Research Channel | Advanced Search - Research Channel Africa

Back All

A man standing on a podium at last years Enlit Africa Event

Organisers expect record attendance at event

Published: 10 May 24

With ballooning foot traffic, demonstrated by an increase in attendance of 81% from 2022 to 2023, the organisers of this year’s Enlit Africa anticipate a “bumper event that will be attended by global dignitaries and industry leaders”. The Enlit Africa 2024 will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from May 28 to 30.

UNDER PRESSURE
Mammoet was tasked to lift and skid an 850 t concrete tunnel section 40 m beneath railway lines in Belgium

Tunnel section installed emissions-free using battery power

Published: 10 May 24

A standard skidding operation evolved into an opportunity for heavy lifting solutions provider Mammoet to showcase its ability to reduce the carbon footprint of civil projects while minimising disruption. Mammoet was tasked by multidisciplinary infrastructure company Stadsbader Contractors to lift and skid an 850 t concrete tunnel section 40 m beneath railway lines in Belgium.

Blue Energy, wheel maker ink green power deal

Published: 10 May 24

Local developer and operator of clean energy infrastructure Blue Energy Africa has signed a 20-year deal with Borbet South Africa (SA) for the procurement of power from renewable-energy sources. Founded in 1962 by Peter Wilhelm Borbet, the family-owned company has five locations in Germany, as well as one each in Austria and South Africa, with the latter in Gqeberha.

UK, South African universities partner to establish water security forum

Published: 09 May 24

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) and UK-based Cranfield University Centre for Water, Environment and Development (CWED) are partnering to establish a cross-stakeholder consortium to achieve water security in Johannesburg. The Johannesburg Community of Practice for Water Security (CoP4H2O), which was announced during a UJ/Cranfield-hosted webinar on Thursday, aims to address the critical water issues impacting Johannesburg, and across South Africa.

Accenture sales and commerce lead Africa Mushambi Mutuma.

South African companies struggling to keep pace with e-commerce growth

Published: 09 May 24

While the cost of doing business is increasing, as companies grapple with ad hoc systems, legacy technology, skills gaps and poor infrastructure, global e-commerce companies with a “wealth of know-how” are rapidly intensifying competition. Hence, the influx of best-in-class global players into the South African market is reshaping industry dynamics, posing a challenge for local companies across the board, according to a report published by global professional services company Accenture.

Deadline for latest battery procurement also extended as IPPs adjust to Eskom’s new grid access rules

Published: 09 May 24

The deadline for South Africa’s recently launched third battery energy storage bidding round, or bid window three (BW3), has been extended by three months to October 31, following a recent deadline extension for the concurrent second battery bidding round from April 30 to June 6. Independent Power Producer Office head Bernard Magoro indicated during a Battery Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (BESIPPPP) briefing that the BW3 extension had been granted on May 8, following requests from prospective bidders and amid ongoing congestion in securing grid-access cost estimate letters (CELs) from Eskom.

Underspending on repairs, maintenance impacting on Joburg infrastructure – JoburgCAN

Published: 09 May 24

Following a decade of underspending on repairs and maintenance on infrastructure, JoburgCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), says it is “gravely concerned” over the budget allocations for the maintenance of fixed assets in the City of Johannesburg’s draft budget for 2024/25. “The City of Johannesburg again plans to spend less than the national norm on maintaining its ageing infrastructure,” says JoburgCAN manager Julia Fish.

Genuine progress, not electioneering, behind the easing of loadshedding, council says

Published: 09 May 24

The current loadshedding reprieve is not a result of excessive diesel burning to pacify voters but rather a consequence of government and business coming together to made headway in solving South Africa’s electricity crisis, Energy Council of South Africa (ECSA) CEO James Mackay has said. Sceptical South Africans have been speculating that the weeks-long halt in loadshedding was a ploy by the ruling party to obtain more votes ahead of the May 20 national elections.

A Multi-Application Fuel Efficient Cookstove

New clean cooking equipment factory opened in Paarl

Published: 09 May 24

Clean and renewable energy solutions company Ener-G-Africa (EGA) on Thursday officially opened its new biomass stove and cookware manufacturing facility, in the Western Cape province town of Paarl. The factory will produce two different types of stoves, and two different ranges of cooking pots. “Our factory is a stainless steel factory, using only South African manufactured stainless steel, which is world-class,” highlights EGA business development manager Dave Lello. “We have equipped it with the latest technology machines, including a fibre laser cutter, a range of presses, bending machines, and polishing machines, among others.”

Image of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

More than 430 Cape Town households apply to sell their excess power

Published: 09 May 24

A total of 432 Cape Town households have applied to earn cash from selling their excess solar power to the city. These applications will now be assessed to determine their eligibility.