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... 

Africa well-positioned to play a key role in a future hydrogen economy

Africa was well placed to participate in the emerging global hydrogen economy, South African Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted on Tuesday. He was addressing the... 

Aviation company to expand its facilities at Lanseria Airport

South African business and general aviation aircraft sales, service and parts company Absolute Aviation has announced a major expansion of its facilities at Lanseria International Airport, in... 

Skills development and the renewable energy sector’s worker needs misaligned in South Africa

That South Africa, in general, and the renewable-energy sector in particular, need skills development, is a truism. But the requirements of the renewable-energy industry and the output of skills... 

South African defence group unveils trio of vehicles

South African private-sector defence group Milkor has launched three vehicles at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2024 exhibition, being held at Air Force Base Waterkloof, in Centurion, just south... 

South African company turning its landfills into eco-friendly spaces

Turning the landfills it manages into green landfills is a priority for South African waste management group EnviroServ. This was highlighted by group operations director Nico Vermeulen, at the... 

SA canned deciduous fruit sector’s ability to hold its own in global markets declining

South Africa’s canned deciduous fruit sector has, with one exception, been on a declining international competitiveness trajectory since 2016, a PhD research project at Stellenbosch University has... 

Business guide to water resilience unveiled in Cape Town

Western Cape provincial trade, investment and tourism promotion agency Wesgro and nonprofit green economy solutions facilitation company GreenCape have jointly launched the CEO Guide to Water... 

What is the new Defence Minister to do about the SANDF?

That the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is badly underfunded, and is in a state that could reasonably be described as verging on crisis, is almost universally accepted among all those... 

South Africa’s pilot carbon capture scheme officially inaugurated

The Council for Geoscience (CGS) on Monday announced that the country’s first carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) research site had been officially inaugurated. This marked the... 

Freeze-drying could boost food sustainability and security

Food freeze-drying technology has the potential to help create sustainable food practices, increase food security and cut food waste (caused by decay), even in rural areas of Africa. That is the... 

SA eying astronomy hub status – Nzimande

South Africa is seeking to become a global hub for astronomical facilities, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande told delegates to the XXXII General Assembly of the... 

Defence industry association welcomes efforts to boost South African defence spending

The South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association (AMD) has welcomed the commitment made, earlier this month, by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military... 

Rolls-Royce receives UK agency grant for space nuclear reactor project

UK-based global major propulsion and power (including nuclear power) systems group Rolls-Royce has announced that it has been awarded £4.8-million by the UK Space Agency, to further develop and... 

US company successfully executes regional-range test flight with hydrogen-electric air taxi

US-based electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi company Joby Aviation announced on Thursday that its hydrogen-electric demonstrator air taxi had successfully completed a 523-mile... 

First SKA dish assembled on site in the Karoo

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory (SKAO) has announced that the first telescope dish for its SKA-Mid array has been assembled on site, in the Karoo region in the Northern Cape province.... 

ACSA seeking to grow its air cargo business at OR Tambo

The State-owned Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is to step up its activities to stimulate air cargo traffic growth, particularly at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA). This...