In an effort to support African and Caribbean economies affected by the ongoing Middle East conflict, multilateral trade finance institution African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) reports that it will make available $10-billion under its Gulf Crisis Response Programme (GCRP). The bank states that the programme aims to limit economic shocks affecting countries that rely on fuel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), fertilisers and food imports from the Gulf region. It does this by providing short-term foreign exchange and liquidity support to member States.
Securing reliable, long-term gas supply is the main constraint to expanding gas-to-power and industrial energy solutions in South Africa, says electrical power solutions provider Clarke Energy commercial leader Kara Neale. She states that demand is not the fundamental issue, rather it is the availability of sufficient volumes of gas – an issue highlighted by recent hostilities between Iran and the US.
South Africa’s heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration sector is undergoing a significant transition as the phase-out of ozone depletion substances and phase-down of high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants accelerates, says refrigeration gas services company A-Gas. This shift, driven by global environmental regulations, affects sectors such as cold chain logistics, automotive and manufacturing, with A-Gas head of environmental services Michael Labacher noting that regulatory requirements are mandating a move towards lower GWP and natural refrigerants.