Новости за 25.03.2024

The copper mining project that Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Harmony Gold is developing in Australia has been granted special ‘prescribed project’ status in recognition of its social and economic significance. Harmony, which acquired Eva in December 2022, is currently updating a feasibility study to underpin its proposed development, which is located on the traditional lands of the Kalkadoon People, 75 km north of Cloncurry and 95 km northeast of Mount Isa.

Amid increasing emphasis on sustainability, this year’s inaugural Biodiversity Economy and Investment Indaba emphasises the importance of growing the South African biodiversity economy under the theme of ‘Collective Action for Thriving People and Nature.’ Cabinet recently noted the review of the National Biodiversity Economy Strategy (NBES), which was at the centre of discussions at the indaba.

During industry organisation Consulting Engineers South Africa's (Cesa's) recent Infrastructure Indaba, procurement of goods and services emerged as a critical theme of discussion, underscoring the pivotal role procurement plays in delivering affordable and quality public infrastructure. Participants and speakers emphasised the importance of achieving value for money through efficient risk transfer and pricing strategies and highlighting the need for strategic alignment between societal needs, economic imperatives and procurement practices... Читать дальше...

Investment into climate mitigating strategies, as outlined in the City of Johannesburg’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), could create as many as 340 000 jobs, while investment into climate adaptation strategies could create an additional 77 000 jobs, Johannesburg executive mayor Kabelo Gwamanda has said. He said these strategies were aimed at improving the lives of the most vulnerable groups, while also creating jobs and providing opportunities to tackle structural challenges.

President Cyril Ramaphosa averred on Monday that the suggestion that South Africa’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could lead to a deterioration of its relations with the US is unfounded.   South Africa brought a case to the International Court of Justice, where it argued that the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza violated international law and included actions that are prohibited under the Genocide Convention, to which South Africa, Israel and many other countries are signatories.

North-West University (NWU) Professor Louis du Preez and his team of researchers have discovered a new species of African bullfrog, Pyxicephalus beytelli, which is the fourth species of bullfrog identified in Southern Africa. The species occurs in parts of northeastern Namibia, southern Angola, southwestern Zambia and northwestern Botswana.

China’s GAC Motor has appointed Salvador Caetano Auto as the distributor and retailer of GAC vehicles, spare parts and related services in South Africa (SA). GAC Motor is a subsidiary of the State-owned GAC Group, and was founded in 1997. The brand joins a rapidly growing number of Chinese vehicles on sale in South Africa.

Independent think tank, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), believes that the year-on-year (y-o-y) decline in the country’s agricultural sector gross domestic product (GDP) last year, as reported by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), is seriously in error. BFAP analysed the available data in its latest brief report, “Perspectives on Agricultural Performance in Q4 of 2023”. Stats SA reported that the sector saw a drop in GDP of 12.2%, while BFAP’s analysis indicates that it was less than half... Читать дальше...

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that the Eskom board is considering lifting the current 1 000 MW allocation set aside for its Standard Offer Programme to 4 000 MW and extending the scheme beyond its initial three-year time horizon. Through the Standard Offer Programme Eskom can buy power from existing producers, mostly industrial groups, at a set price calculated based on the avoided cost of its own generation, including long-term purchases from independent power producers.

Real estate investment trust Attacq's Nexus 1 building, in Waterfall City, which also serves as its headquarters, has received Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification. Nexus 1 has become the first Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Green Star-certified building in South Africa to also attain EDGE certification.

A consortium, led by infrastructure-focused private equity fund manager African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), has signed an agreement to acquire fibre network operator Octotel. The consortium, which includes infrastructure and energy impact fund STOA and Thebe Investment Corporation, is acquiring Octotel from sustainable infrastructure global investor Actis.

Law firm DLA Piper has appointed Kalidou Gadio as co-chairperson of the US-Africa Practice based out of its Washington DC office. He brings deep knowledge of the sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and North Africa regions, having previously spent 27 years at development finance institution the African Development Bank (AfDB), including eight years as general counsel.

The Agricultural Business Chamber (Agbiz) and Industrial Development Corporation’s Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) has remained unchanged in the first quarter of the year at a level of 40. This followed a deterioration of ten points to 40 in the fourth quarter of last year.

