The Western Cape economy indeed had the potential to achieve “breakout growth” rates of 4%/y to 6%/y, and the provincial government was determined to achieve these rates, through the implementation of its Growth for Jobs (G4J) plan. So assured Western Cape Economic Development and Tourism Department Head Velile Dube in an address, hosted by the [...]

Sakatti, with its metal concentrations of platinum group metals (PGMs), copper, nickel, cobalt, and others, may be the site of the next greenfield project of diversified Johannesburg- and London-listed mining company Anglo American. Located in central Lapland in Finland, Sakatti’s polymetallic orebody is aligned to the critical minerals priorities of Finland and the European Union (EU). [...]

State-owned freight logistics group Transnet has confirmed that an open and transparent framework for granting private train operating companies’ third-party access to the South African railway network hitherto monopolised by Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) will come into operation in April next year. In unveiling a recovery plan for the embattled group, chairperson Andile Sangqu reported [...]

The long-term energy transition solutions on which South32 is focused are renewable energy and electrification. The Sydney-, Johannesburg- and London-listed diversified mining company has transitioned to 100% renewable electricity supply at Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile and is deploying AP3XLE energy efficiency technology at Hillside Aluminium in South Africa to deliver near-term reduction in [...]

Absent an equity injection or debt relief from government, Transnet chairperson Andile Sangqu says the State-owned entity will not be able to deliver on what he described as a “credible” recovery plan for turning around the group’s dismal operational and financial performance. The slump the group’s performance is epitomised by the 77-million-ton collapse in rail [...]

Mid-tier mining and materials company Afrimat’s strategy to diversify between commodities and revenue streams, coupled with stringent capital allocation, has enabled the group to continue to weather economic and commodity shocks in the six months to August 31, group CEO Andries van Heerden said on October 26. Afrimat’s businesses comprise Construction Materials, consisting of aggregates [...]

The World Bank has approved a $1-billion Development Policy Loan (DPL) to support market reports under way in the country, as well as South Africa's low-carbon transition.  

Investment manager Stanlib, together with group companies Standard Bank and Liberty, is launching a large-scale Energy Transition Fund to assist with the energy transition across the continent. Standard Bank and Liberty will provide initial seed assets of R3-billion to the fund, which will be managed by Stanlib.

While South Africa’s railway sector works to rebuild post-pandemic, riots and a variety of disasters, the latest Railway Safety Regulator’s (RSR’s) State of Safety Report 2022/23 has painted a bleak picture of the safety of the railway system that demands immediate action. South Africa’s Transport Deputy Minister Lisa Mangcu said the outcome unveiled a stark [...]

Transnet is seeking more than R100-billion from the Treasury over the next two years, according to the turnaround plan produced by the board.  The R100-billion includes a request that the Treasury take over a minimum of R61-billion of its debt and provide R47-billion in an equity injection or a subordinated loan that can be converted [...]

The copper production of diversified mining company Anglo American increased by 42% in the third quarter owing to the ramping up of the new Quellaveco copper mine in Peru. However, this was offset by rough diamond production decreasing by 23% and steelmaking coal production decreasing by 21%.

A major unaddressed issue in the manufacturing industry remains a shortage of skills, said economic consultancy Econometrix director and chief economist Dr Azar Jammine in opening this year’s Manufacturing Indaba on October 24. South Africa has a mismatch between the skilled workforce needed in manufacturing and an abundance of no- to low-level skills. He noted that it [...]