El Niño dries up South Africa’s agricultural business confidence for the second quarter

The Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) and Industrial Development Corporation’s Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) reached a 15-year low of 38 points in the second quarter of... 

ICMM suggests tax reforms to drive greater investment to meet demand for metals and minerals

Mining organisation ICMM says its members paid corporate income tax (CIT) and royalties of $54.2-billion last year, employed 561 800 people and paid $39-billion in wages. About $187-billion was... 

Global renewables pledges fall short of COP28 targets

Although Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are key to decarbonisation, current NDCs only amount to 1 300 GW, or 12%, of the renewable energy capacity needed to meet the objective of... 

Mokopane takeover sanctioned

The Competition Commission has approved the acquisition by Southern Point Resources (SPR) Fund I of Mokopane, the holding company for a mining right in South Africa’s Limpopo province. SPR Fund I... 

Commission approves Prax’s acquisition of Natref

The Competition Commission has conditionally approved a proposed transaction between Prax South Africa and the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref), whereby the former intends to... 

Orange export volumes to be lower than initially expected

The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has revised downward its estimates for Navel orange exports this season to 22-million 15 kg cartons. The association initially expected... 

Global growth will not exceed pre-pandemic levels until 2026 at least – World Bank

The World Bank expects the global economy to stabilise for the first time in three years, but at a level that is still weak by historical standards. In its latest ‘Global Economic Prospects’... 

Kamoa-Kakula Phase 3 concentrator achieves first production ahead of schedule

Canada-headquartered miner Ivanhoe Mines has achieved first concentrate production at the Kamoa-Kakula operation’s Phase 3 concentrator, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Phase 3... 

Oriole starts delayed Phase 5 drilling at Cameroon project

Aim-listed Oriole Resources has advised of a number of logistical challenges hampering a Phase 5 drilling programme on the main mineral resource area of its Bibemi gold project, in Cameroon.... 

Food manufacturer Premier reports higher operating profit, cash generation

JSE-listed fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer Premier Group has reported a robust set of results for the year ended March 31, with an 18.6% year-on-year increase in earnings before interest,... 

Sacci records dip in BCI over April, May as elections unfolded

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) says the lead up to the national and provincial elections on May 29 had a notable effect on business confidence during April and May, with... 

Natural disasters emerge as top risk consideration for professionals in construction, property

Thirty-eight percent of 3 000 risk management professionals and business leaders agree that natural catastrophes, fire and explosion risks are emerging as primary concerns in the engineering,... 

Hive Hydrogen investment propels more economic opportunities in Gqeberha

Energy company Hive Hydrogen’s incoming R105-billion green ammonia plant in the Coega Industrial Development Zone, in Gqeberha, will create major opportunities for green industrial development and... 

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber launches think tank to drive job creation in ‘bay of opportunity’

One of the country’s most active business organisations the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber (NMBBC) has launched a Local Economy Reinvention Think Tank, marking another step in its vision of... 

Agriculture, mining remain growth areas for Omnia, despite difficult operating environment

JSE-listed chemicals group Omnia has reported a 10% decrease in operating profit to R1.7-billion for the financial year ended March 31, saying this reflected volatile market conditions and global... 

Eskom confirms conviction of suspect found tampering with infrastructure at Matla

State-owned power utility Eskom reports that one of the two accused suspects in a case involving critical infrastructure tampering has been convicted at the Kriel Magistrate Court and sentenced to... 

ICMM suggests tax reforms to drive greater investment to meet metals, minerals demand

Mining organisation ICMM says its members paid corporate income tax (CIT) and royalties of $54.2-billion last year, employed 561 800 people and paid $39-billion in wages. About $187-billion was... 

Tirupati clarifies rationale of certain corporate actions amid minority shareholder pressure

London-listed emerging graphite miner Tirupati Graphite has, in a statement to shareholders on June 5, explained its rationale for appointing certain board members rather than those suggested by a... 

Business confidence ticked up ahead of elections but more is needed to spur investment

The Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and Bureau for Economic Research (BER) Business Confidence Index (BCI) increased by five points to 35% in the second quarter of the year ahead of the national... 

Unctad outlines reforms to avoid impending global public debt crisis

Global body UN Trade and Development (Unctad) has urged action to deal with the alarming surge of global debt and proposed reforms to international finance systems to safeguard “a prosperous future... 

New SA Canegrowers chair calls on govt to fulfil its promise of a sugar tax review

With major sugar mills remaining in business rescue and a possible increase in the Health Promotion Levy (HPL), or sugar tax, still looming, the sustainability of the sugar industry remains under... 

