Новости за 16.04.2021

Business for South Africa (B4SA) has outlined its strategy for a steady upscaling of the private sector’s capacity to administer the Covid-19 vaccine and position the country’s public and private health sectors to reach a daily vaccination rate of more than 250 000 by September. B4SA health working group chair Stavros Nicolau acknowledged on Friday that public scepticism persisted over the ability of South Africa to raise its daily vaccination tempo to between the 250 000 and 300 000 being targeted during Phase 2 of the roll-out... Читать дальше...

Clean technology and renewable energy trends are a clear investment play and offer opportunities for investors seeking to make a difference or appreciable investment growth, says asset and investment company Foord Asset Management portfolio manager Brian Arcese. He adds, however, that the strategy needs long-term investment.

A multi-party work team has been established to tackle key issues related to port performance, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced. He made the announcement during a visit to the Durban port on April 15.

Development finance institution (DFI) the African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged its support and expertise to increase the local production of vaccines and therapeutics to achieve greater public health security in Africa. This in line with calls made by Africa Union (AU) heads of State during a vaccine development and manufacturing capacity conference.

The partnership between the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) and the City of Cape Town to upgrade and maintain the city’s estimated 57 000 units of rental stock will help to provide decent, secure and affordable accommodation to the people who live and work in the city, Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said on April 15. The NHFC will provide finance and the appointment and management of the database of contractors and suppliers, as well as provide business and technical support to them.

City of Johannesburg utility City Power will embark on a three-week programme to patrol and clear electricity lines servitudes of encroaching objects, it said on April 15. An investigation conducted by City Power into the cause of frequent power outages affecting the north-eastern corridors, especially the Greenstone area, found that, while most of the outages were owing to vandalism and cable theft, a worrying number were owing to faults on the overhead lines caused by encroaching objects, including trees and buildings.

Research agency Fitch Solutions says global investment of more than $21-billion toward the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain shows the urgency of market expansion. With Western Europe claiming the biggest share of investment, it reflects the focus on producing EVs in the region and the growing role of carmakers in the supply chain.

A new survey of a very ancient technology – stone tools – has provided evidence that supports the theory that a gender-based division of labour emerged with the adoption of farming, at least as far as Europe is concerned. A team of four scientists from Spain, France and the UK, led by Alba Masclans of the Spanish National Research Council, analysed more than 400 stone tools collected from Early Neolithic graves in Central Europe. The Neolithic period, popularly known as the New Stone Age, was the last period of the wider Stone Age. Читать дальше...

A survey and subsequent report ‘Survey of Impact of Covid-19 on African Trade Finance’ by the Africa Export-Import bank (Afreximbank), shows that outflows from emerging market economies in the first quarter of 2020 accounted for more than $100-billion. The report was a joint production between the Afreximbank, the African Development Bank, Making Finance Work for Africa and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, to look into the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sectors of health, economic and financial systems globally.

Hino South Africa (SA) has retained its leadership position in the DATATrack comparative truck industry study. The local arm of the Japanese truck maker achieved top spot in the first quarter study’s overall combined ratings, and also topped all three categories – sales, parts and service.

Addressing an Eyes and Ears (E2) meeting this week, independent organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) national project manager Fouché Burgers said the partners in the initiative had been working hard over the past few years since the initiative was piloted in Gauteng in 2018. It was since successfully implemented in other provinces with the aim of beefing up this collaborative partnership and reducing crime to facilitate a safer South Africa, Burgers noted.

South Africa’s central bank is likely to maintain its accommodative monetary policy stance to support the economy for as long as it has room to do so, according to Governor Lesetja Kganyago. “As long as inflation is remaining contained, the central bank would have no reason to remove the accommodation that we are currently providing,” Kganyago said Thursday in an interview.

The French Ministry of Defence has ordered eight more H225M helicopters and a second VSR700 uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) from Airbus Helicopters. The order is part of the French government’s national aeronautical industry stimulus plan, announced last year, to help the sector weather the adverse economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The H225M is the latest iteration of Airbus Helicopter’s Super Puma family. It is an 11 t medium-sized multimission helicopter with a range of 700 nautical miles. Читать дальше...

South Africa’s post-Covid-19 Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan includes a green economy component, of which the circular economy is a key component, to ensure environmental protection and the sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. “The plan promotes waste recycling, renewable energy generation, revitalising our ecotourism and forestry sector, as well as the retrofitting of government buildings to improve climate resilience and save on water and energy consumption,” Forestry,... Читать дальше...

Aim-listed hydrogen technology developer AFC Energy has entered into a strategic partnership with technology group ABB regarding the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. ABB is investing £3.25-million into AFC Energy, as a commitment to the international e-mobility market to set new standards in zero-emission high-power EV charging.

The Biden administration is considering singling out methane for significant reductions as part of a pledge to cut greenhouse gases in advance of a climate summit next week, according to two people familiar with the matter. President Joe Biden is already expected to unveil an ambitious goal for slashing all greenhouse gases before the April 22 virtual event, which dozens of nations are slated to attend. But activists have pushed the administration to go further when it comes to methane, since it... Читать дальше...

Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about Sasol and Air Liquide's plans to jointly procure renewable electricity and Sasol's ambitions to shift to producing green hydrogen and powerfuels.

A video round up of this week’s magazine, highlighting our cover story, features and Business Leader.

An informal ‘contract’ signed at a conference, on a serviette, can hardly be viewed as a binding document, but somehow it saw Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) chairperson and MD Dr Robert Cisek make his way to Kariega (formerly known as Uitenhage) to take over the reins at the local arm of the German carmaker. “I’ve travelled through every country in Asia, but I’ve never been to Africa – only Kariega, twice, as head of production strategy for Volkswagen,” says Cisek.