The Los Angeles fire disaster and the many fires we regularly experience in South Africa are a powerful reminder of the need for fire-resistant building materials and methods across the housing and building spectrum. Addressing this is a catalytic collaboration between Cape Town-based company nonCrete and global architecture, design and construction entity the Institute of Technology [...]

A fire that shut Sasol’s Natref oil refinery leaves South Africa with only one crude-processing plant running, highlighting a growing reliance on fuel imports. The January 4 blaze at the facility — the nation’s only inland crude refinery — has caused concerns over jet-fuel supply to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, the continent’s biggest. That’s [...]

Localisation policies and incentives for manufacturers must be restored and expanded to shield the South African economy from further de-industrialisation, with the closure of steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa's Vereeniging and Newcastle plants threatening localisation, jobs and the broader industrial economy, says industry organisation the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (Memsa) interim CEO Juliana [...]

In a voluntary production update, Northam Platinum has reported burgeoning half-year performance from the ramping-up platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome Eland mine. Eland’s chrome concentrate production soared by 113.1% to 115 387 t in the six months to the end of last year, the first half of Northam’s 2025 financial year (H1 FY2025) compared [...]

The State-owned Central Energy Fund (CEF) wants to manage petrochemical assets at the nation’s biggest fuel-storage hub after it bought the country’s largest fuel refinery that’s adjacent to the facility last year. The CEF purchased the 180 000 bl/d Sapref plant from Shell and BP and has asked the National Department of Transport to allow [...]

JSE-listed Life Healthcare Group, through its wholly owned indirect subsidiary in the  UK, Life Medical Group Limited (LMGL), has entered into binding agreements with Lantheus Neurology UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lantheus Holdings for the sale of 100% of the issued share capital of LMI Limited and its subsidiaries, collectively known as Life Molecular [...]

A well progressing Tharisa mine underground definitive feasibility study accompanied by early works capital deployment is reported by Johannesburg- and London-listed platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome company Tharisa Minerals in its latest quarterly production report. In addition is ongoing appraisal of value engineering opportunities at the Karo platinum project in Zimbabwe, where work packages [...]

The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has reported that it has received assurances from the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) that risk mitigation measures are being implemented, by the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref), to ensure the uninterrupted supply of jet fuel to OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA). This followed a [...]

A turnaround in the finances of South Africa’s Eskom Holdings has won praise from investors but they are keeping their eyes on one issue — the company’s struggle to recoup about R95-billion in unpaid electricity bills from cities and towns across the country. It’s a debt pile that continues to mount as municipalities themselves fall [...]

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that government will use the upcoming G20 summit to profile and actively promote South Africa as a tourism destination of choice, saying the tourism sector has significant potential. South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2024 and will host the G20 Leaders’ Summit later this year. Ramaphosa [...]

Namibia’s Mines and Energy Ministry has downplayed the impact of energy company Shell recent $400-million write-down on its offshore oil discoveries, stating that the country it remains committed to developing its hydrocarbon discoveries. “We are dedicated to progressing these opportunities with the right partner and right investment commitment,” the government stated on Friday, adding that [...]

India aims to produce five-million tonnes of green hydrogen year by 2030 under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced. As a first step, two green hydrogen hubs will be established, with inaugural projects in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, worth about $27-billion.