South African National Space Agency outlines ambitious five-year plan

This year is proving to be a red-letter year for the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), with the climax arguably being its hosting of the Sixth Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM6), at... 

Gas is better than oil for Africa, conference delegates hear

Gas projects were, for Africa, better than oil projects. So highlighted energy consultant and former Trinidad & Tobago Energy Minister Eric Williams, in a panel discussion, on Thursday, at the... 

Gas projects in Africa need to be bankable, says the AfDB

The African Development Bank (AfDB) focuses a lot on financing gas-to-power projects, highlighted AfDB chief gas officer Charles Nyirahuku, on Thursday. He was participating in a panel discussion... 

Africa’s top priority should be to become a value creator, not just a resources provider

The most urgent priority facing Africa today is to move from being a supplier of raw materials to becoming a value creator. Hitherto, the continent has exported its resources, to be processed... 

Africa must take control of its resources and beneficiate, highlights DRC Minister

The days of feel-good international meetings are over, affirms Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Mines Minister Louis Watum Kabamba on Wednesday; “it’s time for results!” He was delivering a... 

South Africa can develop its hydrocarbon reserves and do so sustainably

The South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) believes that the country has to develop its hydrocarbon resources, while not destroying the environment. So averred SANPC CEO Godfrey Moagi,... 

Africa must develop its hydrocarbon, but especially gas, resources

In his opening address to the African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 conference and exhibition, on Tuesday, African Energy Chamber executive chairperson NJ Ayuk urged African countries to produce “every... 

New Nigerian power plant continues ramp-up and is now close to maximum capacity

Nigerian private-sector power-producing group, Sahara Power, has announced that its new Afam 2 gas-fired power plant has now ramped up its output to 160 MW, all feeding into the Nigerian national... 

SKA Observatory had major and high-level events in South Africa this week

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory (SKAO) this week saw the first ever SKAO Ministerial Council meeting, and also, again for the first time, addressed the G20 Research and Innovation... 

Vodacom investing over R800m to accelerate network expansion in three provinces

Telecommunications group Vodacom is investing more than R800-million across three South African provinces to accelerate network infrastructure and coverage expansion, enhance capacity and... 

Collaborative effort launched to mobilise African institutional assets for development

Pan-African infrastructure and industrial development funding group, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), has announced, in collaboration with the Africa Social Security Association (ASSA) and... 

South African food inflation decelerated in August

After four consecutive months of acceleration, South African food inflation decelerated in August, year-on-year (y-o-y), to 5.2%. In month-on-month (m-o-m) terms, there was even a slight deflation... 

Construction of major solar power plant has started in Zambia

Zambian renewable energy company Maamba Solar Energy has started construction of its 100 MW solar power plant, at the town of Maamba, in Zambia’s Southern province. The project was officially... 

SANSA highlights upcoming Nasa hackathon and local participation

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has highlighted that it is a proud partner with its US counterpart, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), in the Nasa Space Apps... 

The highly successful Cape Town Air Access initiative is now ten years old

The Western Cape’s air tourism and trade initiative, Cape Town Air Access (CTAA), has celebrated its tenth anniversary. CTAA is a public-private partnership (PPP), the public side of which embraces... 

Africa's PGM production expected to fall this year, but resume growth thereafter

International data and analytics company GlobalData has reported that African production of platinum group metals (PGMs) is expected to fall by 6.4% this year, in year-on-year terms. This forecast... 

DBSA announces finalisation of major investment in EV charging station company CHARGE

South African development finance institution, the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA), announced on Wednesday that all due diligence and final agreements have been completed, and all... 

DBSA partners with Ecobank and RMB on major loan facility for Ugandan development

South African development finance institution, the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), announced on Tuesday that it and Togo-based pan-African private sector banking group Ecobank, acting... 

SITA, Ethiopian Airlines enter partnership to meet growing air travel demand

Global aviation IT and technology solutions group SITA and Ethiopian Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding, under which they will jointly develop innovative solutions which will... 

