UK announces further funding for small modular nuclear reactor programme

The British government last month announced the next phase in its programme of funding the development of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), which forms part of a larger programme to develop... 

National nanotechnology centre developing prototypes, commercialising technologies

The National Centre for Nanostructured Materials (NCNSM) at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research plans to commission its third pilot plant during the course of this year (2018). The... 

Space mining is getting close to reality

Space mining – the mining of bodies and other worlds in outer space for minerals and other natural resources – remains within the realm of science fiction. For now. But, during the younger years of... 

South African regional operator orders two new airliners

Privately-owned South African scheduled and non-scheduled domestic and international operations airline CemAir has concluded a $66-million deal with Canadian company Bombardier Aerospace for two... 

Local pharma firm targets cost drivers to ensure competitiveness

Cost-competitiveness is the key element in the market strategy of local pharmaceuticals company CPT Pharma (CPT standing for Chemical Process Technologies). The company opened its R50-million... 

CSIR national nanomaterials centre celebrates decade of achievement

The National Centre for Nanostructured Materials (NCNSM) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, having being launched in 2007. It... 

CSIR nanotechnology centre: foundations laid, future challenging

A key success of the National Centre for Nanostructured Materials (NCNSM), a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial... 

European technology groups cooperating on electric propulsion for airliners

European aerospace giant Airbus, British high performance power systems company Roll-Royce and German engineering and technology business Siemens have partnered to develop a hybrid-electric... 

Exploration for, and production of, valuable minerals in Mozambique continue to advance

There have been a number of recent developments involving smaller mining companies, both local and foreign, in Mozambique recently. These involve both exploration and production activities.  

Vale confirms Moatize production target, while govt seeks artisanal mining cooperatives

A senior executive of Vale Moçambique, the Mozambican subsidiary of Brazilian major mining group Vale, has told local journalists that the company’s production target for its Moatize coal operation... 

CSIR’s new antenna concept promises savings for wireless sensor networks

A team at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research's (CSIR's) Meraka Institute has developed a novel concept to extend the power consumption of fixed wireless sensor networks. This was... 

Nasa outlines the developments to watch in civil aeronautics

The global aviation industry continues to be a rapidly growing sector, far from reaching maturity. This was stressed at the recent International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR) open session at... 

SANDF orders field kitchens from Saab

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has awarded a contract for mobile containerised kitchen systems to aerospace, defence and security group Saab. The contract will be executed by Saab... 

Necsa shuts down key unit because of compliance failure

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) has executed an immediate shut down of its NTP Radiochemical Facility, because of non-compliance with licensing conditions. NTP produces... 

Active pharmaceutical ingredients pilot plant marks important step for SA industry

A pilot plant for the manufacture of generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) has been officially opened in Pretoria. A R50-million joint project between local company CPT Pharma (CPT... 

Modest recovery in South African commercial aviation activity consolidated

The Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (Caasa) has reported that its Aviation Activity Index (Caai) for the third quarter of this year had “consolidated its modest recovery from a... 

Various Moz mining projects making progress

The Mozambican Government has approved a resolution authorising Capitol Resources, a subsidiary of British miner Baobab Resources, to undertake mining and related operations in the Chiúta district... 

Agreement on environmental monitoring of Karoo radio astronomy area

Two of the country’s top research institutions, the recently-established South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (Sarao) and the South African Environmental Observation Network (Saeon) have... 

High-tech SA firm aiming to revolutionise production of electronic components

A small South African high-technology company is seeking to revolutionise the production of a key category of components for aerospace electronics and radars by using additive manufacturing (more... 

New technologies promise to improve air traffic management

Air traffic control/air traffic management (ATC/ATM) agencies need to embrace new technologies in order to further improve air safety. This was stressed by Civil Air Navigation Services... 

Moz Minerals and Energy Minister targets corruption in her department

Mozambique’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Letícia Klemens, is considering revising the country’s minerals licencing process, in order to minimise, or even prevent, possible corrupt... 

Nigeria, Russia sign nuclear agreements

Nigeria has signed agreements with Russia covering the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant (NPP) and a nuclear research reactor and associated research facilities, Russia’s... 

Large national manufacturers not main determinant of aerospace success

Germany serves as a leading example of a country that has a major and successful aeronautical industry but does not have a single wholly- or predominantly-German owned aerospace original equipment... 

Lanseria to be site of new airport city development

Gauteng Provincial Premier David Makhura has highlighted the importance of Lanseria International Airport (LIA), and planned projects around it, for the development of the north west quarter of the... 

Irish heavy mineral sands miner plans to expand its Mozambique operation

The Mozambican newspaper “Notícias” has reported that heavy mineral sands miner Kenmare Moma Mining, a subsidiary of Irish company Kenmare Resources, was to undertake public consultations this... 

Airbus’s A330neo type makes first flight, while Air Mauritius accepts its first A350XWB

The first development aircraft in Europe-based major aerospace group Airbus’ new A330neo (new engine option) family made its maiden flight on October 19, from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France.... 

Global airline association predicts air passenger traffic to double by 2036

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has forecast that 7.8-billion people will travel by air in 2036. This will amount to a nearly 100% increase over the figure of 4-billion air... 

Vale’s Moatize coal operation’s Ebitda falls significantly quarter-on-quarter

The adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of the coal business of major Brazilian mining group Vale came to $46-million during the third quarter of this... 

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is upon us and SA industry must adapt

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, is now underway. And there is no way that South African industry can avoid or escape it. Industry 4.0 embraces mobile connectivity, artificial... 

New border agency should have own budget – Defence Minister

South Africa's soon-to-be-created Border Management Authority (BMA) will "hopefully" be funded by a new budget line, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told "Engineering... 

MeerKAT telescope participates in birth of new era of astronomy

South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array, although still under construction, has successfully participated in an unprecedented international collaboration that has opened a new era in... 

Vale’s Moatize operation continues to hit new production highs

Brazilian mining group Vale’s Moatize coal operation in the Tete province of Mozambique has again set a new quarterly production record. This was revealed by the miner in its recently released... 

Gautrain chief on the four pillars of a successful transport megaproject

The successful implementation of transport infrastructure megaprojects rest on four equally important “pillars”, Gautrain Management Agency CEO Jack van der Merwe told the recent Sixth Council for... 

IDC will invest in infrastructure that unlocks industrialisation

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), South Africa’s development finance institution which exists to fund entrepreneurs and projects in the industrial sector, also seeks to use investments... 

CSIR is looking to transform how infrastructure is built in South Africa

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) continues to research innovations and initiatives to transform the local construction industry. This was reported by CSIR Principal... 

Local defence industry needs both local and export orders

Local orders are key to winning export contracts in the defence sector, Denel Land Systems (DLS) CEO Stephan Burger affirmed at the recent Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Conference in Pretoria. He... 

Not a cent available to implement the Defence Review, Wakeford warns

The South African defence sector needs to bring home to the country the importance of defence for the technological, innovation and economic development of the country. So affirmed Armscor CEO... 

South Africa’s space sector hobbled by lack of support

South Africa's space sector has been hobbled by lack of adequate support from the South African Government. This was made clear during a panel discussion on space technology at the recent... 

SA manufacturers still operating with Third Industrial Revolution models

South African industry needs to find ways of adapting and using the technologies driving the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (or Industrial Revolution 4.0) to remain globally competitive yet... 

Angola grants gold exploration concession as it seeks to diversify economy

A public/private partnership (PPP) has been granted a concession to prospect for gold in the Angolan province of Cabinda, the Macauhub news agency has reported. The PPP is named Mongo Mongo...