Capetonians will soon enjoy the ultra-convenience of vending machines dispensing LPGas! GAZ2GO outlets will be manufactured in South Africa creating much needed jobs…

A new process being pioneered by energy companies such as Israel-based Helios and Netherlands-based Alkalium proposes the use of sodium metal rather than coal or hydrogen to refine iron-ore into direct reduced iron (DRI). Traditionally, iron is beneficiated by mixing iron-ore fines with coal. The iron oxide (Fe2O3), when heated in a furnace, undergoes a chemical transformation whereby the oxygen molecules from the Fe2O3 bind with the carbon molecules in the coal, creating carbon dioxide (CO2) as a by-product and leaving pure iron behind.

The Biden administration on Friday took steps to limit both oil and gas drilling and mining in Alaska, angering state officials who said the restrictions will cost jobs and make the US reliant on foreign resources. The measures are aligned with President Joe Biden's efforts to rein in oil and gas activities on public lands and conserve 30% of US lands and waters to combat climate change.

The emerging use of electrofuel (eFuel) as an interchangeable substitute for petrol, diesel and aviation fuel has the potential to create important new demand for Southern Africa’s platinum group metals (PGMs). This is because eFuel is a combination of green hydrogen and waste carbon dioxide (CO2) and demand for PGMs will arise when proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers are used to generate the green hydrogen. PGMs and PEMs go hand-in-glove.

Global corrosion protection company Cortec Corporation highlights that its CorroLogic VpCI-339 fogging fluid is fast, effective and convenient in addressing the challenges of void and corrosion in equipment, piping and structures. This fogging fluid protects void spaces, complex internal cavities, double wall spaces, pipes, heat exchangers and modules, and can be applied within the transportation and deep storage of key assets.

The recent period of decreased loadshedding has been met with tremendous scepticism by a South African public who have been burnt more times over the past 15-plus years than a lump of wet coal. Most distant observers attribute the reprieve purely to the upcoming May 29 poll, and fully expect a return of intense power disruptions once the electoral dust has settled.

Cryogenics technology and expertise are becoming increasingly important as South Africa plans on leaning into using liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a major source of energy, Howden senior application engineer Pieter Swart said at mine ventilation solutions developer Howden’s Technology Day, hosted at Mintek, in Johannesburg on April 17. Cryogenics also played a crucial role in the handling of helium, which played a critical role in scientific research, medical technology, high-tech manufacturing, space exploration and national defence initiatives, he added.

Canada's federal budget on Tuesday unveiled few emissions-cutting policies, but climate advocates say the key for Justin Trudeau's Liberal government is to prioritise implementation of existing programs ahead of next year's election that could see the Conservatives clinching power. Canada, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. Trudeau's Liberals have announced a number of measures to hit that target, including an oil and gas emissions cap, methane regulations and investment tax credits in clean electricity and carbon capture and storage, but progress has been slow compared with other nations.

Australian oil and gas producer Santos said on Thursday its first-quarter revenue fell about 14%, hurt by lower production across its product portfolio and a decline in volumes in recent months. Severe weather events and planned maintenance activities hurt production, while sales revenue was hit primarily due to lower liquefied natural gas and ethane volumes, partly offset by higher realised prices.

Standard Bank head of Southern Africa’s oil and gas coverage Paul Eardley-Taylor has suggested that South Africa needs 13 GW of gas-to-power (GtP) capacity, rather than the 7.2 GW to 8.6 GW outlined in the draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023. Speaking at mine ventilation solutions developer Howden’s Technology Day, hosted at Mintek, in Johannesburg, on April 17, he explained that this calculation was made by considering the need to overcome Stage 6 or even Stage 7 loadshedding, when Stage 6 was being regularly achieved, as well as ensure a 15% reserve margin for winter peak demand.