‘Sectional block model’ launched in China

South Africa and Singapore-based commodity trader Sail Group in conjunction with integrated chrome producer Afarak Group and trade services company Chinalight Resources launched the Sectional Block... 

Pretoria to host drilling, blasting conference in November

Explosives manufacturers and supplier BME will host its twenty-third drilling and blasting conference on November 12, at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria. 

Developers increasingly seeing redevelopment potential in 'obsolete' buildings

Significant changes in technology, workplace practices and production requirements have all resulted in an increasing number of commercial and industrial buildings in South Africa becoming... 

Safety the key driving force behind road developments along N3 route

Since the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) entered into a 30-year Toll Road Concession contract with the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) in 1999, the main objective of the N3TC is... 

Permanent operating licence granted for R8bn Ngqura manganese terminal

Freight logistics company Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has been granted a permanent operating licence by Cabinet for the manganese terminal at the Port of Ngqura to develop a bulk minerals... 

Anglo American entrepreneur interns graduate

Twenty-one early-stage growth entrepreneurs graduated from the second phase of global miner Anglo American’s Entrepreneur Internship Programme (EIP) on Thursday morning. 

New Ekurhuleni Transport head promises improved public transport

Following his recent appointment as Member of the Mayoral Committee for Roads and Transport for the City of Ekurhuleni, Petrus Mhlarhi states that the city is still set on implementing its... 

Landfill 2015 Conference to take place in September

The Landfill 2015 Conference, themed Advances in Waste Treatment and Engineered Landfill Environment, is set to take place from September 15 to 16 at the Waterval Country Lodge in Tulbagh, in the... 

New blast management system showcased in Australia

Global mining software provider Maptek showcased its latest innovation, BlastLogic – a blast design and management system – at the eleventh International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by... 

Gas-based industrialisation vision hinges on sound policy, gas-to-power roll-out

Recent findings of high potential gas volumes in Southern Africa has given rise to government’s gas industrialisation aspirations, articulated in the Industrial Policy Action Plan (Ipap) that aims... 

Uncertain load-shedding schedules prove costly for food production

The erratic implementation of load-shedding schedules is costing the local food production industry millions of rands every month, says energy solutions provider Energy Partners. 

Gas-based industrialisation vision hinges on sound policy, gas-to-power roll-out

Recent findings of high potential gas volumes in Southern Africa has given rise to government’s gas industrialisation aspirations, articulated in the Industrial Policy Action Plan (Ipap) that aims... 

R10m bursary fund for women in engineering

The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) has entered into a R10-million bursary partnership with Stellenbosch University to address the skills shortage and boost... 

Technology advances yielding more accurate, detailed information for better drilling

With the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), global positioning systems (GPS) and three-dimensional (3D) photogrammetric software, the field of blast design has been taken a step forward as... 

Explosives solution enables timeous identification of reactive ground

Explosives company BME states that its double-edged emulsion explosives solution allows customers to quickly identify reactive ground and apply the appropriate product when blasting at their mining... 

40% of gold production will be uneconomic at prices below $1 100/oz, says Wood Mackenzie

As a result of the gold price dropping to below $1 100/oz, global energy, metals and mining research consultancy group Wood Mackenzie predicts that almost 40% of gold project production capability... 

City of Tshwane developing green-economy framework

As the capital city of South Africa, the City of Tshwane has recognised the need to lead and demonstrate initiatives and infrastructure programmes pertaining to the green economy that will embrace... 

AfriSam launches new Dry Mortar automated plant

Concrete materials company AfriSam officially launched its new Dry Mortar automated plant last month that will produce dry mortar product, which it believes is a response to demands for increased... 

Opportunity for young engineers to venture into management

Owing to an economic boom witnessed in most African countries, an opportunity for young engineers to venture into engineering management has transpired, stated Australia-based professional services... 

New triple-deck screening unit set for production in fourth quarter

South African crushing and screening specialist Pilot Crushtec International’s new DynamiTrac TDH6118 triple-deck screen – that will be going into production in the last quarter of this year – is... 

