Companies need to adjust operating, business models amid growth in generative AI

Generative AI (genAI) is having a measurable impact on companies that adopt these systems, and 58% of workers that are using genAI are able to save five hours a week in work time, the 'AI at Work... 

435 kW solar, battery system ensures Naboom Plastic can produce, reduce backlog

Clean energy developer Blue Energy Africa has built a hybrid 435 kW solar and battery storage system for planting bags producer Naboom Plastic, in Mookgophong, Limpopo. The system provides the... 

Radisson to open its first hotels in Tanzania as part of African expansion

Radisson Hotel Group will add seven new hotels, with more than 1 200 rooms, to its African portfolio and will open two hotels in Dar es Salaam and in Mwanza, in Tanzania, in 2025. The new hotels... 

Wärtsilä renews partnership in Morocco for maintenance of two power plants

Industrial technology company Wärtsilä has signed a five-year maintenance agreement covering 169.5 MW of power generation for two Moroccan power plants owned and operated by Moroccan utility Office... 

Only 40% of developing-country utilities are financially sustainable, World Bank warns

The majority of electric utilities in developing countries are ill-equipped to meet growing demand for power and add more renewable energy into the grid, thereby hindering global energy transition... 

WEF Energy Transition Index at its highest ever, but global progress slowing

The global energy transition to a more equitable, secure and sustainable energy system is still progressing, but has lost momentum in the face of increasing uncertainty worldwide, international... 

Biotech startup closes latest funding round, bringing total to R24.5m

Stellenbosch-based biotechnology start-up Immobazyme has successfully closed its latest funding round, bringing its total investment to R24.5-million. The new injection of capital will enable the... 

Central banks to increase gold holdings in next 12 months - World Gold Council

More than eight in ten, or 81%, of respondents to the 2024 Central Banks Gold Reserves survey said they expect reserve managers to continue to increase their gold holdings in the next 12 months.... 

Cluff Africa signs agreement to acquire Zimbabwe lithium permits

UK-based mineral resources investment company Cluff Africa has signed a term sheet with Zimbabwe sovereign wealth fund, Mutapa Investment Fund, to acquire 45% in the Sandawana mining permits. This... 

Students should use AI to interrogate knowledge, not just answer questions, IT experts advise

AI-based systems can provide personalised learning experiences, as well as identify students' strengths and weaknesses and adjust teaching to better facilitate and accelerate learning, IT industry... 

GWK's Christiana maize mill gets 1 MW solar PV system

Independent power producer Decentral Energy has commissioned a 1 MW solar PV system at food producer GWK's Farm Foods Christiana maize mill. The ground-mounted, grid-tied solar PV system, which was... 

NDCs, long-term strategies should include roadmap for fossil fuel producers – IISD

Analysis by policy think tank the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) showed that seven of the 20 largest fossil fuel producing countries make no mention of fossil fuel... 

Inspired Evolution achieves second close of climate impact Evolution III Fund

Clean energy- and resource-efficiency-focused private equity firm Inspired Evolution has announced that it has concluded the second close of its Evolution III Fund, which is its third energy... 

Pape Fund expands its investment in Entersekt

Private equity fund Pape Fund 3 has expanded its investment in fraud prevention and payment security company Entersekt, buying out financial services firm Nedbank Private Equity’s equity stake.... 

Diversification of energy generation, consumption important for businesses, Discovery Green says

Businesses are increasingly prioritising the procurement of renewable energy, and especially solar energy, owing to loadshedding, electricity cost increases and risks associated with high carbon... 

Tribunal confirms settlement agreement in plant and equipment hire cartel case

The Competition Tribunal has confirmed, as an order, a R480 000 administrative penalty imposed on plant and equipment hire company Hard Hat Equipment Hire as part of a settlement in a case in which... 

Manufacturing confidence at its highest in two years amid loadshedding relief

Confidence among local manufacturers has reached the best level in two years during the second quarter of the year, according to financial services firm Absa's Manufacturing Survey for the second... 

Families of two engineers launch petition to free them from Equatorial Guinea

The families of two South African engineers, Peter Huxham (55) and Frik Potgieter (54), who have been unlawfully held as State hostages in Equatorial Guinea since February 9, 2023, have launched an... 

IFC's R200m loan to Lenmed to expand healthcare in Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique and South Africa

Global development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide a R200-million local currency senior loan to African healthcare provider Lenmed to expand its... 

