Funding for the R2.5-billion construction of the Mintails tailings project has been completed, with Pan African Resources managing to capitalise on the current attractive rand gold price to secure the final component of the full funding package without any dilution to its shareholders. “We’re excited to commence with the project’s construction in the next months,” [...]

Labour union the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has expressed its support for Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s pro-coal stance, alleging “coercion” efforts to move away from the carbon-intensive fuel are driven by an “anti-fossil fuel agenda”. As he has done on numerous occasions, Mantashe reaffirmed his strong pro-coal convictions most recently at [...]

Standard Bank says it is at the ready to support renewable energy and infrastructure projects. The bank, which this week delivered record 37%-higher headline 2022 earnings of R34.2-billion and paid the highest dividend in its 161-year history, expresses the view that meaningful structural reform and an improvement in the electricity supply in South Africa could lift [...]

Consumer goods company Premier Group has released an abridged pre-listing statement relating to the admission to listing of the ordinary shares of Premier Group in the “Food Products” sector of the main board of the JSE with effect from the start of business on March 24. In connection with the admission is an offer to [...]

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says it will carry out blasting to remove rock outcrops near the Camperdown Overpass bridge at 14:00 on Tuesday March 14 for the construction of the stormwater system, as well as pavement layers. This forms part of the ongoing N3 upgrades from the Cato Ridge Interchange to [...]

Following the declaration of a National State of Disaster to address the energy crisis, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel on March 8 published draft exemptions from certain parts of competition laws, to enable companies to collaborate on energy matters. Patel has, in terms of Section 10(10) of the Competition Act, gazetted a notice [...]

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the appointment of Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as Minister of Electricity in the Presidency; immediate steps taken by the Minister to diffuse possible tensions with Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe; what South Africans can expect from Ramokgopa in the weeks and months [...]

Amid the current energy crisis, declared to be a state of disaster during last month’s State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, battery energy storage systems (BESS) could potentially provide some near-term relief in areas of grid constraint, while also allowing households some protection against loadshedding. The ‘Understanding Energy Storage’ handbook – released [...]

Precious and green metals mining company Sibanye-Stillwater said on Thursday that it had completed consultations to minimise job losses in restructuring its South Africa gold operations. The consultation took place under Section 189A (S189) of the Labour Relations Act, 66 of 1995, amid ongoing financial losses at the Beatrix 4 gold mine shaft in the [...]

Following numerous appeals to national government to act against a scourge of violence and intimidation against Intercape in recent years, the long-distance coach company has now called on newly appointed Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga to urgently intervene. This follows a renewed attack on the bus operator by taxi operators.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels could result in an environmental hazard in 30 years’ time, as only 10% of the most widely used panel types are recycled in the US, while this data is unknown in South Africa, Stellenbosch Business School Institute for Futures Research (IFR) research assistant Francois Pretorius says. South Africa imported more than [...]

A circular economy in the concrete and cement industry could produce €110-billion in net value and avoid or mitigate two-billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 2050, driven by the capture, storage and use of CO₂ from cement and concrete production, the re-use of energy from waste material and the recirculation of materials and [...]