EIB to fund 3 satellites for broadband in developing countries

EIB Global, the extra-European arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), has signed a loan agreement with Luxembourg-based satellite-enabled connectivity and content solutions provider SES, to... 

R&D funding agency NRF and FirstRand Empowerment Foundation renew their partnership

South Africa’s research and development funding, human resource development and infrastructure agency, the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF), have... 

Airlink becomes first African airline to join Embraer’s optimised support system

Brazil-based major aerospace group Embraer and South African regional and domestic airline Airlink have signed a spare parts inventory support agreement. This makes Airlink the first African... 

Building and construction materials sector still lacking growth

The building and construction sector is still depressed, years after the Covid-19 pandemic has passed. So noted building and construction wholesale and retail materials supply group The Building... 

Building materials group pursuing 'intelligent growth' in a still-depressed market

Building materials wholesale and retail supplier group The Building Company’s theme for this year, showcased at its 2025 exhibition being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, was... 

African development financier successfully secures major Islamic finance facility

African infrastructure and industrial development funding agency, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), has made a successful strategic return to the Islamic finance market, after a gap of eight... 

UCT researchers discover giant radio galaxy

Scientists from the University of Cape Town (UCT), using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array in the Karoo, have discovered a rare giant radio galaxy (GRG). They have named it “Inkathazo”,... 

Youth encouraged to expand their skills for the future of mining

In an era of rapid technological change, how can young people entering the mining and minerals sector "future-proof" their skills? This was the question posed on Thursday in the final session of... 

International investors showing interest in South African PGMs

Southern Palladium executive chairperson Roger Baxter has reported that interest in investing in South African mining projects is re-emerging on North American bourses. He was talking to... 

Barrick Gold reaffirms its commitment to sustainability

Global gold and copper miner Barrick Gold Corporation was committed to sustainability, highlighted the company’s group sustainability executive Grant Beringer. He was speaking at the annual Digby... 

Sasol seriously working on biofuel projects, especially for mining applications

South African petrochemicals giant Sasol is actively examining second-generation biofuel feedstocks – that is, energy crops – assured the group’s Sustainable Carbon Solutions Head, Ken Sarman, on... 

Mine closure needs to be thought of, from the very start of a project

In an era concerned with ensuring sustainability in all things, the issue of mine closure and land rehabilitation and reuse has become a major concern. It was a topic for discussion by a panel at... 

South African mining making progress, but headwinds remain, says Minerals Council CEO

South Africa had made significant progress in moving away from the difficulties the country faced a year ago, particularly regarding energy supplies and transport difficulties, highlighted Minerals... 

Mining still major contributor to South African economy

The South African mining industry contributed 6% of the country’s total nominal GDP during the first three quarters of last year. In money terms, this amounted to R432.7-billion. So highlighted... 

IATA reports record air passenger demand last year

Last year set a new record in air passenger demand, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA was the global representative body for the airline industry.) Total global... 

Airbus outsprints troubled rival Boeing in 2024 airliner deliveries

The depth of the issues facing US aerospace giant Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes business, and the scale of the lead taken by its arch-rival, Europe-based Airbus, came sharply into focus with the... 

Regional airlines body again states concern about South Africa’s aviation infrastructure

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has again expressed frustration and concern about repeated failures in South Africa’s aviation infrastructure. It has pointed out that Airports... 

IATA reports that 2024 set a new record for air cargo demand 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is the global representative body for the airline industry, has reported that 2024 was a record year for air cargo, beating the previous... 

EU bank to fund three satellites to improve broadband connectivity in developing countries

EIB Global, the extra-European arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), has signed a loan agreement with Luxembourg-based satellite-enabled connectivity and content solutions provider SES, to... 

Local private philanthropy funding pledge to counter effects of climate change now live

The Independent Philanthropy Association South Africa (IPASA) has launched an initiative for independent philanthropy funders to help counter climate change. This is the South African Philanthropy... 

