African development needs both electricity and decarbonisation – Ramokgopa

South African Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has affirmed that Africa does not face a choice between decarbonisation and industrialisation. On the contrary, it has to, and... 

New satellite communications service for airports

Global aviation industry specialist ICT company SITA has launched a new service – SITA Managed Satellites. Making use of low Earth orbit satellites, it provides airports with communications that... 

Necsa positioning itself to support South Africa’s future nuclear energy programme

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) supports the country adopting small modular reactors (SMRs) and believes that it can play a key role in this process. So affirms Necsa Group... 

Platinum jewellery enjoying strong growth in its key markets

Global platinum jewellery marketing organisation Platinum Guild International (PGI) believes that the metal enjoyed strong growth opportunities in the jewellery sector. To turn opportunity into... 

South Africa will reactivate the PBMR small modular reactor project – Minister

South Africa is lifting its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) out of care and maintenance, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosienstsho Ramokgopa confirmed, almost in passing, on Tuesday. He was... 

CSIR now producing stainless steel powder for 3D printing

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) can now provide the local additive manufacturing (AM – popularly called 3D printing) sector with 316L stainless steel powder on a pilot... 

SA defence group moving into large UAV sector with new design

South African private-sector defence group Milkor, which works in the aerospace, cyber, ground, maritime and weapons sectors, has unveiled its latest aerospace project – the Milkor 780 uncrewed... 

AFC funding development of three new gold mines in West Africa

African infrastructure and investment group Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has announced that it is providing Mota-Engil Africa (MEA), part of the global Mota-Engil construction group, with a... 

South Africa still committed to coal, and to upgrading the national grid

South African Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Tuesday reaffirmed the country’s commitment to coal-based energy. He was delivering the keynote address at the Enlit Africa... 

Africa, including South Africa, must be allowed to exploit its resources – Ramokgopa

Africa, including South Africa, had to be able to fulfil its developmental potential. So highlighted South African Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa in his keynote address on... 

Boeing opens new regional office for African continent

US aerospace giant Boeing has opened a new office, in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. This office is intended to be the group’s administrative hub for its activities and operations... 

Some real-world prospects emerging as globe marks year of quantum science and technology

This year is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Proclaimed by the UN, it celebrates the centenary of the development of the theory of quantum mechanics and is being marked by... 

Private education company to launch tertiary engineering courses

Accredited private tertiary education company STADIO, which is listed on the JSE, has announced that it will start introducing engineering courses, with effect from next year. To this end, it is... 

International space sector development enterprise launches Africa hub

UK-based space research and technology enterprise Space Network, which is focused on stimulating the international development of the commercial space sector, has announced the launch of its latest... 

Airbus reaffirms commitment to hydrogen aviation

At the 2025 edition of its annual, sustainable aerospace-focused, Airbus Summit, the Europe-based global major aerospace and defence group reaffirmed its commitment to develop and market a... 

South African zero-emissions UAV to be launched onto the market this year

South African zero-emissions aviation startup company FlyH2 Aerospace (FlyH2) has announced that its prototype uncrewed aerial vehicle, the Dragonfly V (five) is successfully continuing its flight... 

Africa could be a world leader in the green economy – if it makes the right decisions

Sustainability was not just an environmental need, it was an economic necessity. So asserted UN Development Programme resident representative in South Africa and director of the Africa Sustainable... 

New defence review needed to tackle widening SANDF funding and capacity gaps

In late January, in fighting in the city of Goma and surrounding districts, in North Kivu province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 14 South African soldiers were killed. The... 

International investors showing interest in South African PGMs – Baxter

Southern Palladium executive chairperson Roger Baxter has reported that interest in investing in South African mining projects is re-emerging on North American bourses. He was talking to... 

Sasol seriously working on biofuel projects, especially for mining applications

South African petrochemicals giant Sasol is actively examining second-generation biofuel feedstocks – that is, energy crops – assured the group’s Sustainable Carbon Solutions Head, Ken Sarman, on... 

