Новости за 08.12.2021

Fewer than half of African countries recorded inclusive growth in the past 20 years, leaving 34% of households on the continent living below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could spur sustainable and inclusive growth on the continent, if stronger support measures targeting women, young traders and small businesses are implemented, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) 'Economic Development in Africa Report 2021' states.

Industry body the South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba) has acknowledged the announcement by government of a task team to make recommendations on vaccination mandates for specific activities and locations. The decision on vaccine mandates, like all Covid-19 responses implemented under the National Disaster Management Act thus far, are the preserve of the government, the organisation says.

UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce has reported that its hybrid-electric aero power and propulsion technology demonstrator, Power Generation System 1 (PGS1) had reached and passed the milestone of delivering more than 1 MW of power. This had been achieved only weeks after the start of the testing programme. “We’ve made a tremendous start to testing – reaching a megawatt is a great achievement,” enthused Rolls-Royce Aviation Futures Chief Project Engineer Adam Newman. “Now... Читать дальше...

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has finally initiated public consultations on Eskom’s 2022/23 revenue application, following a long delay that culminated in a December 3 court order instructing the regulator to make a tariff determination by no later than February 25. The paper has been released together with Eskom’s fifth multiyear price determination (MYPD5) revenue application, which covers a three-year period, but the adjudication will be confined to the coming financial year, in line with the High Court judgment.

Global energy and chemicals company Sasol has, through its Foundation and Research & Technology function, entered into two cooperation agreements with the National Research Foundation (NRF) to jointly sponsor and support South Africa’s next generation of science and engineering researchers. The first agreement relates to the joint implementation of the NRF-Sasol Foundation Scholarship Programme, which aims to bolster the number of science researchers from historically disadvantaged universities... Читать дальше...

The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) reports that it was informed on December 7 that its sixth-term council president Mashao Lawrence Lebea had died. He was inaugurated as ECSA president in December 2020, marking the start of a four-year term, with Refilwe Buthelezi serving as VP.

Telecoms company MTN Group has appointed Hermann Tischendorf chief technology and information officer for digital and fintech, effective December 1. MTN Group chief digital and fintech officer Serigne Dioum says the group is “delighted” to have a seasoned executive of Tischendorf’s calibre joining its digital finance team.

Jendamark Automation has installed a R3.2-million rooftop solar plant at its manufacturing facility in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape.  The system comprises 481 solar panels capable of generating up to 274.5 MWh of electricity a year.

There are several things that are impacting on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and funding for ESG measures, speakers outlined on day one of Fitch Ratings’ ESG Outlook Conference on December 8. Fitch sustainability director Nneka Chike-Obi said climate change was of importance for companies and ESG funders and that there is a split between adaption and mitigation financing.

The final strand of the Afri-Plastics Challenge, called Promoting Change and delivered by London-based innovation foundation Nesta Challenges, will begin accepting applications from December 8. This marks the last leg of the challenge after Strand 1: Accelerating Growth and Strand 2: Creating Solutions were launched in July and October, respectively.

South Africa’s Mpumalanga province can compensate for a large share of the job losses that will arise in its declining coal sector and lay the foundations for the creation of a new clean-energy hub for the country by scaling up investments in renewable energy and accelerating coal decommissioning, a new study shows. Published by the COBENEFITS project, which is financed via the International Climate Initiative, the study assesses the co-benefits of a transition from coal to renewable energy.

Afine Investments, which holds a portfolio of income generating immovable properties focused on the petroleum sector in South Africa, plans to list as a real estate investment trust (Reit) on the JSE on December 9.   The company was founded by Peter Todd, with strategic input from Mike Watters – both of whom are notable investors and operators in the Reit sector – with the purpose of creating a holding company for a Reit focussing on the petroleum sector in South Africa.

JSE-listed hospital and healthcare services company Netcare has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets, with its shares to be available for trade on the A2X from December 15. Netcare will retain its primary listing on the JSE and its issued share capital will be unaffected by its secondary listing on the A2X.

The Sendou coal-fired power project has started delivering commercial power to the national grid of Senegal after its successful recommissioning, investment company Barak Fund Management confirms. The project is a partnership between Barak, the Senegalese government and State-owned power company Senelec.

Development agency the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) has awarded a M131-million construction contract for upgrades to the Katse Village and increased capacity at Katse Lodge. The Katse Village upgrades contract is the first of four housing construction contracts to be awarded as part of the broader Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) Phase 2.

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) Business Confidence Index (BCI) declined by 2.1 index points to 92.8 in November, after having recovered slightly to 94.9 index points in October. The improvement in October was mainly driven by greater social stability and favourable developments with regard to global commodity prices and a more responsible economic and business approach to lockdowns in response to waves of Covid-19 infections.

Renewable power producer Scatec has been placed on global environmental nonprofit organisation Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP’s) prestigious A-list for its corporate sustainability efforts in tackling climate change The company is among a few high-performing companies out of almost 12 000 that were scored.

Japanese specialists have used satellite data to detect new locations in Guatemala City, the capital of the Central American state of Guatemala, which are at risk from sinkholes or landslides. The data was collected using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on satellites developed and operated by Tokyo-based enterprise Synspective. The operation was an information gathering and pilot project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project ran for three years, from July 2018 to June 2021. Читать дальше...

City Industrial Property’s flagship Belville facility and home to City Logistics in Cape Town, has achieved a 4-Star Green Star Custom Industrial rating and a Net-Zero Carbon rating from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA). “City Industrial Property is showing true leadership with this facility, and setting an example that others in the industrial property sector can follow.

The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy has resolved, in principle, on the terms of reference that will guide an inquiry into allegations of corruption and malfeasance during the process of appointing preferred bidders in the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP).
 
Eleven successful bidders were selected by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to provide 1 995 MW of additional electricity generation capacity through a variety of energy sources.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) says it is preparing for the resumption of the Shosholoza Meyl long-distance passenger rail service on December 15. The preparatory work follows the termination of the service at the end of March this year owing to Covid-19.