agreement with specialist US company Aireon LLC, the two...