Новости за 22.10.2021

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has officiated the sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority’s (W&RSETA'S) first skills development centre, in Groblersdal, Limpopo, this week. The R146-million centre supports objectives of the National Skills Development Plan to provide infrastructure development at technical and vocational education and training colleges to produce artisans.

A three-year wage agreement has been signed by parties to the Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry (BCCEI), which will see workers getting a wage increase of 4.8% during the first year to the end of August 2022 and 0.75% above consumer price inflation for the following two years to the end of August 2024. Employer organisations the Consolidated Employers Organisation and the South African Forum of Civil Engineering Contractors and trade unions the Building, Construction and Allied... Читать дальше...

Over a billion people on the African continent either have no access or only limited access to energy, while South Africa faces electricity supply constraints. Energy management and automation company Schneider Electric, says it has always been in the business of developing energy efficient products.

There are different approaches companies and industries will take in terms of their strategy execution and business managers shared some insight into some tools and methods in this regard during a panel discussion on the second day of the Africa Strategy Conference. RES Corporation MD Nick Jackson said that, from the company’s strategy framework perspective, it typically takes a 30-year outlook, which is then brought down to five and then one year.

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has appointed the highly experience Smunda Mokoena as chairperson of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). The appointment became effective on October 20 and Mokoena’s term is expected to continue until September 13, 2024.

Ongoing analysis and work done by various groups into the so-called Just Energy Transition (JET) points to the potential creation of 300 000 direct, indirect and induced jobs in South Africa’s electricity sector over the next decade, Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter said on October 22. He added that this figure was over and above accounting for job losses in the coal sector as a result of the looming shuttering of some coal-fired power generation units.

The South African government is set to establish a high-level technical workstream, which will work under the direction of a Cabinet subcommittee, to evaluate possible concessional finance offers that could be made in support of the country’s just energy transition strategy. The workstream is yet to be formally assembled, but Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy says it will include finance specialists from the National Treasury, the Department of Public Enterprises, the Department of Forestry... Читать дальше...

The Competition Tribunal of South Africa on October 22 said it has unconditionally approved transport logistics company Super Group's acquisition of wholesale courier services company Regional Wholesale Service (RWS). "The tribunal has concluded that the merger is unlikely to lead to a substantial prevention or lessening of competition in any relevant market in South Africa. This is because the merger parties’ combined market shares in the affected markets will be relatively low and other players... Читать дальше...

Daimler Trucks and Buses Southern Africa (DTBSA) has handed over a fleet of 90 Mercedes-Benz Actros 2645LS trucks to Bakers South Africa (SA).  This purchase adds to Bakers’ current fleet of nearly 650 vehicles, which comprises 100% of Mercedes-Benz Truck products.

Nonprofit organisation GreenCape and tourism, trade and investment promotion agency Wesgro have teamed up with several partners to pivot support to local green small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) so that they can continue to build international relationships and secure trade opportunities, despite travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions and Covid-19-related lockdowns. The other partners include research institute Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (Tips), Tralac, Trade Advisory and the International Cleantech Network.

South African Breweries (SAB) will soon produce its Castle Lite beer using renewable electricity, which will reduce the electricity drawn from the grid and reduce interruptions to production. Further, SAB is committed to fully switching to renewable energy sources by 2025.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) and its N3 toll concessionaire (N3TC) recorded almost R100-million in losses and damage during the July civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, and some other parts of the country, says outgoing Sanral CEO Skhumbuzo Macozoma. He says Sanral suffered R50-million in lost toll income during the period, with N3TC losing R30-million in toll income.

Industry organisation Agri SA has expressed concern about rising input costs for the agricultural sector, echoing concerns raised by the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) earlier this week. Agri SA says the cost of direct materials, labour and other overheads are particularly worrying, while Agbiz mentioned how fuel costs are gnawing at agribusiness’ profitability.

The Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) has reported that food inflation in South Africa last month was higher than expected, at 6.6% year-on-year. Food inflation contributed 1.1 percentage points to the consumer price index headline inflation figure of 5% for the month. On the other hand, in month-on-month terms, September’s food inflation rate showed zero increase over the figure for August (which had also been higher than expected). “Numerous driving factors highlighted in our previous inflation briefs remain relevant... Читать дальше...

Swiss pharmaceutical company Acino and multinational pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare and its subsidiaries have signed an agreement for Acino to acquire six South African medicines for more than R1.8-billion. The acquired medicines are used for the treatment of gastroenterology, erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases.

Construction and equipment manufacturer Caterpillar and equipment distribution multinational Tractafric have installed 7.5 MW of battery energy storage capacity at gold miner Barrick Gold's Kibali mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Tractafric solution is operational and deploys the battery energy storage and Caterpillar bi-directional power inverters (BDP) to provide grid stability. The Caterpillar Master Microgrid Controller seamlessly integrates up to 45 MW of power generated... Читать дальше...

JSE-listed Rebosis Property Fund has entered into a sales agreement with Ulricraft, which could result in the company disposing of its commercial office portfolio for R6.3-billion. Ulricraft is a special purpose behicle (SPV) wholly owned by Vunani Capital Partners (VCP), a company listed on Equity Express Securities Exchange.

The Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED), alongside development partners Mogale City and Lepharo, on October 21 unveiled the Mogale City Incubation Hub in the heart of the Munsieville township, in Krugersdorp. The hub is focused on incubating small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) active in brick and block manufacturing and services, which particularly serve construction and mining value chains.

The Hydrogen Society Roadmap (HSRM), which was approved by Cabinet on September 14, provides a “clear indication” of how hydrogen and fuel cell technologies could be a “game changer” for the South African economy, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande noted during the Hydrogen Economy Indaba – Series 3 event on October 21. He added, however, that, before South African could derive the full benefits of a hydrogen economy, several challenges had to be overcome.

US major airliner manufacturer Boeing has forecast that African airlines will need to acquire 1 030 new airliners, worth $160-billion, over the next 20 years. This prediction was contained in the company’s latest “Africa Commercial Outlook” report. Further, the associated aftermarket business, including maintenance and repair, would be worth another $235-billion, taking the complete African airline market opportunity between now and 2040 to a total value of $395-billion. “Africa has healthy opportunities to expand travel and tourism... Читать дальше...

Bernard Swanepoel has been appointed an independent nonexecutive director of construction and engineering group Aveng’s board, with effect from October 20. He has also been appointed to the risk committee, the safety, health and environment committee and the investment committee.

Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the final countdown to COP26, the South African government's negotiating stance and its plans to canvass a just energy transition financing facility.

The South African Post Office has called on qualifying households to apply for a free government-subsidised decoder, known as a set-top box (STB). The call comes as the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies accelerates the country’s switch from analogue to digital television (TV) transmissions.

Mine operators need to take hydrogen and fuel cells very seriously as a pathway to decarbonisation, a webinar hosted by law firm Fasken heard this week. “There’s no pathway to zero carbon that does not include hydrogen and fuel cells,” H2GO Canada CEO Bob Oliver stated emphatically in response to Fasken hydrogen and energy advisory team co-lead Dan Brock, who moderated the webinar in which Bimaadzwin CEO Isadore Day,Change Energy principal Rymal Smith and Change Energy principal Al Davidson also took part.

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