Parliament’s Transport Committee denounces destruction of Putco buses in Mpumalanga

The chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport, Donald Selamolela, has denounced the arson attacks on dozens of buses on Monday evening and night as economic sabotage. Initial... 

NRF celebrates 15 years of South Africa-CERN collaboration in physics

The National Research Foundation (NRF) on Monday highlighted the fifteenth anniversary of the South Africa-European Organisation for Nuclear Research (SA-CERN) Programme. This mark had been... 

Parliament’s defence committee wants answers on SANDF deaths in battle in the DRC

While expressing sadness at the deaths of nine South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers in a battle in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Parliament’s Joint Standing... 

New senior director of Stellenbosch Business School announced

Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) Stellenbosch Business School has announced the appointment of its new senior director. He is Professor Chris van der Hoven and his appointment took effect on... 

South Africa represented on international STEMM women's expedition to Antarctica

An expedition composed of 124 women from 24 countries, including South Africa, will depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, next Tuesday (January 28), to gain first-hand experience of the Antarctic. The... 

Aviation manufacturers’ supply chain issues hitting the world’s airlines

The severe supply chain issues currently afflicting both airframe and aero engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is having a noticeable effect on the world’s airlines, the International... 

Think tank warns of potential impact on South African agriculture of EU pesticide bans

South African think tank, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), has warned that the EU’s European Green Deal strategic roadmap could pose a challenge for South African agriculture, in... 

Cape Town International Airport saw a record number of international passengers in 2024

Cape Town Air Access, a public-private initiative headed by Western Cape trade, tourism and investment promotion agency Wesgro, has announced that Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) chalked up... 

UCT researchers announce discovery of a giant, and unusual, radio galaxy

Scientists from the University of Cape Town (UCT), using South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array in the Karoo, have discovered a rare giant radio galaxy (GRG). They have named it “Inkathazo”,... 

ACSA reports OR Tambo airport has fuel for January; it is now working on February supply

The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has assured that its flagship OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), east of Johannesburg, now has enough jet fuel to meet demand for the rest of this... 

African development finance institution successfully issues its first perpetual hybrid bond

African development finance institution, the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), has announced that it has successfully priced its first ever perpetual hybrid bond issue. This issue has a value of... 

Airbus leaves troubled Boeing far behind in terms of airliner deliveries last year

The depth of the issues facing US aerospace giant Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes business, and the scale of the lead taken by its arch-rival, Europe-based Airbus, came sharply into focus with the... 

Airports worldwide likely to rely on debt to fund their large capital investments

Airports around the world will probably have to rely heavily on debt financing to pay for their expansion, refurbishment and maintenance programmes in the coming years, Canada-based global credit... 

Ratings agency forecasts continued growth for global airlines this year

Canada-based global credit ratings agency Morningstar DBRS (the world’s fourth largest credit ratings agency) has forecast that the global airline sector will continue to see growth this year,... 

African development financier gets AAA rating from Chinese ratings agency

African infrastructure and industrial investment catalysing agency, the African Finance Corporation (AFC), has announced that ratings agency China Chengxin International Credit Rating (CCXI) had... 

Plans are being made to avoid a fuel shortage at OR Tambo airport following a refinery fire

The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has reported that it has received assurances from the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa (FIASA) that risk mitigation measures are being... 

Global air passenger demand continues strong growth in November – IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported sustained growth in global air passenger demand for November, with total demand rising by 8.1% year-on-year. This growth was driven... 

Air cargo demand continues to grow strongly, IATA data shows

November last year was the sixteenth consecutive month of growth in air cargo demand, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. “It was a good November for air cargo with... 

Airlink resumes flights to Nampula

South African domestic and regional airline Airlink has announced that it is resuming flights to Nampula on Thursday. It had suspended flights to the Mozambican destination because of threats that... 

Dassault boosts aircraft deliveries

Renowned French aerospace group Dassault Aviation has announced its aircraft delivery totals for last year, along with the total numbers of aircraft ordered during the year. The company specialises...