Solar academy to open in Mali aims to develop expertise for Africa

Solar power initiative Akon Lighting Africa will launch its solar academy next month in Bamako, Mali, to help develop skills and expertise in the solar energy sector in Africa.  

Renewables IPP delivering across four technology platforms

Italian independent power producer (IPP) Building Energy has been awarded preferred bidder status in round four of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP)... 

Mining sector no longer leading the S African economy – Minister

The mining sector was no longer the main driver of the South African economy but it still contributed significantly towards the country’s gross domestic product, said Mineral Resources Minister... 

S Africa on the cusp of a drought – WWF-SA

Just 8% of South Africa’s land area provided 50% of the country’s surface water and the country could be on the cusp of a drought, World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) Freshwater... 

Sappi expecting better earnings, but currency movements may impact

Pulp and paper producer Sappi has increased its net profit for the three months to March 31, by 75% to $56-million, compared with the profit of $32-million recorded in the March 2014 quarter. 

Apprenticeships, internships crucial to automotive industry

Investment in South African youth through apprenticeships and learnerships will not only create direct benefits for businesses but will also contribute significantly to job creation and... 

S Africa invited to invest in Egypt

Upcoming projects, including the Suez Canal expansion, in Egypt, afforded South Africa opportunities to invest in that country, further boosting trade relations between the two States, Small... 

Gauteng hopes Vaal River City project will unlock waterfront investments

The development of the multibillion-rand Vaal River City megacity project will begin at the end of this year and it will create new economic and industrialisation activity anchored by the Vaal river. 

TNPA invests in Africa’s ‘largest and most powerful dredger’

State-owned Transnet National Port Authority’s (TNPA’s) Dredging Service division launched its 5 500 m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD), the Ilembe, at the shipyard of manufacturer Royal... 

Seifsa launches small business hub to assist SMEs

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) launched its small business hub (SBH) earlier this month to assist in meeting the needs of small and microenterprises... 

New tenant signs up for R55m Cape Town industrial park

JSE-listed Growthpoint Properties has secured packaged goods company Tiger Brands’ milling logistics division as a tenant to its new R55-million Range Industrial Park development in Blackheath,... 

Treasury launches online tender portal, central supplier database

National Treasury launched the eTender publication portal and central supplier database (CSD) earlier this month to eliminate duplication and fragmentation of notices for government tenders and... 

‘Fully funded’ rooftop solar solution offered to local corporates

JSE-listed Altron subsidiary Powertech System Integrators (PTSI) launched its fully funded solar rooftop photovoltaic (PV) solution for South African corporates last month to take advantage of the... 

LPG, nitrogen system commissioned for Bokpoort CSP project

Gases and welding products supplier Afrox has commissioned its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply system for the $565-million Bokpoort concentrated solar power (CSP) project, in the Northern Cape.  

European energy manager training now available in sub-Saharan Africa

The first yearly European EnergyManager (EUREM) training in sub-Saharan Africa was successfully completed in March and the training will feature new courses as from this month.  

Electronics distributor launches new smart-tag range

Electronics and maintenance products distributor RS Components is offering marketers a selection of near field communications (NFC) tag boards, with an evaluation kit, as part of its new range,... 

Sappi lifts Q2 profit by 75% y/y

Pulp and paper producer Sappi has increased its net profit for the three months to March 31, by 75% to $56-million, compared with the profit of $32-million recorded in the March 2014 quarter. 

Royal IHC completes build on R889m dredger for TNPA

State-owned Transnet National Port Authority’s (TNPA’s) Dredging Service division launched its 5 500 m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD), the Ilembe, at the shipyard of manufacturer Royal... 

Seifsa launches small business hub to assist SMEs

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) on Friday launched its small business hub (SBH) to assist in meeting the needs of small and microenterprises (SMEs) in... 

Necsa says scanner investment will boost SA’s radiopharmaceuticals potential

The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) launched the first clinical micro positron emission tomography/computerised tomography (microPET/CT) scanner in Africa last month at its... 

