A new World Bank report argues that South Africa can raise growth and employment by pursuing four priorities aimed primarily at stimulating market competition and bolstering the efficiency of public institutions and spending. Titled ‘Driving Inclusive Growth in South Africa’, the first priority listed in the report is for the country to improve the efficiency of public spending, while leveraging private resources to enhance economic growth and job creation.
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The growth of renewable power in South Africa’s energy mix, and infrastructure development programmes, such as the State-owned Eskom Transmission Development Plan (TDP) 2024 to 2034, will help to provide demand for steel components from the country’s industries, several steel industry experts say. In the study titled Price Benchmarking on Steel Towers in South Africa, published in September, local industrial ecosystem development organisation the Localisation Support Fund (LSF) showed that locally produced steel can be competitive with imports from China and Türkiye, but requires stable and predictable demand, says LSF CEO Irshaad Kathrada.
With its roots in Europe, which is leading the Fourth Industrial Revolution, drive technology and automation specialist SEW-EURODRIVE has the necessary experience to meet the growing demand for automation and digitalisation solutions from sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA’s) printing and packaging industries. “There’s currently a significantly high demand and we’ve seen a good positive move over the past few years, especially with our new MOVI-C modular automation system. Demand for automation and digitalisation is considerable now and because our research and development (R&D) department is in Germany, we are well-prepared to meet the local demand,” says SEW-EURODRIVE electronics business development manager Willem Strydom.
Newly formed joint venture (JV) Methanox has secured a £1.5-million investment from platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome concentrates producer Tharisa towards accelerating methane emissions reductions from natural-gas-powered ships. The Methanox JV is the brainchild of London’s Queen Mary University renewable energy senior lecturer Dr Patrick Cullen and chemical engineering programme director Dr Paul Balcombe, along with University College London inorganic chemistry Professor Andrew Beale and London-based climate technology laboratory Prosemino.
German development bank KfW has approved a R2.8-billion concessional loan for the City of Cape Town, which will use the funding to strengthen its electricity infrastructure and integrate renewable-energy supply. The loan conditions were not disclosed, but the financial terms were described as “favourable”, as well as supportive of South Africa’s just energy transition.
Cape Town is set to accelerate its switch to green energy and limit reliance on erratic supply from the state power utility after winning a €150-million ($157-million) loan from Germany’s KfW Development Bank. The loan, which was agreed in December and will be announced this week at a ceremonial signing, will be used to bolster the power grid of South Africa’s second-biggest city to allow the transmission of more renewable energy, the bank said. It could also be used to help the municipality generate more of its own power, it added.
In this opinion article, Energy Council of South Africa CEO James Mackay argues that the recent shock return of Stage 6 loadshedding does not signal a return to the dark days of 2023. However, he also warns that without accelerating reforms and investment, South Africa could face a renewed crisis as early as 2028.
A US initiative to increase electricity supply in Africa has been dismantled by the Trump administration after more than a decade of work, according to people familiar with the matter. Almost all of Power Africa’s programs have been listed for termination and the majority of its staff fired, said the people who asked not to be identified as they aren’t authorized to speak to the media. Some remaining programs, particularly those aimed at connecting projects with US companies, may be retained under other US agencies, they said.
Power utility Eskom suspended loadshedding at 05:00 on February 26, following the recovery of generation capacity and the replenishment of emergency reserves. “We maintain our guidance that loadshedding is largely behind us due to structural improvements in the generation fleet. Our focus remains on eliminating loadshedding as a structural constraint on the economy.
The G20 Energy Transition Work Group will have its inaugural meeting this week to discuss the energy priorities that South Africa is seeking to place on the international agenda during its G20 presidency. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has confirmed that the meeting will take place virtually on February 27 and 28 and will be attended by senior officials from all G20 countries, including a senior official from the US Department of Energy.
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