Renewed concerns about SA aviation infrastructure

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has again expressed frustration and concern about repeated failures in South Africa’s aviation infrastructure. It has pointed out that Airports... 

2024 set a new record for air cargo demand – IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the global representative body for the airline industry, has reported that 2024 was a record year for air cargo, beating the previous... 

EIB to fund 3 satellites for broadband in developing countries

EIB Global, the extra-European arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), has signed a loan agreement with Luxembourg-based satellite-enabled connectivity and content solutions provider SES, to... 

UCT researchers discover giant radio galaxy

Scientists from the University of Cape Town (UCT), using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array in the Karoo, have discovered a rare giant radio galaxy (GRG). They have named it “Inkathazo”,... 

Youth encouraged to expand their skills for the future of mining

In an era of rapid technological change, how can young people entering the mining and minerals sector "future-proof" their skills? This was the question posed on Thursday in the final session of... 

International investors showing interest in South African PGMs

Southern Palladium executive chairperson Roger Baxter has reported that interest in investing in South African mining projects is re-emerging on North American bourses. He was talking to... 

Barrick Gold reaffirms its commitment to sustainability

Global gold and copper miner Barrick Gold Corporation was committed to sustainability, highlighted the company’s group sustainability executive Grant Beringer. He was speaking at the annual Digby... 

Sasol seriously working on biofuel projects, especially for mining applications

South African petrochemicals giant Sasol is actively examining second-generation biofuel feedstocks – that is, energy crops – assured the group’s Sustainable Carbon Solutions Head, Ken Sarman, on... 

Mine closure needs to be thought of, from the very start of a project

In an era concerned with ensuring sustainability in all things, the issue of mine closure and land rehabilitation and reuse has become a major concern. It was a topic for discussion by a panel at... 

South African mining making progress, but headwinds remain, says Minerals Council CEO

South Africa had made significant progress in moving away from the difficulties the country faced a year ago, particularly regarding energy supplies and transport difficulties, highlighted Minerals... 

Mining still major contributor to South African economy

The South African mining industry contributed 6% of the country’s total nominal GDP during the first three quarters of last year. In money terms, this amounted to R432.7-billion. So highlighted... 

Airbus outsprints troubled rival Boeing in 2024 airliner deliveries

The depth of the issues facing US aerospace giant Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes business, and the scale of the lead taken by its arch-rival, Europe-based Airbus, came sharply into focus with the... 

Aviation manufacturers’ supply chain issues hitting the world’s airlines

The severe supply chain issues currently afflicting both airframe and aero engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is having a noticeable effect on the world’s airlines, the International... 

IAEA, Anglo American partner to combat soil salinisation using nuclear science

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that it is partnering with Anglo American, and in particular the latter’s Crop Nutrients business, to undertake research intended to... 

Space-based mining risk assessment system for junior miners receives UK funding

US-based artisanal and small-scale mining support services and product marketing company Makor Resources and UK-based environmental data collection tools provider AUYAN have announced that they... 

IAEA, Anglo American to cooperate on research into stopping soil salinisation

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced that it is partnering with Anglo American, and in particular the latter’s Crop Nutrients business, to undertake research intended to... 

Rethinking of training for energy transition urged

South Africa has to focus on developing top-level human resources in order to ensure that the country minimises mistakes and project failures during the just energy transition (JET). So cautioned... 

Sustainable aviation fuels output growing but long journey ahead to meet agreed goals

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) generate much lower carbon emissions, across their entire lifecycle, than conventional jet fuels. SAF can reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 80% compared with... 

UK to back rocket engine technology development in SA

The UK government is providing R2-million to fund a cooperative space propulsion technologies programme between the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the University of Glasgow. The funding is... 

African maritime transport showing good development

Africa has registered some impressive progress in the shipping sector, United Nations Trade and Development (Unctad) has reported, in its 'Review of Maritime Transport 2024'. From the first half of...