Новости за 25.11.2021

There is no reason why Eskom cannot return to a situation where it can be a credible, reliable supplier of reasonably priced electricity, Sir Mick Davis said on Thursday. “Eskom is a resolvable problem, said Davis, a former Eskom CFO and now back in critical metals mining in the interests of global climate change abatement.

The South African Capital Equipment Export Council (Saceec) on November 25 hosted the 2021 Exporter of the Year Awards, announcing pumps manufacturer RNE Pumps as the exporter member of the year. Other finalists in this category were joining solutions manufacturer Swagefast, minerals processing equipment manufacturer Consulmet, mixing and pumping company Afromix and conveyor specialist Brelko Conveyor Products.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that government will not allow itself to be “short-changed” or lumped with conditions that will undermine its developmental objectives when negotiating the details of an $8.5-billion climate-finance package with developed countries over the coming months. Responding to questions in Parliament on the issue, including one posed by Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, Ramaphosa said that South Africa’s negotiating stance would be premised on ensuring that the... Читать дальше...

Financial services company Nedbank on November 25 launched its revised corporate social investment (CSI) strategy, which will focus on the green economy elements of agriculture, water, energy and waste, in recognition that a green economy approach is a key enabler of economic growth, social upliftment and inclusivity, while protecting the country's natural ecosystems, said Nedbank group market and corporate affairs group executive Khensani Nobanda. "Building a green economy is the only viable path to a resource-efficient... Читать дальше...

Development finance institutions the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) have jointly launched a 12-year, €81.5-million initiative that will unlock €163-million of investment to support private sector investment in fragile contexts across Eastern and Southern Africa. The investment initiative will catalyse investment that enhances financial and social inclusion, and is expected to support entrepreneurs in remote regions, startups led by women and young people... Читать дальше...

Energy solutions companies Probe Corporation and Sinetech have joined forces to offer a complete range of solutions for the solar and broader renewable energy market. Probe acquired a 51% stake in Sinetech in October.

South African companies spent an estimated R10.3-billion on corporate social investment (CSI) this year, representing a 7% decrease in real terms from the R10.7-billion spent on CSI in 2020. This is according to CSI consultancy Trialogue, which released its findings in its latest yearly Trialogue Business in Society Handbook.

Trading giant Vitol Group agreed to buy Vivo Energy in a deal valuing the fuel retailer at about $2.3-billion. The deal will bring Vivo assets back in house for the oil trader, which sold shares in the retailer in 2018 in what was one of the biggest initial public offerings on the London Stock Exchange that year. The offer shows Vitol is willing to spend to find outlets for its traditional fuels amid the energy transition.

A specialist mining law firm, which prefers people to paper, has created an outsourced compliance solution for Africa’s mining industry. NSDV will not simply rely on the paper trail when a client calls with an issue, but instead phone, WhatsApp, or drive there and chat to the officials.

The National Nuclear Regulator on November 23 and 24 hosted public hearings into the Thyspunt nuclear installation site licence application made by power utility Eskom, during which the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) highlighted its support for the installation. The corporation said a nuclear power project could contribute to the country’s security of electricity supply at a low cost and provide stable employment over the lifetime of the plant.

Chinese vehicle manufacturer Chery is officially back in South Africa. The local arm of the group this week launched the Tiggo 4 Pro, with a choice of four derivatives, two petrol engines and three transmissions.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a new five-year strategy to increase water security and foster sustainable, green and inclusive growth and development in Africa. The new Water Strategy for 2021 to 2025 ‘Towards a Water-Secure Africa’, approved on November 17, guides the bank’s implementation of its Policy on Water, which was approved earlier this year, helping it expand its role as the continent’s partner, while promoting integrated development and management of the water sector.

Rare artefacts have been discovered in the Polihali Dam basin during the archaeological excavations underway as part of implementing the Cultural Heritage Management Plan under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II. On 17 November 2021, an intact pot (moritšoana) dating back to the nineteenth century was discovered, in an upside-down position, during an ongoing excavation of a site locally known as Langalibalele’s (sunny day) Shelter, at Ha Rafolatsane, along the Sehonghong river in the Mokhotlong district.

