Новости за 23.09.2021

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged communities to support the development of the N2 Wild Coast toll road (N2WCTR) project, which includes two mega bridges, stating that stoppages are counterproductive and not only costs contractors, but the entire country. “The very purpose they [infrastructure projects] are being built is to allow people, goods and services to reach you, our communities. We all lose when the projects are forced to stop or even have to shut down,” the President said on Thursday... Читать дальше...

Earlier this month, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) recommended that an investigation be terminated into the imposition of safeguard duties on certain steel sections manufactured at the Highveld Structural Mill. The application was lodged in June 2020 by Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium Corporation Limited, Highveld Structural Mill and ArcelorMittal South Africa. Engineering News approached ArcelorMittal South Africa for comment on the decision and the steel producer provided the following response... Читать дальше...

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has commended Cabinet’s decision to approve a reduced target range for greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in South Africa, noting that it is “a marked improvement” from the previous target range proposed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). These targets make up South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Climate Agreement, and as such form an integral part of South Africa’s climate change mitigation response.

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has appointed two deputy presidents to share the responsibility of leading the organisation towards the upcoming local government elections and the elective Salga national conference. Following a vacancy created by the departure of former executive mayor Thembi Nkadimeng, Lejweleputswa District Municipality executive mayor Sebenzile Ngangelizwe and Beyers Naude Local Municipality mayor Deon de Vos will take over.

JSE-listed Altron said the Competition Commission has approved its acquisition of digital signature services company Lawtrust, which will create the largest digital and information security services provider in Africa. The R245-million deal will see Lawtrust being integrated into Altron, which also acquired identity management market leader Ubusha Technologies in 2019 to form Altron Security. The acquisition of Lawtrust positions Altron Security as a one-stop shop for digital and information security... Читать дальше...

The South African Reserve Bank has kept the repo rate unchanged at 3.5%, in line with economists' expectations. During a media briefing on Thursday, Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said that all members of the Monetary Policy Committee were in favour of keeping the repo rate on hold. According to the central bank, core inflation is revised higher to 3% in 2021, from 2.9% estimated previously. Headline consumer price inflation for 2021 has been revised slightly higher to 4.4%, up from 4.3%.

Jubilant South African Airways (SAA) staff at the country's biggest airport broke into song and dance on Thursday as the airline took to the skies for the first time in around a year. State-owned SAA's longstanding financial woes were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and it halted all operations last September when it ran out of funds. The company exited administration in April thanks to another massive government bailout.

Minerals Council South Africa has signalled its support for South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy, but is concerned that the immediate risks associated with the country’s more ambitious decarbonisation targets are not being adequately addressed. CEO Roger Baxter told participants to a virtual Presidential Climate Commission dialogue on the just transition on Thursday that systemic policy interventions, and other support, were required to drive a “risk-managed decarbonisation journey for South Africa”.

There has been some progress in sustainability in the cement and broader infrastructure industry, with several innovations by companies and countries, but more should be done, says consultant Tony Hadley. Speaking on day two of the Sustainability Summit on September 22, during the Sustainable Infrastructure Seminar in Partnership with PPC, Hadley African founder said that complacency and resisting change was one of the biggest issues in the broader construction sector.

If China puts the same financial heft behind green energy in emerging nations as it has in developing fossil fuels projects overseas, it’ll be a step change for global investment in renewables. President Xi Jinping told the United Nations General Assembly this week that China will accelerate support to developing nations to install low-carbon energy sources as the nation also halts the building of new coal power overseas.

US aerospace giant Boeing has forecast that Chinese airlines will have to acquire 8 700 new aircraft between now and 2040. These purchases would have a total value of $1.47-trillion. This prediction formed part of the manufacturer’s latest Commercial Market Outlook (CMO). The 2021 CMO reflected both the recovery of the Chinese air transport market from the Covid-19 pandemic and Boeing’s expectation for the country’s future economic growth. The group predicted that China would have an average annual... Читать дальше...

Freight transportation arrangement company Grindrod on Thursday announced that it had sold its remaining shareholding in Grindrod Shipping for $24.8-million (R368.2-million). The sale shares amount to about 9.6% of Grindrod Shipping’s total issued share capital.

Sasol has announced revised and accelerated decarbonisation commitments. Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer unpacks the significance of the 2030 target and the group’s promise to be net-zero by 2050.

It is important to note that the renewable energy focus of coal company Exxaro is not a new focus but a re-focus on a strategy that has been in evidence for more than ten years, says Exxaro Energy MD Roland Tatnall. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange company’s strategy just unveiled has been the culmination of steps taken by the company over the past decade to become a global renewable energy solutions provider by 2030.

Europe-based global major aerospace group Airbus announced on Wednesday that it had initiated a project to flight test what it described as an “extra-performing wing”. The platform for these tests will be a modified Cessna Citation VII business jet, which will be used to integrate and fly “breakthrough wing technologies ... in representative flight conditions”.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has launched a digital toolbox with more than 200 leading practices and case studies to boost sustainability and reduce emissions of cities. Cities have a crucial role to play in the race to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The platform focuses on solutions that address clean electrification, efficiency and smart infrastructure across sectors including energy, buildings and mobility, the WEF said in a statement this week.

South Africa's steel and engineering sector body says the decision by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) to down tools indefinitely in October could lead to a situation that's worse than's 2014 four-week strike that cost the economy R6-billion. Numsa secretary general Irvin Jim said on Tuesday that its membership opted to embark on a strike from October 5, after wage talks in the steel and engineering sector failed to reach a resolution.

There are a myriad of challenges facing the ocean economy, but these are not insurmountable, and can be mitigated and managed to ensure sustainable oceans. This is according to speakers on the second day of the Sustainability Summit on September 22, during the Oceans Economy panel discussion.

Africa’s food systems are at cross-roads, faced with the pressure of producing more for a growing population, while also tackling increasing levels of malnutrition. Taking place a few days before the United Nations Food Systems Summit as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, a food security session during Sustainability Summit 2021 unpacked how more sustainable and healthy food systems in Africa can be achieved.

As industrial facilities and systems become increasingly connected to capitalise on digital capabilities, countering cybersecurity risks is becoming part of industrial best practices and digital technologies are being subjected to the same rigorous safety and security standards as other industrial technologies. The increase in cyberattacks globally has contributed to a similar increase in attacks against industrial facilities, emphasises industrial automation and information multinational Rockwell... Читать дальше...