Новости за 19.04.2021

The JSE-listed coal-mining company Wescoal is looking to possibly becoming a broader energy company in which coal remains a substantial but reducing component alongside other energy pursuits such as renewables, Wescoal interim CEO Robinson Ramaite said on Monday. Outlining the company’s major challenges in an interview with Mining Weekly, Ramaite revealed that it is “more and more likely” that Wescoal – which now has five operating coal mines after last month delivering the first coal from Moabsvelden ... Читать дальше...

Private real estate development company Gateway Real Estate Africa will build its first commercial office building in Ghana at Appolonia City, which is an inclusive mixed-use new city 20 km from the centre of the capital Accra. The first phase of the project will cost about $4-million.

In a weekly letter to the nation, on April 19, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed progress made over the past year in turning around the performance of the Port of Durban. He also indicated that R100-billion of investment would be needed over more than ten years to transform the port and expand its container-handling capacity to more than 11-million units, from the current 2.9-million units.

MTN Rwandacell will list on the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE) on May 4 following approval by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) and the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE). The listing of MTN Rwanda will see over 1 350 886 600 ordinary shares with a nominal value of Rwf1 each being registered with the RSE at an initial listing price of Rwf269 an ordinary share.

Africa- and UK-focused energy company Kibo Energy on April 19 said it had started an extensive due diligence process for the potential acquisition of all or part of a prospective portfolio of renewable energy projects in the UK. The portfolio comprises several standalone renewable energy projects, focusing on the generation and/or storage of electric power from renewable generation sources.

Singapore-based investment company Pavilion Capital has become a limited partner in venture capital manager AP Ventures’ Fund II. In welcoming Pavilion Capital as its eighth limited partner, AP Ventures and its portfolio companies “look forward to benefitting” from working with a Singapore-based investor focused on the North Asian and Southeast Asian economies, states AP Ventures.

Following an expression of interest entered into between the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) to identify opportunities for collaboration this year, Sansa recently hosted the CDC at its Space Operations facility, in Hartebeesthoek, near Magaliesburg, in Gauteng. A high-level delegation of the CDC, led by CEO Khwezi Tiya, were hosted by the CEO and executive team from Sansa. The visit included discussions about future programmes and projects the organisations would be involved in.

There is no time or cost framework yet for the proposed pilot project by Sasol and Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) to develop a green hydrogen mobility corridor, says the local arm of the Japanese car maker. “We have just started this exploration, hence no time and cost information may be made available at this juncture."

The sixth Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba, organised by industry body the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa), will be held on May 24 and 25 and will seek to find solutions to the challenges facing South Africa's manufacturing sector. The indaba's theme is “Surviving Tough Times and Growing the Economy” and takes place at a time when the country's manufacturing industry, and the metals and engineering subsector in particular, is struggling to survive following years of rising energy costs... Читать дальше...

An energy expert has written to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office to highlight the expensive shortcomings of the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP), which he says should be replaced by a materially larger, yet more cost-effective, procurement programme based primarily on renewables and storage, rather than power ships. DPWI, together with The Presidency, is overseeing the implementation of the Strategic Infrastructure Projects... Читать дальше...

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has successfully conducted a major helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification campaign using its A400M new-generation airlifter, thereby also completing the majority of its development and certification objectives. Airbus’ Defence and Space division aims to achieve full helicopter air-to-air refuelling certification later this year with the conclusion of all mandatory night operation trials for the A400M.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Ingenuity technology demonstrator drone helicopter successfully made its first flight on Mars on Monday. The flight took place at about noon, South African time. This marks a very major milestone in the history of flight: the first time a human aircraft has flown in the atmosphere of another planet. It must also be remembered that Mars has a very thin atmosphere, making flight there much more difficult than on Earth. The autonomous ...

Since 1994, manufacturing has shrunk as a proportion of gross domestic product, from 21.5% to 13.3%, independent organisation Business leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso notes in her weekly newsletter. In part, she says this deindustrialisation stems from a rationalisation of the Apartheid economy, which was inefficiently producing goods behind sanctions barriers.

South African Internet of things (IoT) solutions provider Beyond has recently entered into a long-term agreement with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) to supply its remote cold chain monitoring solution in support of Unicef's global vaccination programme. Unicef will be responsible for distributing Covid-19 vaccines to 92 low- and lower-middle-income countries, while also supporting the procurement of vaccines for more than 97 upper-middle- and high-income nations.

Eskom Holdings said it was urgently seeking new providers of technical support after Oracle Corp’s South African unit withdrew its services over a payment dispute. The State power utility has been in a disagreement with Oracle, which initially claimed Eskom underpaid it by about R7.3-billion, before reducing the amount to R380-million. Eskom is only prepared to pay R166-million, spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said by phone Monday.

Imperial has closed a deal on the sale of its interests in its South American shipping business to Hidrovias do Brasil for up to R1.45-billion, depending on certain conditions, such as water levels. The sale comes as Imperial increases it focus on its gateway to Africa strategy.

Australia-based mine and civil contracting company RUC Cementation Mining Contractors (RUC) – a a division of South Africa-based engineering company Murray & Roberts (M&R) – has been awarded a R2.3-billion shaft lining and equipping contract at Newmont Corporation’s Tanami Expansion 2 project, in Australia’s Northern Territory. RUC is a diversified underground mining contractor with an extensive portfolio of completed and current projects throughout Australia and Asia-Pacific.

Amendments to the Plastic Carrier Bags and Plastic Flat Bags Regulations have been gazetted by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy on April 7, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act.  The amendments emanate from a review of all policies affecting plastic bags in the country and included inputs from stakeholders directly and indirectly affected by policies relating to plastic bags and their management at post-consumer stage.

Iron-ore prices in Asia pushed higher on Monday as strengthening global steel demand buoyed sentiment, and as Chinese steel mills continued to ramp up output despite the government's scrutiny of their compliance with stricter anti-pollution rules. The most-traded September iron ore on China's Dalian Commodity Exchange ended the daytime trading session 0.8% higher at 1 060 yuan ($162.70) a tonne, rising for a third consecutive session.

Trade union UASA says it is “bitterly disappointed” by State-owned defence company Denel’s policy change proposals concerning the benefits paid out to employees under certain circumstances. UASA says Denel has set up a meeting with organised labour for April 19 to discuss the proposed policy changes.

Thomas Kgokolo, newly appointed interim CEO of South African Airways, says he accepted the job as it is an opportunity to use his experience and skills to rebuild a sustainable airline that all South Africans can be proud of. SAA has been in business rescue since December 2019 and the rescue practitioners are finalising the process so that the airline can be handed back to the interim board. Kgokolo has aviation industry experience, having worked as the interim CEO of Air Traffic Navigation Services. Читать дальше...

Emerging market green bond issuance will more than double by 2023 to exceed $100-billion, according to two of the biggest players in the sector. The World Bank’s International Finance Corp. and European asset manager Amundi, who together created the world’s largest green bond fund targeting emerging markets, predict sales will rise rapidly from the $40 billion seen in 2020. Issuers will be spurred on by the prospect of cheaper borrowing costs for such debt, they said in a report.

Natural gas is falling out of favor with emissions-wary investors and utilities at a quicker pace than coal did, catching some power generators unaware and potentially leaving them stuck with billions of dollars of assets they can’t sell. Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are among the banks that strengthened their financing restrictions on thermal coal under pressure from shareholders wanting to avoid the fuel, and the expectation is that gas is next. Executives at some western European... Читать дальше...