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New Zealand to introduce bill to reverse oil and gas exploration ban

Published: 10 Jun 24

w Zealand's government said on Sunday it would introduce legislation to remove a controversial ban on offshore petroleum exploration to attract investment to the country's oil and gas sector. The bill would end the ban, in place since 2018, on exploration outside onshore Taranaki, an energy-rich region on New Zealand's North Island, Resources Minister Shane Jones said in a statement.

Lack of public transportation integration undermining service delivery

Published: 07 Jun 24

A lack of proper integration with regard to urban public transportation systems has led to inefficiencies and duplications, with some routes and areas being overserved while others suffer from a complete lack of service, Aecom Africa transport operations leader and market sector leader transit executive Chris Britz has said. Speaking during a Unitrans-hosted Transport Forum webinar on June 6, where challenges and opportunities facing the passenger road-based transportation sector of South Africa were discussed by various experts, he said South Africa’s public transportation was inefficient because of the fragmented nature of the day-to-day operations.

Study areas for the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the proposed Boegoebaai Port, Special Economic Zone, and broader Namakwa Region

CSIR conducting strategic environmental assessment for proposed Boegoebaai port, SEZ

Published: 07 Jun 24

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) says it is leading the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) that is being undertaken for the Northern Cape’s planned green hydrogen production facilities in a proposed new special economic zone (SEZ), as well as a port, at Boegoebaai. The spatial area for the SEA includes the proposed port, the associated SEZ adjacent to the port and the broader Namakwa region.

First-quarter contraction demonstrates GDP growth volatility – TIPS

Published: 07 Jun 24

GDP contracted by 0.1% in the first quarter of this year, underscoring the increased volatility of GDP growth since the Covid-19 pandemic started in 2020, said nonprofit economic research institution Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS). The GDP declined in five quarters over the past three years, compared with nine from 1994 to 2018. The volatility resulted, in part, from extraordinary fluctuations in global mining prices, as well as shortfalls in infrastructure.

Circular economy gaining traction in Africa, but still layered onto linear economies

Published: 07 Jun 24

There are various local, regional and international initiatives that are assessing and driving circular economy practices in Africa, but the transformation of existing linear economies remains chequered. Strategic interventions are needed to embed new circular economic paradigms in Africa and in the regional bloc Southern African Development Community (SADC), said researchers from independent public policy think tank South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

Professor calls for support to grow marine geosciences to understand oceans

Published: 07 Jun 24

Prior to the United Nations World Oceans Day on June 8, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Professor of Marine Geology and University of Ulster in Northern Ireland visiting Professor Andrew Green has called for more support to grow the field of marine geosciences in South Africa. Ocean environments are slowly becoming degraded, with 90% of big fish populations depleted, and 50% of coral reefs destroyed.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the party views a GNU was “the best option to move our country forward”

Big business backs speedy formation of ‘stable GNU’

Published: 07 Jun 24

Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), whose members are drawn from the largest domestic and multinational businesses operating in the country, has backed the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) proposal for the formation of a government of national unity (GNU) to end the electoral stalemate that has arisen after no single party secured an outright majority in the May 29 poll. In a statement published following ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa’s late night announcement that the party’s national executive committee had agreed that a GNU was “the best option to move our country forward”, BLSA urged parties to act with urgency to form a stable government.

An image showing Kropz's Elandsfontein mine

ARC portfolio companies demonstrate resilience in challenging conditions

Published: 07 Jun 24

JSE-listed African Rainbow Capital (ARC) Investments says that, despite an unfavourable macroeconomic environment for the quarter ended March 31, several portfolio companies have demonstrated resilience, and it remains committed to identifying promising investment opportunities In an update on strategic matters and a performance overview of the significant investments in the ARC Fund for the period, including major developments to the end of April, the company says that significant challenges, including elevated interest rates, high unemployment levels and pressure on disposable incomes, persisted.

ECA, Geidco, Apua launch training programme for EV, energy storage technologies sectors

Published: 07 Jun 24

The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organisation (Geidco) and the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (Apua) have launched a joint training programme on ‘Sharing Electric Vehicle (EV) and Energy Storage Technologies (EST) for Africa’s Sustainable Development.’ The training programme, which is running virtually from June 4 to 14, has attracted more than 140 participants from 25 African countries, ranging from transport and energy ministries, energy commissions and power companies to academia, as well as representatives of the ECA and African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Tivan awarded NT exploration grants

Published: 07 Jun 24

The Northern Territory (NT) government has granted Tivan exploration grant funding for two applications made for the Sandover project. The applications were for funding under Round 17 of the Northern Territory geophysics and drilling collaborations programme.