Amid renewed calls for a functional online mining cadastre to help turnaround South Africa’s declining exploration performance, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) reports that a preferred bidder has been identified and the proposed solution is currently being audited by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). Addressing the inaugural African Critical Minerals Summit [...]

The latest research from policy research entity Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) reveals that, for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, exports declined while imports continued to grow. The latest Imports Localisation and Supply Chain Disruption Study for the fourth quarter of 2022, shows that exports fell 3% to R495-billion [...]

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe is aiming to seek Cabinet approval to publish an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for public consultation during an upcoming Cabinet meeting in September. Speaking on the sidelines of a critical minerals summit in Sandton, Mantashe indicated that he would be presenting the document, which he dubbed ‘IRP [...]

JSE-listed logistics and mobility solutions company Super Group’s deliberate diversification strategy has helped to bolster its performance in what is a turbulent trading environment. The group posted a 20.8% increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) to R8.4-billion for the financial year ended June 30, compared with the prior year, as well [...]

Airtel Uganda plans to raise as much as 800-billion shillings ($216-million) in an initial public offering, making it the nation’s biggest share sale. The company priced its IPO at 100 shillings apiece valuing the nation’s second-biggest telecommunications carrier at four-trillion shillings. The unit of billionaire Sunil Mittal’s Airtel Africa Plc is selling a 20% stake, [...]

The Constitutional Court on August 25 dismissed the petition for leave to appeal the decision of the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) to extend the main agreement to nonparties with effect from October 17, 2022. This judgment reinforces the principles of centralised collective bargaining, a cornerstone of South African labour relations, said industry [...]

 The European Union is scouting Africa to back clean jet fuel projects under its Global Gateway infrastructure fund, an EU official said, ahead of an anticipated boom in demand for environmentally sustainable air travel. The EU has pledged to dedicate half of its €300-billion infrastructure plan, seen as a rival to China's Belt and Road Initiative, [...]

JSE-listed real estate investment trust Vukile Property Fund has issued R526-million of senior unsecured corporate bonds, with keen investor interest having been yielded. The initial target issuance size of R500-million was 4.1 times oversubscribed, having attracted bids of R2-billion.

The recent minibus taxi strike in Cape Town cost the Western Cape economy an estimated R5-billion, while it also caused at least R18-million in damages in the City of Cape Town, this according to the provincial government. The strike by the South African National Taxi Council started on August 3, and ended on August 10. [...]

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is part of the World Bank Group, has reported that, over the 12 months from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, it made investments totalling $11.5-billion in 40 African countries, to help accelerate the continent’s energy transition, enable green manufacturing, stimulate intra-African trade, increase local food production, strengthen [...]

One of the primary catalysts for the prevalent global emergence of subsidies within the renewable energy sector stems from the dominance of China, research firm BMI Research operational risk analyst Keaton Fitzpatrick has said. Speaking at a webinar hosted by BMI Research – a Fitch Solutions company – titled ‘Subsidy Wars and The Energy Transition, [...]

The Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG) in its public hearings submission has welcomed the opportunity to comment on State-owned power utility Eskom’s application for the Regulatory Clearing Account (RCA) for full-year 2022, which formed part of the fourth multi-year price determination (MYPD4). “We do not believe that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) [...]