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reports that Eskom’s eight “lender groups” have given their consent to the establishment of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) as a separate subsidiary under Eskom Holdings. Bondholder consent was one of several key approvals required ahead of the operationalisation of the NTCSA, officially scheduled for April 1, alongside the appointment of an independent board and licensing approvals from the regulator.

Kenyan air cargo carrier Astral Aviation (Astral) and Abu Dhabi-based United Arab Emirates operator Etihad Cargo, the logistics and cargo business of Etihad Airways, have announced the functional start of their collaboration, with the completion of the first flight between Nairobi and Abu Dhabi. This collaboration was made possible by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two carriers. This inaugural flight took place on Thursday. The MoU allows Astral to access Etihad Cargo’s global network... Читать дальше...

Industry body the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has appointed Gerrit van der Merwe chairperson for the next two-year term. Outgoing chairperson Hannes de Waal will now become one of two vice-chairpeople, as is normal in the board’s leadership rotational structure. De Waal’s fellow vice-chairperson will be Jan-Louis Pretorius.

As government considers the public comments made on the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023 up to March 23, shareholder activism organisation Just Share has called for a remodel of the policy, with “updated data and correct assumptions”. The organisation says the draft IRP does not comply with a single one of the aims of an IRP.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are an important mechanism to bring together the strengths of government and business, including the technical and management capabilities of the private sector and the risk-bearing capability of the public sector, to ensure infrastructure is built fast, at a high quality and then managed well. There has been growth in public confidence that partnerships between business and government can lead to more trustworthy management of technology-led changes.

Zambia and Zimbabwe are retendering a $5-billion project to build a hydropower plant they previously awarded to General Electric Co. and Power Construction Corp. of China, and expect to select new bidders by September next year, an official said. The Zambezi River Authority — a joint venture between the countries that maintains the Kariba Dam complex — expects to receive bids from potential developers by April 2025 and select bidders five months after that, ZRA Chief Executive Officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said by email.

The European benchmark ferrochrome price for the second quarter of this year has been settled at $1.52/lb, 5.6% up on the first three months of 2024, Merafe Resources informed shareholders on Monday, March 25. Ferrochrome is a prime ingredient of stainless steel and most of the ferrochrome produced in South Africa is consumed by China, which is the world’s biggest producer of stainless steel

South Africa's first-quarter consumer confidence improved on the back of an uptick in the confidence levels of high-income households, suggesting retail sales volumes could gradually start to recover, according to a survey released on Monday. The consumer confidence index (CCI), sponsored by the First National Bank (FNB) and compiled by the Bureau for Economic Research, improved to minus 15 points from minus 17 points in the fourth quarter of 2023 and minus 23 points in the first quarter of 2023.

Telecommunications giant MTN Group unpacked a resilient set of 2023 financial results, despite elevated inflation in several key markets averaging a blended 16.7%, forex volatility and ongoing political tensions in some markets, and a sharp devaluation of the naira in Nigeria. During the year ended December 31, 2023, MTN Group’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), before one-off items, decreased 0.5% to R90.5-billion, with the Ebitda margin declining two percentage points to 40.9%... Читать дальше...

Development lender British International Investment said on Monday it had agreed a $100-million finance facility with the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) to boost trade finance, farming and food security in the region. The finance will help fund trade, including importing and exporting goods, on a continent where many debt burdened African economies face currency depreciation and rising debt and inflation compounded by issues such as climate change.

Logistics and supply chain company Unitrans has launched its upgraded centre of excellence (COE) to drive improvements in operating cost efficiencies and safety for drivers and vehicles, which are primary considerations for any logistics or freight company. “This state-of-the-art facility will drive value creation and operational excellence for our clients across Africa,” says Unitrans Solutions executive Jacques Greeff.

Pan-African industry association the African Private Capital Association (Avca) has reported, amid the release of its latest 'Venture Capital in Africa Report', that 2023 was a year of significant sociopolitical and economic upheaval, which led to a “global funding winter” that saw investors prioritise safer assets rather than venture capital investments. Avca notes that the global venture capital ecosystem has been in a steady global decline since 2022, falling to $285-billion in deal value last year, compared wtih $690-billion in 2021. Читать дальше...