Новости за 25.02.2021

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) announced on Thursday that the Energy Regulator, at its meeting held on February 25, approved the issuance of a generation licence for a 40 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant to be developed at the South Deep gold mine, in Gauteng. The licence was granted to GFI Joint Venture Holdings Proprietary Limited and Gold Fields Operations Limited (South Deep Joint Venture) to operate a generation facility to be constructed in Westonaria, south-west of Johannesburg.

A R20-million upgrade project of the Ngqura Container Terminal's automated gate system will reduce truck turnaround times and improve traffic flow, State-owned Transnet Port Terminals Cape Terminals managing executive Wandisa Vazi says. The automated gate system was introduced in 2009 when operations began at the terminal, and enables truck drivers to interact with the system without human interaction.

UK-based global major aerospace and defence group BAE Systems (BAES) has reported strong full-year results for 2020. The group is active in the aerospace, maritime (including shipbuilding), armoured vehicle, cyber and intelligence, and electronic systems domains of defence. Only a very small part of the group’s business is concerned with commercial aviation. During last year, the group achieved an operating profit of £1.930-billion, an increase of £31-million from the £1.899-billion obtained in 2019. Читать дальше...

National standards body the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has published the amendments to the national standard SANS 490, which specifies the requirements for all alcohol-based liquid, gel, foam and aerosol hand sanitisers, driven by global guidelines such as the requirements specified by the World Health Organisation and locally by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). “The amended SANS 490 provides greater and more detailed requirements for hand sanitisers and hand rubs. Читать дальше...

The South African Mint has released what it says is a rare, intriguing trove of century-old South African gold coins – Kruger ponde – that were discovered in a Swiss vault. The Mint is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the South African Reserve Bank.

Industries and business have responded with mixed reviews to the Budget Speech delivered by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni on February 24. Industry organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) posits that it showed the fruits of a better-than-expected economic recovery and tax collection over the past several months.

The 12J Association of South Africa has expressed disappointment at the decision by the National Treasury not to extend Section 12 J of the Income Tax Act beyond June 30. Association chairperson Dino Zuccollo points out that this was announced in the National Treasury's 2021 Budget Review, on February 24, and that Parliament will now have to decide whether to accept that decision or take an alternate course of action.

The South African alcohol industry, including the National Liquor Traders Council (NLTC), South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba), Vinpro, the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), retailers and manufacturers, have noted their concern about Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s announcement in his Budget Speech 2021 that excise tax will be increased by 8%. The industry says this is above targeted excise duties for wine, beer and spirits set by Treasury.

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has appealed to the world’s governments to work with the global airline industry – for which Iata is the representative body – to prepare for the restart of international air travel, once it had been determined that national borders could be safely reopened. Currently, many countries had severe restrictions on such travel, in an attempt to contain the Covid-19 pandemic and especially the new variants of the disease. Iata believed that such ...

JSE-listed building materials company PPC reports it is making positive progress against key milestones of its restructuring and refinancing project, which is centred on implementing a sustainable capital structure and improving the investment prospects of the group. In South Africa, to date, the company notes that all conditions precedent relating to the renewal of short- and long-term facilities with its South African lenders, including the registration of security, have been fulfilled.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) mining and marketing company Implats is in the final stages of approving two exciting new platinum projects that tick all the boxes of the company’s strategic intent, CEO Nico Muller said on Thursday. The one project is a Merensky reef expansion project at the Two Rivers platinum mine, an opencast mine in Steelpoort, Limpopo, and the other with the expansion of the production capacity of the Bimha Mupani projects at Zimplats, in Zimbabwe.

Mahindra South Africa (MSA) says the multiyear agreement between itself and the SsangYong Motor Company (SYMC) has ended, which means that MSA will no longer act as the local distributor for SYMC, as from February 28. This marks the end of a multiyear agreement, during which MSA took over full responsibility for the SsangYong brand and its vehicles in South Africa.