Technology group Wärtsilä now has 600 power plants commissioned in 46 African countries. The group first began operating in Africa in Tanzania in 1975. Since then, the group has delivered more than 600 installations, supplied power plants in 46 countries, generating 25% of the national electricity supply in over 25 countries, it notes.

Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront is set to get a new desalination plant to ensure a fresh water supply at the tourism hotspot during any future crisis affecting South Africa’s second-largest city. Growthpoint Properties Ltd., the country’s biggest listed real estate firm, received approval for the 3.3-megalitre facility and construction will begin in the first quarter of next year, according to a statement on Thursday. The project should be complete by 2024, the Johannesburg-based company said.

JSE-listed construction group Stefanutti Stocks says its results for the six months ended August 31 was negatively affected by civil unrest earlier in the year at the group’s coastal and inland operations, resulting in damages and delays to 17 projects. The direct financial impact of this was R8-million for which the company is assessing possible claims.

A new variant of the virus that causes Covid-19 has been discovered in three countries, including South Africa. Ten cases have been reported so far. Known as B.1.1.529, it has 32 mutations in the spike protein – the part of the virus that latches onto human cells, which most vaccines target. Mutations refer to individual changes in the virus' genetic code.

The national flag carriers of Kenya and South Africa, Kenya Airways (KQ) and South African Airways (SAA), on Wednesday signed a strategic partnership framework agreement. The agreement was signed in Johannesburg during the State visit of the Kenyan President to South Africa. KQ is a public private partnership while SAA is entirely state-owned. This new agreement follows on from a Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the two airlines just two months ago. That was intended to promote the exchange between them of expertise and knowledge... Читать дальше...

A new multimillion-dollar capital raise will enable WIOCC to accelerate its growth across Africa while introducing a new investor into the company. Verdant Capital advised WIOCC on an $80-million equity capital raise, $75-million of which was invested by CAPE IV, a fund managed by African private equity fund manager African Capital Alliance.

Naamsa | The Automotive Business Council says it welcomes the announcement of the next step in government’s clean fuels programme, set to become effective in September 2023. The Department Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) earlier this year gazetted the introduction of the next phase of the Clean Fuels Programme – CF2 – in South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair an inter-Ministerial committee that is being established to coordinate further work on the country’s just transition plan, as well as the R131-billion climate-finance offer made to South Africa at the recent COP26 climate gathering. Following a briefing on the outcomes of the Glasgow summit by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy this week, Cabinet welcomed what it described as the “historic Just Transition Partnership” established with France... Читать дальше...

As the uMhlathuze Water Stewardship Partnership (Uwasp), focused on the Mhlathuze River Catchment on the north-east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, about 180 kms north of Durban, celebrates its fifth year, the development of a complementary, transformative catchment-wide monitoring tool is underway. Uwasp, which was established after a major drought in 2016 and the need for a collective response in the region, has done significant work since inception and now plans to bolster the visibility of water information... Читать дальше...

South African food producer and fashion retailer AVI Ltd said on Wednesday it is in talks with Oreo cookie maker Mondelez International regarding a potential sale of its snacks and biscuits business. The Choice Assorted biscuits maker had been hinting since September that it had entered into negotiations, without providing a name of the other party or any details.

In this opinion article, Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking Transaction Services divisional executive Ian Carter and Nedbank Business Banking Integration executive head Poovendran Naidoo write that the expectations of business clients when it comes to banking have changed and that banks need to respond appropriately.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies South Africa has achieved broad-based black economic empowerment level 1 status, a goal it had been working toward since expanding its operations in the country through the 2017 acquisition of Neotel. “This is an excellent achievement for us, which we do not take lightly. We will continue providing all our stakeholders with the excellent service associated with our brand while we continue to participate in South Africa’s transformation agenda. As a leading technology player in the industry... Читать дальше...