Local affordable sustainable housing development lender partnering with global financier

South African affordable sustainable residential property development company TUHF announced on Monday that it had partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank... 

Freight Forwarders leading an initiative to strengthen the country’s logistics sector

The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has highlighted its cross-sectoral initiative to bring together stakeholders in the freight and logistics sectors to address the issues... 

South African water research wins international awards

A researcher with the National Research Forum – South African Environmental Observation Network (NRF-SAEON) has won the Wastage Award at the fourth World Irrigation Forum, currently under way in... 

Pan-African industrial developer has successfully concluded a major capital raise

Dubai-based pan-African integrated industrial zone developer and operator ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), founded in 2010, has announced that it has successfully raised... 

South African fintech startup gets major investment to scale up its operations

South African startup fintech company Float has obtained funding of $2.6-million (R46-million), to scale-up its local operations, improve its proprietary technology card-linked instalment platform... 

South Africa is developing a major legitimate, regulated, cannabis and hemp industry

With the start of the planting season for hemp and cannabis plants in South Africa, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has highlighted its role in developing and... 

NRF and Mintek to jointly deliver Mintek-SCi 2025 next month

South Africa’s national research funding, facilities and human capital development agency, the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the country’s national minerals research institution, Mintek,... 

New passenger handling managed connectivity service for airlines launched

Global aviation industry IT and technology solutions group SITA has launched a new managed connectivity service, named SITA Connect Fly, to allow airlines to modernise their passenger handling... 

Airbus delivers A330neo wide-body airliner to Côte d’Ivoire

The national flag carrier of the Côte d’Ivoire, in West Africa, Air Côte d’Ivoire, has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-900 widebody airliner, the airframer has announced. The airline has... 

Embraer’s next-generation airliners certified in South Africa

Brazil-based major global aerospace group Embraer has announced that both its E190-E2 and E195-E2 smaller single-aisle airliners have been type certified by the South African Civil Aviation... 

New nano-reinforced polymer composite material created by CSIR and local company

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and South African additive manufacturing (3D printing) filament producer Filament Factory have collaborated to develop a new... 

Southern Africa’s first ever materials lifting awards presented

The Southern African materials lifting and handling industry has celebrated its first ever sectoral awards ceremony, the Lifting Awards. Hosted by sector-specialist media platform Lifting Africa,... 

Unctad reports that trade policy uncertainty has 'become the new tariff'

The unpredictability of particularly US trade policy has become a major factor in global trade, UN Trade and Development (Unctad) has highlighted in its latest 'Global Trade Update'. This was on... 

Global total air cargo demand rose strongly in July, reports IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the global representative body for the airline industry, has reported that global total air cargo demand grew strongly, by 5.5%,... 

Worldwide air passenger traffic showed good growth in July, reports IATA

Global total air passenger traffic showed good year-on-year growth in July, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. IATA is the global representative body for the airline... 

Tshwane approves strategic development plan for its Fresh Produce Market precinct

The City of Tshwane (which includes Pretoria) has approved a strategic precinct plan for the Tshwane Fresh Product Market and its surrounding neighbourhoods. The precinct was defined as the area... 

First robotic donor kidney removal surgery successfully conducted in South Africa

Stellenbosch University (SU) has announced that South Africa’s first ever robotic surgery for the removal of a donor kidney has been successfully conducted at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. The... 

Zimbabwean agency signs MoU with Korean group on nuclear power feasibility study

Zimbabwe’s Centre for Education, Innovation, Research and Development (CEIRD) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s biggest energy company, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power... 

Standard Bank launches platform to help African businesses integrate sustainability and ESG

Leading South African financial institution, Standard Bank, has launched a free online platform, available on the bank’s website, to help and empower African businesses through the provision of... 

South African food inflation continued on an upward path in July

South African food inflation accelerated again in July, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) think tank has pointed out in its latest 'Food Inflation Brief'. The increase was 5.7%... 

Digital technology adoption essential to protect borders both today and tomorrow

African countries have to emulate those in other parts of the world and adopt the latest technologies for border control, safety and security purposes, particularly regarding air travel. This was...