Cogen technology heating up in Africa

South Africa needs to realise that the rest of Africa is becoming more business friendly, and it may no longer be the sole gateway to Africa, which is showing noticeable demand for co-generation... 

Africa still viable for business

It is possible to work in most African countries, provided there is an investor-friendly fiscal regime, the correct asset, a diverse management team and a flexible execution strategy, says mining... 

Covid-19 compounds challenges in Africa

The legislation put in place amid the Covid-19 pandemic is compounding the “exceptionally challenging” business environment already faced by companies when operating in Africa, where each country... 

Expedited change in stainless steel industry expected

The Covid-19 pandemic will have long-term ramifications, including permanent change in the South African stainless steel industry, Southern African Stainless Steel Development Association (Sassda)... 

Lockdown further strains stainless steel recycling

Prior to the national lockdown, South Africa’s stainless steel recycling industry was under strain, facing a dramatic drop in available recycling material and increasing input costs, says... 

R&D on hold to keep doors open

Stainless steel cylinder manufacturer Jooste Cylinder & Pump Company has implemented various measures, such as delaying research and development (R&D) projects, to assist staff as much as possible... 

Crisis highlights sense in sourcing locally made First Cut blades,welding consumables

Covid-19 has brought with it doubts and concerns about supply chain security, availability of stock and lead times, says First Cut’s Consumables Division director, Gary Willis. The pandemic has... 

Effective mine closure vital amid current economic crisis

The depressed economic climate emanating from the global Covid-19 pandemic is expected to increase requests about the authorisations process 

EDS Systems developing first South African carbon tax tool

Software developer EDS Systems is developing the first cloud-based carbon tax tool tailored to the South African market, in response to the introduction of the country’s Carbon Tax Act last year,... 

Zambia resilient despite challenges

The copper-dominant Zambian mining industry is resilient despite the impact of Covid-19, volatile commodity prices, a lack of foreign direct investment and poor, ill-advised government actions,... 

World’s largest emerald mine not exempt from pandemic

The turmoil stemming from the global Covid-19 outbreak represents one of the most serious challenges that many companies face globally, and the world’s largest emerald mine, Kagem, is no exception,... 

Chamber paints bleak future

There remains no incentive for further investment in copper-rich Zambia’s mining industry, says the association for mining and allied companies Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM). In January, Mines and... 

South Africa has duty to address SADC energy efficiency

South Africa has a duty to make the energy efficiency knowledge accrued through the Industrial Energy Efficiency Project (IEEP) more accessible to the rest of the Southern African Development... 

Local energy not managed efficiently

South Africa is not using its world-class renewable energy resources to drive energy efficiency, says independent conservation organisation World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) urban... 

New label can improve consumer education

The next challenge for the South African domestic appliance industry is the migration to a new energy efficiency label under the Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (S&L) programme... 

UJ creates open-source, low-cost ventilators

The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is coordinating efforts to further develop open-source ventilators in response to initial reports that... 

Consider compliance when buying second-hand TMMs

Mining companies buying second-hand trackless mobile machines (TMMs) on auction need to ensure that only proximity detection systems (PDSes) from suppliers that have been approved by the... 

Upswing in online mining auctions expected

Mining companies, like most industries, will investigate all methods of generating capital following the loss of trade caused by South Africa’s three-week lockdown to limit the spread of Covid-19,... 

Decarbonising of local power generation sedate

Decarbonising South Africa’s electricity generation is no longer a technical challenge, it is a political and economic issue, says University of Pretoria Graduate School of Technology Management... 

Suppression system averts oil transformer fires

Mitigating risks on oil-filled transformers is a primary concern for various firms that make use of this high-value equipment. Although safety in the engineering of transformers is increasingly... 

South Africa-born XinaBox chips in sub-zero Antartica, space

From collecting data in sub-zero Antarctica to rapid circuit prototyping on the International Space Station (ISS), South African modular “xChip” manufacturer XinaBox, pronounced "X-in-a-box",... 

Limestone miner keeps mills turning

Opencast mining operation Rossmin has registered as an essential services provider and continues to supply calcium additives to the food, animal feed and agricultural industries, heeding President... 

Advisory firm plays change-agent role amid Covid-19 outbreak

Playing a change agent role, black-women led and controlled technical and management advisory firm LEI Advisory, (a division of Letaba Elihle Investments), can assist companies which have been... 

3D printers answer call to produce PPE for healthcare workers

Three-dimensional (3D) printing solutions provider Additive Manufacturing Solutions’ (AMS’) initiative to mobilise the 3D printing community to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) for... 

Council turns attention to Ghana

South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC) member companies are increasingly looking outside of the South African market for opportunities, owing to the country’s current economic... 

Lack of port development a concern

While there is some movement in the development of South Africa’s port infrastructure by the private sector, the overall stagnation of its development is concerning, law firm Bowmans ports,... 

Various trends shaping Africa’s port infrastructure

The development of inland container terminals, or dry ports, to decongest port traffic is a trend that is gaining significant traction in Africa, says WSP Africa maritime technical director... 

Interest flares for SustainPower combined heat and power unit

There is growing interest in the locally designed combined heat and power (CHP) unit from containerised sustainable power generation solutions provider SustainPower, as more companies begin to... 

Privatisation slowly becoming reality

The type of participants attending this year’s Power & Electricity World Africa & The Solar Show are proof that Africa seeks to become less reliant on governments for its electricity supply, says... 

Collaboration needed in electrical sector

South Africa’s entire electrical sector needs a “shake up” and a lot more collaboration, Electrical Conformance Board of South Africa (ECBSA) MD Peter Pedrick has learnt since taking up his... 

Growing interest in green bonds

Local interest in green bond and/or securitisation instruments is robust and growing, says financial services provider Nedbank’s Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) debt capital markets... 

Africa can develop on low-carbon growth path

Choosing between a low-carbon future and Africa’s economic growth is a false dichotomy, as these goals do not need to be in competition, says independent power producer Pele Energy Group founder... 

Re-engineering of coal sector skills needed

The South African renewable-energy sector will not have an adequate pipeline of competent individuals to train if it does not endeavour to re-engineer the skills of workers in the Limpopo and... 

Online purchasing first for South Africa

US construction machinery manufacturer Caterpillar’s mini excavators will be one of the first Cat product lines to be sold online through its Southern Africa dealer, Barloworld Equipment, this... 

Digitalisation can rapidly mobilise equipment

Digitisation is playing a limited role in the procurement and mobilisation of construction equipment for capital projects, University of Pretoria (UP) project and quality management senior lecturer... 

No growth expected amid low govt spend

Government spending is the main drive for construction and/or civils spending, but, as the budget is exceptionally tight, construction equipment supplier HPE Africa MD Ross Collard does not expect... 

Supplier’s Cape Town branch adds technicians

Increased demand for Bobcat equipment in the Western Cape has resulted in construction equipment supplier Bobcat Equipment South Africa’s Cape Town branch increasing the number of field technicians... 

K-Way designs down suits for first all-female S African Everest team

South African outdoor technical brand K-Way has designed and manufactured bespoke climbing suits that will enable a four-women team to withstand the arduous weather conditions and terrain of... 

Minister skates over issues in speech

The various proverbial “elephants in the room” of the South African mining sector were not addressed by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe when he delivered his speech at the 2020... 

Africa can lure investors with data offering

Africa is looking for new ways of attracting investment, with pockets of the continent being “quite progressive”, compared with other markets, such as Canada and Australia, geoscience software...