Launch of SAWEM promising for the wind sector, but there are risks to be addressed

The upcoming launch of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) – currently scheduled for April 1 next year – is generally welcomed by representatives of the wind power industry,... 

Transmission gridlock is a big concern for the South African wind power sector

The bottlenecks in South Africa’s national transmission grid, referred to as gridlock, are a major concern for the country’s wind power sector. This was highlighted during a panel discussion on the... 

Local wind energy sector encouraged by IRP 2025

The recently released details regarding the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 have been welcomed by the South African wind energy sector. The new IRP provided for 34 000 MW of onshore wind... 

Kenyan and Qatari national flag carriers have concluded a codeshare agreement

Kenya Airways and Qatar Airways have entered into a codeshare agreement, that covers 19 destinations, the two carriers have announced. The codesharing will commence on this coming Sunday, October... 

Regional airlines association has elected its next chairperson, deputy chairperson

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has elected its incoming chairperson and deputy chairperson, at its fifty-fifth Annual General Assembly (AGA), which was held in Lusaka, Zambia,... 

Africa needs to exploit all its energy resources to generate electricity

Africa needs to exploit all the energy resources that it possesses, including coal, to generate electricity. So affirmed Nigerian enterprise Heirs Energy’s head of commercial operations, Joseph... 

South Africa’s airspace safety failures are an economic disaster

Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) CEO Aaron Munetsi has called out South Africa for its safety failures and operational inefficiencies in the sphere of aviation. He was addressing the... 

Industry pushing solar energy in South Africa

Industry is the biggest driver of solar energy adoption in South Africa. This was highlighted by Stellenbosch University Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies senior researcher Dr... 

Africa should prioritise value creation over resource export

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... 

South Africa can sustainably tap its hydrocarbon reserves

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,... 

Centralised grid, with diversified generation, is best electricity supply option for South Africa

Despite well-known issues, South Africa has a much higher rate of electrification than most other African countries. In Cape Town, 98% of the population has access to electricity, and the remaining... 

Western Cape developing energy sustainability through renewables ahead of schedule

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde highlighted on Wednesday that South Africa still faces an energy crisis. Although loadshedding (scheduled rotating power cuts) has stopped, the country is still... 

IATA highlights billions in costs to airlines of aircraft assembly supply chain delays

Disruptions in the airliner manufacturing supply chain are costing the world’s airlines billions of dollars, the global representative body for the airline industry, the International Air Transport... 

Companies enter joint development agreement for Mpumalanga gas project

ASX-listed Kinetiko Energy (and its subsidiary, Afro Energy) and South African industrial heating fuel supplier FFS Refiners have entered into a binding joint development agreement (JDA) for a... 

The CSIR celebrates 80 years of supporting South Africa’s industry and public sector

This year marks the eightieth anniversary of the founding of South Africa’s internationally-renowned Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Arguably the country’s premier science... 

Two CEOs rising high and jointly launching new equipment to provide safety to their clients

South African integrated security and safety solutions group Fidelity Services group (Fidelity) and its recently acquired subsidiary, local specialised integrated security, facilities management... 

Two CEOs rising high and jointly launching new equipment to provide safety to their clients

South African integrated security and safety solutions group Fidelity Services group (Fidelity) and its recently acquired subsidiary, local specialised integrated security, facilities management... 

Global transition to clean energy drives forward, despite US backsliding

Norway-based independent risk management and assurance group DNV reports, in the ninth edition of its “Energy Transition Outlook”, that the policy reversals in the US regarding clean energy are... 

Inaugural South Africa-Japan Defence Industry Seminar has been held in Tokyo

South African defence acquisitions (and disposals and research and development agency) Armscor reported on Wednesday that it had recently led a South African defence industry delegation to Japan,... 

UK launches project to allow marine AI systems to read essential navigational data

Renowned British marine geospatial data, seabed mapping, and chart-producing agency, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), and British maritime autonomy software company Marine AI, have jointly... 

UKZN and local space company sign agreement on suborbital rocket launch facility

The Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has signed an exclusive agreement with South African private-sector space company Mura Space. The agreement... 

Nuclear regulator has completed public consultation process about extending Koeberg’s life

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) announced on Monday that it has completed the third and final round of public consultations regarding national electricity utility Eskom’s application for... 

Armscor has transferred two helicopters to the SAPS

South African defence procurement, disposals and research and development agency Armscor announced on Monday that it had handed two helicopters over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) Air... 

In mining, sustainability and profitability go hand-in-hand

Increasing the sustainability of mining operations does not mean reducing their profitability. This was the key message from Hexagon Mining senior business development manager Reece Hanning, who... 

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... 

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...