Decentral completes installation of gas-powered minigrid for manufacturer in Pretoria

Distributed energy solutions company Decentral Energy has installed a 1.3 MW stationary gas engine and diesel generator at a fast-moving consumer goods manufacturer’s premises, in Rosslyn,... 

NNR hosts new round of talks with public over Koeberg’s life extension

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has started with another round of hearings on June 3, owing to concerns about the last consultation process having been insufficient. The regulator conceded... 

Global renewable-energy commitments fall short of COP28 targets

Although Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are key to decarbonisation, current NDCs only amount to 1 300 GW, or 12%, of the renewable energy capacity needed to meet the objective of... 

RCL proceeding with Rainbow unbundling as a standalone listed business

JSE-listed consumer goods group RCL Foods has received approval from its directors to unbundle and separately list the Rainbow Chicken business on the JSE. RCL first announced its intent to... 

TNPA appoints Amulet consortium to build, operate Richards Bay solar plant

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has selected Amulet Group Consortium to build and operate a 20 MW solar PV plant at the Port of Richards Bay. TNPA anticipates that the design and... 

Aura starts dual funding workstreams to garner debt, strategic financing for Tiris

ASX- and Aim-listed Aura Energy has started two funding workstreams to underpin the development of the Tiris uranium project, in Mauritania. The company aims to secure an integrated funding... 

Caledonia publishes PEA on Bilboes project ahead of new feasibility study

Gold miner Caledonia Mining Corporation has confirmed that it will develop the Bilboes sulphide gold project, in Zimbabwe, in a single phase instead of multiple phases as initially planned, and... 

Osino shareholders approve Yintai’s takeover offer

The majority of TSX- and NYSE-listed Osino Resources Corporation’s shareholders have voted in favour of Chinese miner Yintai Gold’s buyout of Osino at a cash consideration of C$1.90 apiece. The... 

De Beers invites entries for 2024 Shining Light Awards programme

Diamond miner De Beers has invited entries from Canadian, Botswanan, Namibian and South African young diamond jewellery designers for its 2024 Shining Light Awards programme. The Shining Light... 

Contractor employee dies at Kenmare’s Moma mine

London-listed Kenmare Resources has reported the death of an excavator operator, who was employed by a contractor at the Moma titanium minerals mine, in Mozambique. The operator was involved in a... 

Armscor lab to host African scientists for anti-chemical warfare course

A division of the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor), Protechnik Laboratories, will soon host 22 scientists from 14 countries for an analytical chemistry course. Protechnik has been... 

Tirupati appoints Lynch-Bell nonexec chair

UK-based Tirupati Graphite has appointed Michael David Lynch-Bell as nonexecutive chairperson. He previously led consultancy Ernst & Young’s global oil and gas advisory practices, with a total... 

AngloGold confirms all its operations are conflict-free

The operations of AngloGold Ashanti remain conflict-free as of December 31, 2023, the gold miner states in its ‘Conflict-Free Gold Report 2023’ on May 31, emphasising that it extracts gold in a... 

Nel spin-off company Cavendish Hydrogen applies for listing in Norway

Cavendish Hydrogen, which is being spun out of Norwegian fuel cell company Nel’s fuelling division, has applied for its shares to be listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The spin-off and listing... 

cidb introduces three new categories in awards for women in construction

The Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) has introduced three new categories in the 2024 Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (Erwic) Awards. Entries for the awards... 

Unpacking the conditions for meeting burgeoning copper demand

With copper demand expected to increase from 28.3-million tonnes in 2020 to 41-million tonnes by 2040 at a compound yearly growth rate of 1.85%, and many regions gearing up supply chains for... 

Unpacking the conditions for meeting burgeoning copper demand

With copper demand expected to increase from 28.3-million tonnes in 2020 to 41-million tonnes by 2040 at a compound yearly growth rate of 1.85%, and many regions gearing up supply chains for... 

Commission approves Southern Point Resources’ Mokopane takeover from Bushveld

The Competition Commission has approved the acquisition by Southern Point Resources (SPR) Fund I of Mokopane, the holding company for a mining right in South Africa’s Limpopo province. SPR Fund I... 

Commission grants approval for England-based Prax to acquire Natref

The Competition Commission has conditionally approved a proposed transaction between Prax South Africa and the National Petroleum Refiners of South Africa (Natref), whereby the former intends to...