Новости за 14.04.2021

Under the Forestry Sector Masterplan, which emphasises forestry skills development, about 80 students will participate in the programme at the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FPM Seta) and the universities of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria. They will start as soon as the enrolment processes at the institutions are completed, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment deputy minister Maggie Sotyu said in her keynote speech at the Forest 21 workshop virtual launch event on April 14.

Infrastructure investing, when done sustainably, can deliver significant economic benefits to a country and for generations to come, but fund managers have to take a holistic view to ensure they make investments into sustainable infrastructure projects, says financial services group Sanlam Investments head of credit Ockert Doyer. Sanlam Investments is convinced that allocating capital to sustainable infrastructure projects will continue to result in great risk-adjusted returns for investors, while... Читать дальше...

South Africans have until April 30 to comment on the recently gazetted specifications for general service lamps. The specifications are aimed at improving the safety, performance and energy efficiency of lightbulbs approved for use in South Africa by phasing out inefficient and environmentally harmful lighting products, the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI) said on April 14.

Barberton should be the prime target to get South African gold mining going again, with geologists having an input at all stages of development and mining cycle. “The main area that I think we should be concentrating on now is on Barberton. I think it has some exceptional geology,” said highly experienced exploration geologist Graham Gavine in a Zoom interview with Mining Weekly on how South Africa’s major exploration potential can be unlocked. (Also watch attached Creamer Media video.)

Information and communication technology services group EOH reported in its interim results for the six months ended January 31, 2021, that it had stabilised its businesses, achieved an operating profit for the first time in two years and narrowed its headline loss a share. It achieved an operating profit of R59-million for the interim period, compared with a R915-million loss reported for the six months to January 31, 2020.

Nonprofit organisation the Small Business Institute (SBI) on April 14 released four additional papers in its series of six aimed at the promotion and development of small business in South Africa, during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. The other two papers in the series were released previously.

While the auction of high demand spectrum has experienced another setback and is not likely to be allocated this year, much progress has been made compared with a year ago. The release date of high demand spectrum remains uncertain, owing to several legal battles over the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (Icasa’s) invitation to apply (ITA).

Although it is now well known that Covid-19 has subdued global economies and put strain on consumers’ willingness to splurge on non-essential items, professional services firm Deloitte shines a light on how consumer behaviour is being shaped currently and how they plan to spend money going into the future. Deloitte conducted a series of surveys since the onset of Covid-19 from the start of 2020.

South Africa’s Hydrogen Society Roadmap (HSRM) will be presented for Cabinet approval either before the end of the year or early next year and should outline how the country’s resource advantages should be leveraged to produce green hydrogen, as well as to integrate hydrogen-related technologies, such as fuel cells, into various sectors of the economy. Department of Science and Innovation chief director for hydrogen and energy, Dr Rebecca Masemurule says the HSRM is likely to emphasise the centrality... Читать дальше...

The rarity of platinum, combined with a decline in supply and overwhelming demand, is a formula for a build-up of a “perfect storm”, says independent precious metal consultant Dr David Davis, who says that this will lead to significant upward pressure on the price of platinum, to which investors have already begun to react. Given that platinum plays a critical role in the reduction of global warming and its essential role in diverse industrial and medical applications, global mine supply of the precious... Читать дальше...

French oil major Total has decided to postpone its application for additional drilling in a South African offshore gas block, a letter seen by Reuters from the consultancy conducting the environmental and social assessment showed. The delay is a potential blow to South Africa as it seeks to reduce its reliance on coal and increase the use of natural gas and renewables in its energy mix.

The more stringent lockdown in December 2020 and the dampening effect it had on trade conditions, gave way to a more optimistic outlook in February and March, says the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci). The Sacci Trade Activity Index (TAI) improved to 49 in March, from 40 in February and 34 in January.

Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS), in Cape Town, has started testing two fully electric buses in an effort to determine the viability of introducing the technology to its fleet, says GABS company engineer Gideon Neethling. The tests will continue until January next year.

GE, PowerChina hydro project on Zambia-Zimbabwe border delayed The developers of a $4-billion hydropower plant on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border delayed the project until next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Brazilian motor and controls manufacturer WEG’s South African subsidiary Zest WEG group has introduced its new WEG IE4-rated super-premium efficiency motor to the South African market. Natasha Odendaal tells us more.

Personal care products manufacturer KAS Africa has secured a $10-million investment from Mauritian investment company TRT Investments for the acquisition of a new plant and equipment to build capacity and capability. TRT has acquired a 49% stake in KAS Africa, which also now has access to working capital facilities put in place by TRT Investments with support from the African Export-Import Bank.

Under siege Seriti Resources whose impending acquisition of South32 coal mines has raised calls for an investigation has dismissed the complaints against it as "vague" lacking substance. The black-owned coal miner has found itself embroiled in a storm after trade unions  flagged some aspects of the transactions as questionable.