Новости за 15.09.2021

The 12 special economic zones (SEZs) in South Africa remain relatively attractive destinations owing to the financial and non-financial incentives and support services they offer to specific industrial segments. However, they are also developing additional services and offerings to meet demand from companies in new industrial segments, including renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties’ distributable income, on a per share basis, declined by 19.1% to 148.1c for the financial year ended June 30, mainly as a result of 408-million new shares having been issued in an oversubscribed equity raise of R4.3-billion in November last year. During the same period, Growthpoint delivered 6.2% growth in revenue and R5.1-billion in distributable income.

South African energy storage company BlueNova Energy on September 15 launched its new office and factory space in Pretoria East.  The official opening of the new Intelligent Energy Storage Systems (iESS) production facility marks a critical milestone towards achieving BlueNova’s production goal of producing 200 MWh monthly for 2022.

Producer responsibility organisation (PRO) for the plastic industry Polyco is launching a municipal-focused recycling strategy, aimed at drastically improving the country’s recycling rates. To implement this “first of its kind” strategy, Polyco on September 15 said it would work with municipalities to invest in recycling infrastructure, innovations and to implement consumer education and awareness campaigns.

In this opinion article, Nedbank head of agriculture John Hudson writes about how logistics constraints are hampering the growth of South Africa's citrus sector.

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote is in talks with some of the world's biggest oil traders to help finance his mega refinery project outside of Nigeria's commercial centre Lagos, sources with knowledge of the matter said. The 650 000 bl/d refinery, once complete, will be the continent's largest plant and redraw major trade flows of crude and fuel in the Atlantic basin.

Youth leaders, civil society groups, trade unions and grassroots movements under the Climate Justice Coalition have expressed dissatisfaction with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and will, as a result, hold planned nationwide marches, it said on September 15. The coalition bemoaned that the DMRE “has continued to approve gas and coal projects while disregarding any just energy plan”.

The South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI), headed by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), does not intend to directly take on the major international quantum technologies competitor countries. “South Africa cannot compete with the billions of euros invested in quantum technology development in other countries,” notes Wits School of Physics Structured Light Laboratory director and WitsQ director Distinguished Professor Andrew Forbes. “That is why we have to be strategic by bringing together our quantum community ... Читать дальше...

Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth on September 14 unveiled Transnet’s first Covid-19 vaccination train – the Transvaco, in what Transnet says is its commitment to support the national vaccination effort and assisting South Africa in achieving community immunity. The new train, which will operate simultaneously with Transnet’s existing primary healthcare trainsets – Phelophepa I and II (which started operating in 1994), will extend the reach of government’s inoculation effort to reach communities... Читать дальше...

Hyundai and Mini have walked away with top honours in the 2021 National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey (DSI) for passenger and light commercial vehicles, while Mitsubishi was the most improved brand. Gold winners in this segment were Suzuki, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Lexus, Volvo, Kia, BMW, Renault and Ford.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) appeals to employers to resolve any errors on their submitted Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) portal to enable the fund to finalise any outstanding claims. The UIF notes that claims cannot be finalised until certain corrections are effected, which can only be done by the applicants.

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) has awarded R8-million in seed funding to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) to implement Phase 1 of the South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI). Wits had already set up its own WitsQ quantum research initiative and is the designated host, administrator and funds manager for SA QuTI. “This initial grant from the DSI is received with deep gratitude,” acknowledged Wits Research Development director Dr Robin Drennan. “Quantum technologies... Читать дальше...

The water levels across Limpopo’s reservoirs recorded a slight decrease to 80.7% this week, compared with last week’s 81.3%, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) said. While the water levels are higher than the 62.3% reported during the same period last year, the DWS said in its weekly state of reservoirs report that the lack of rain and scorching temperatures are affecting the water levels.

Information and communication technology (ICT) group Nokia and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive digital transformation and the knowledge economy for socioeconomic development across Africa. The two parties aim to leverage the power of ICT, including fifth-generation networks, to connect the unconnected and identify innovative use cases and business models.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) board has approved a $50-million Trade Finance Unfunded Risk Participation Agreement (RPA) facility between the AfDB and Standard Chartered Bank. The agreement is expected to boost intra-Africa trade, promote regional integration and contribute to the reduction of the trade finance gap in Africa, in line with the implementation aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The parties will share the default risk on a portfolio of eligible trade... Читать дальше...

The generation of solar power by top-performing gold mining company Pan African Resources is expected to lower reliance on power utility Eskom by 30%, Pan African CEO Cobus Loots said on Wednesday, when the London Aim- and JSE-listed company reported record profit after tax and proposed its highest ever dividend. In response to Mining Weekly on the company’s renewable energy plans, Loots said that as a group, Pan African’s focus is to function off the national electricity grid during daytime hours. Читать дальше...

Water use licence (WUL) application delays can result in infrastructure projects missing development deadlines, developers incurring additional costs, and in some extreme cases, may prevent projects from being developed at all. This can result in a cost burden on developers who have incurred costs developing, permitting and bidding projects, and have a broader impact on the South African economy which desperately needs expedited infrastructure development to take place.

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) EPP has managed to grow its distributable earnings a share for the six months ended June 30 by 54% year-on-year to €0.0366. During the six months, it also added four retail parks to its portfolio.

In this opinion article, Duferco MD Ludovico Sanges argues that the Steel Master Plan is a good start, but that certain key issues still need to be addressed if the embattled downstream steel industry is to be revived.

The Biden administration will withhold $130-million worth of military aid to Egypt until Cairo takes specific steps related to human rights, a State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's move is a break with his predecessors' policy of overriding a congressional check on military aid to Egypt. In the past, an exception was granted to free up Foreign Military Financing for Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government, worth $300-million this fiscal year, on the basis that... Читать дальше...

South Africa's FirstRand will end funding for new coal-fired power stations and coal mines and has lowered the cap on its coal exposure as part of moves to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, it said on Wednesday. South Africa's banks are the biggest on the continent, with the likes of FirstRand major lenders to fossil fuel projects, especially in oil and gas, and are increasingly under pressure from environmental groups to turn off the taps.

The Absa Manufacturing Survey for the third quarter recorded a slight dip in overall sector confidence, with business confidence falling by five points to 41. “With continued uncertainty regarding Covid-19 lockdown restrictions during the quarter, as well as the unrest experienced in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the drop in confidence is not too surprising.

A suspicious built structure, a tunnel and equipment erected with the intent to siphon petroleum products from a Transnet pipeline were demolished on September 14 after a joint security operation led to the discovery of the building on a vacant piece of land in Phola, in Mpumalanga, Transnet Pipelines CE Michelle Phillips says. It is alleged that the structure and associated infrastructure was built for the specific purpose to steal petroleum products from the Kendal-Witbank pipeline.

JSE-listed real estate investment trust Hyprop Investments says it has made good progress in executing its strategy for the year ended June 30. It has moved ahead on all its priorities, including strengthening the balance sheet, advancing the implementation of its non-tangible strategy with the successful opening of the SOKO District at Rosebank Mall and repositioning its South African portfolio by rolling out its “Golden Thread”.

A port that runs efficiently “can bring prosperity all around”, says Grindrod Freight Services CEO Xolani Mbambo. South Africa’s major ports are, however, currently ranked close to the bottom of the list in terms of global competitiveness.