The Department of Basic Education is making headway on the national rollout of coding and robotics, with Grade R to 3 pupils from 200 schools to participate in pilot programme using a draft curriculum this year. Grade 7 pupils from 1 000 schools will also be piloting the curriculum, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during the Education Lekgotla on February 25.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested into a Liquid Telecommunications subsidiary’s bond issue. IFC, playing an anchor role, subscribed to 16% of the bond, equivalent to $100-million, which was listed on Ireland's main stock exchange, Euronext Dublin on February 25. The issuance raised $620-million.

Technology investor Convergence Partners has entered into an agreement with Inseego to acquire 100% of Ctrack’s operations in Africa and the Middle East.  The transaction will be the maiden investment for its third fund, the Convergence Partners Digital Infrastructure Fund (CPDIF).

JSE- and LSE-listed packaging and paper group Mondi generated cash from operations of €1.48-million during the 2020 financial year ended December 31, 2020, which is down 9% on the year prior. Group revenue was also down 8% year-on-year, to €6.66-million, while operating profit decreased by 29% year-on-year to €868-million.

Platinum group metals (PGMs) mining and marketing company Implats is pursuing green hydrogen, greenfield exploration and carbon neutrality, the company made clear during question time after presenting a stellar set of high-dividend-yielding interim financial results on Thursday, which cut debt by R3-billion and increased net cash significantly. By financial year-end in June, the Johannesburg-listed company should be in its aspired financial position to allow it to divert increasing proportions of investment in growth... Читать дальше...

The Eastern Cape Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDCEC) has warned that the 15% electricity tariff increase, effective from April 1, will slam the brakes on the South African automotive supply chain's drive to achieve greater levels of global competitiveness. The AIDCEC says rising input costs could stunt growth in terms of volumes, particularly in exports, which, in turn, would make it difficult for the automotive sector to achieve its targets in terms of inclusiveness, localisation and job creation.

The representative body for the world airline industry, the International Air Transport Association (Iata), has become more pessimistic about the prospects for the sector during this year. Whereas, previously, it expected the airline industry to turn cash positive in the last quarter, now, it its latest forecast, it predicted that the sector would not turn cash positive until next year. Moreover, while Iata had previously forecast that the world’s airlines would burn $48-billion in cash this ...

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is establishing a separate unit – the High Wealth Individual Taxpayer Segment (HWI) – to focus on individual taxpayers with wealth and complex financial arrangements. The unit will initially be co-located with the Large Business and International Taxpayer Segment, and is designed to help Sars develop and administer a tax and customs system based on voluntary compliance.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), in partnership with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), has announced that their collaboration has resulted in the arrest of two suspects posing as technicians of the agency. The JRA has partnered with the JMPD to intensify law enforcement in the city’s roads through increased police visibility in hotspot areas, thereby reducing theft and vandalism of roads infrastructure.

South African Canegrowers (SA Canegrowers) has welcomed government’s decision to maintain the health promotion levy, or “sugar tax” at its current rate. The industry association says that, although it had called for a reduction in the sugar tax, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s 2021 Budget adds no additional obstacles to the “sticky path ahead” for the industry’s recovery and the one-million livelihoods that depend on the industry.

Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's 2021 Budget, which included a focus on the importance of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. Tax changes and better than expected debt and deficit projections also featured.

South African emerging domestic natural gas and helium producer Renergen earlier this month unveiled its Covid-19 vaccine transport solution, the Cryo-Vacc. Creamer Media journalist Simone Liedtke, who attended the unveiling event, tells us more.

Buoyed by the high rand platinum group metals (PGMs) basket price, Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) has posted a 328% increase in headline earnings and declared a record interim dividend of R7.9-billion on a strong production, safety and sales performance. Implats delivered stellar results for its half-year ended December 31 despite the challenges presented by navigating Covid-19, the JSE-listed company headed by CEO Nico Muller stated in a release to Mining Weekly.