CDE suggests new administration should shrink, streamline Cabinet

A significant reduction in the number of Cabinet Ministers and a fundamental overhaul of the Presidency are important steps towards fixing South Africa’s weak State, says policy research... 

Greeff resigns as EOH CFO

JSE-listed information and communications technology services company EOH Group's CFO Marialet Greeff has resigned and will step down from her position with effect from September 30 to pursue other... 

Solar PV panels rolled out at 150 Engen fuel stations in Southern Africa

Solar power provider SolarSaver, which serves as fuel retailer Engen's official solar provider, has installed solar PV systems at 150 Engen Petroleum fuel stations across Botswana, Namibia and... 

Weak economy weighed on construction in the first quarter – ACI

The Afrimat Construction Index (ACI) declined to a level of 103.7 in the first quarter of this year, down from 117.3 in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 105 in the first quarter of 2023. Economist Dr... 

Eskom arrests suspected coal-swapping thief

State-owned power utility Eskom says the security investigation team at its Arnot power station has arrested a truck driver, who is suspected of having participated in the swapping out of coal... 

Civil society coalition emphasises need for accountability, transparency, equity to achieve a ‘fair’ just transition

A coalition of civil society organisations from Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Vietnam on June 10 launched their ‘Principles for a Fair Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)’, which... 

First-quarter contraction demonstrates GDP growth volatility – TIPS

GDP contracted by 0.1% in the first quarter of this year, underscoring the increased volatility of GDP growth since the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020, said nonprofit economic research... 

Circular economy gaining traction in Africa, but still layered onto linear economies

There are various local, regional and international initiatives that are assessing and driving circular economy practices in Africa, but the transformation of existing linear economies remains... 

Insurance earnings to face pressure if extreme weather trends persist – S&P

Credit ratings agency S&P Global Ratings said it expects downward pressure on earnings for the insurance industry in South Africa if extreme weather trends persist. The capital and liquidity... 

Professor calls for support to grow marine geosciences to understand oceans

Prior to the United Nations World Oceans Day on June 8, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Professor of Marine Geology and University of Ulster in Northern Ireland visiting Professor Andrew Green... 

African countries urged to use resources to unlock sustainable growth, diversify economies

A majority of African economies, or 83%, are highly commodity-dependent and are vulnerable to external shocks, experiencing good growth when commodity prices are high, but seeing growth reversal... 

SAWEA, Germany's BWE partner to stimulate wind energy investment

Industry organisation the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the German Wind Energy Association (Bundesverband Windenergie or BWE) signed a memorandum of understanding on June 6 with... 

Professionalisation, mentorship in focus to drive sustainable infrastructure development

Mentorship of new entrants and the professionalisation of practitioners will help people in the construction industry to excel and build roads, water infrastructure and houses that last, and build... 

ONE's newest vessel unloads, loads containers in Durban

Container and shipping company Ocean Network Express' (ONE's) newest vessel Recommendation exchanged 2 578 containers for import with 2 600 containers for export, including refrigerated citrus... 

Absa PMI dips to 43.8 in May amid uncertainty

The Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell below 50 points to 43.8 points in May, from 54 points in April, despite the fact that there was no loadshedding that month. Absa states that the... 

Payments platform Revio rebrands to Precium

South African enterprise payments platform startup Revio has rebranded to Precium in a move made to signify its growth from a local processor to a global payments platform. Precium experienced... 

EOH appoints new interim CEO, nonexecutive directors after resignations

JSE-listed information technology services company EOH has appointed Marius de la Rey as interim CEO, Veronica Motloutsi as an independent nonexecutive director, and Dennis Venter and Rhys... 

Students should use AI to interrogate knowledge, not just answer questions, IT experts advise

AI-based systems can provide personalised learning experiences, as well as identify students' strengths and weaknesses and adjust teaching to better facilitate and accelerate learning, IT industry... 

UKZN using automated solution to monitor, support students' academic and holistic wellness

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has piloted an automated student academic and holistic wellness solution among 9 000 students in the College of Health Sciences and aims to roll the solution... 

Internal digital content serves as repository of truth for AI in companies – Hyland

The current focus for businesses is to automate the ingestion and use of content, and to use the advent of AI to analyse it and create business value, Hyland Europe, Middle East and Africa... 

Wheeling progressing in South Africa, the rest of Africa

The use of national electricity grids to wheel power from renewable-energy projects to demand centres is growing in Africa and helping to drive greater scale in the building of renewable-energy...