Deal enables airline to expand its South African feeder routes

Local airline SA Airlink and banking group Nedbank Capital have concluded a finance deal, which will result in an expanded network of feeder routes for SA Airlink. 

Downtown Joburg showcased in big-budget Hollywood movie

Scenes from the latest instalment of the popular American superhero film The Avengers, which were shot in Johannesburg in February, will promote the city and the country as a film destination,... 

Makhura launches multibillion-rand megacity development in Vereeniging

The development of the multibillion-rand Vaal River City megacity project will begin at the end of this year and it will create new economic and industrialisation activity anchored by the Vaal river. 

Afrox launches LPG domestic delivery service

Gas products and services company Afrox has launched a pilot programme to deliver its range of Handigas liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to domestic consumers to fill a gap in the market, thereby... 

R126m second phase of E Cape waterworks project under way

The second-phase construction of the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works (WTW) in the Eastern Cape, which will cost R126.4-million, has begun. This project will double the WTW’s capacity to... 

‘Old boys supplier networks’ suppressing growth of black business

Old boys supplier networks are dominating the procurement landscape and continue to enforce barriers to entry for new and emerging black competitors, says South African Supplier Diversity Council... 

East London convention centre helping to stimulate economic development

Since its opening in 2010, the East London International Convention Centre (ELICC), in the Eastern Cape, has garnered success by attracting local and international conventions and conferences that... 

Rebosis buys into Mauritius property developer

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Rebosis Property Fund reported last month a distribution growth of 8.2% to 52.46c per linked unit for the six months ended February 28, exceeding the... 

WiFi the future of Africa – Knott-Craig Jr

Nonprofit organisation Project Isizwe has thus far deployed capacity on public-access free WiFi for at least three-million users at more than 600 sites – and Project Isizwe CEO Alan Knott-Craig Jr... 

Cell C to invest R8bn in LTE infrastructure

South Africa's third-largest mobile operator Cell C will invest R8-billion over the next three years to roll out long-term evolution (LTE) infrastructure for targeted customers across the country.  

R1bn invested in DTI’s equity-equivalent programmes

To date, more than R1-billion has been invested in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), it was revealed at the launch of multinational... 

Business confidence slips in March

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Sacci’s) Business Confidence Index (BCI) decreased by 3.7 index points month-on-month to 89.1 in March. 

Necsa’s new R6m microPET/CT scanner expected to boost SA’s pharmaceuticals industry

The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) launched the first clinical micro positron emission tomography/computerised tomography (microPET/CT) scanner in Africa on Thursday at its... 

SA Airlink, Nedbank Capital conclude finance deal to expand feeder routes in South Africa

Local airline SA Airlink and banking group Nedbank Capital have concluded a finance deal, which will result in an expanded network of feeder routes for SA Airlink. 

Finalists for national entrepreneurship programme announced

This year’s top 18 national finalists for the South African Breweries’ (SAB) youth entrepreneurship programme, SAB KickStart, was announced last month in Johannesburg, and coincided with the... 

Logistics growth in Africa positive, despite challenges

There will be accelerated growth in the next two years in Africa’s logistics market, largely driven by increased consumer demand and the rapidly developing e-commerce industry. 

Summit highlights need for robust energy system

According to the International Energy Agency, only 290-million people out of a population of 915-million in sub-Saharan Africa had access to electricity.  

Rebosis records 8.2% distribution growth in H1

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Rebosis Property Fund on Thursday reported distribution growth of 8.2% to 52.46c per linked unit for the six months ended February 28, exceeding the... 

R1bn invested in DTI’s Equity Equivalent programmes

To date, more than R1-billion has been invested in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), it was revealed at the launch of multinational... 

Rainwater harvesting can boost water security, but stimulatory legal framework required

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) can boost water security in South Africa, but water-related legislation does not provide a clear legal framework for its adoption, hampering national expansion. This is...