Clear policy guidelines will eliminate confusion between artisanal and illegal mining

While artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) plays a fundamental role in the South African economy, as it helps reduce poverty and creates jobs for rural communities, the artisanal mining aspect... 

New Sanco head office will provide better access for the public

The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) opened its first national head office earlier this month, which it believes will provide more accessibility to communities and provide them... 

Technology to drive the future of manufacturing

With the future of manufacturing still a point of concern in South Africa, multinational professional services firm Deloitte manufacturing industry leader Karthi Pillay believes that in order to... 

Clear policy guidelines will eliminate confusion between artisanal and illegal mining

While the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) states that artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) plays a fundamental role in the South African economy, as it addresses poverty and creates jobs... 

TB incidence in South African mining sector highest in the world

Diagnostic medical imaging solutions company IntriHEALTH believes that with every mining company in South Africa being obligated by the Mine Health and Safety Act to provide consistent medical... 

New cranes association aims to promote industry’s cause

The newly established Crane Manufacturers Association (CMA) believes that its will foster interaction between industry, government and the private sector to ensure proper deliberation on matters... 

Northern Cape wind farm scheduled for commercial operation in 2016

The Noupoort wind farm in the Northern Cape broke ground this month with its construction expected to commercially operate by mid-2016. The wind farm is one of the first to start construction as... 

R2m mobile screen enables new business opportunities for sand mine

Western Cape-based building and materials supply group Els Group has invested in a Sandvik QA331 mobile screen worth R2-million to increase output from its subsidiary OJ Plant Hire sand mine, which... 

Stringent controls urged as explosives theft poses danger to society

The theft of explosives by illegal miners presents great danger to society and steps need to be taken to ensure the prevention of such products falling into the wrong hands, says explosives... 

Taiwan machining firm looks to Africa as it outlines export ambitions

For the remainder of the year, Taiwan-based electrical discharge machining (EDM) company Excetek aims to distribute 95% of its global production into regions such as Africa, Asia, Europe and America. 

Skills development seen as key in expanding Africa’s machine tools footprint

Fostering skills development will be key in achieving Taiwan-based machine tools company Yinsh Precision Industrial Company’s vision to expand its business to more European countries and explore... 

Legislative complexities make it difficult to distinguish illegal from artisanal miners

The legislative complexities that exist within the South African mining sector have made it difficult for industry to clearly distinguish which miners can be declared illegal miners and which... 

Taiwanese machine-tool maker targeting SA mining sector

Taiwan-based machine tool manufacturer Fair Friend Group (FFG) has identified the South African mining industry as a potential market for the supply of its milling machines, in line with its... 

Small business funder aims to lower failure risk by offering mentorship, management support

Although the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) aims to use small businesses and cooperatives as vehicles to redistribute South Africa’s wealth, access to funding for small and... 

Durban varsity to host composites conference in October

Following the success of its first conference, held in Durban in 2013, the Composite Research Group at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Durban University of Technology will be... 

Sefa moves to engage township entrepreneurs

As part of its initiative to provide management and financial support for young entrepreneurs, the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa) hosted a youth entrepreneur’s event in Soweto last month to... 

Small business funder aims to lower failure risk by offering mentorship, management support

Although the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) aims to use small businesses and cooperatives as vehicles to redistribute South Africa’s wealth, access to funding for small and... 

Master builders congress slated for September

The annual Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) congress will be taking place at the Nasrec Expo Centre from September 16 to 17 this year.  

2014 global steel output up 1% to 1.67bn tons

The World Steel Association has published the 2015 edition of the World Steel in Figures report, which shows an increase in steel production as well as provides an overview of steel industry... 

Mines need to keep costs low – National Business Initiative

Amid commodity prices that are under pressure and a rise in operating costs the National Business Initiative (NBI) states that mining companies in South Africa need to find ways to keep costs low.