Research Channel | Advanced Search - Research Channel Africa

Back NEWS

Volvo to launch trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen

Published: 06 Jun 24

Volvo Trucks says it is developing trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen. On-road tests will begin in 2026, and the global commercial launch is planned towards the end of this decade.

The transaction includes a 2.7% NSR royalty on the Kiaka gold project, owned by West African Resources.

B2Gold sells royalties to Versamet

Published: 06 Jun 24

Canada-based B2Gold on Thursday announced the sale of a portfolio of ten precious and base metals royalties to Sandbox Royalties, a private, returns-focused metals royalty company that has been renamed Versamet Royalties. The move, valued at about $90-million, is an opportunity for B2Gold to unlock the value of its royalties, which CEO Clive Johnson said had gone largely unrecognised by the market.

Solar panels in front of a Komati cooling tower

Eskom ‘decouples’ renewables roll-out from coal station closure plan

Published: 06 Jun 24

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane reports that a decision has been made to “decouple” the closure of its coal stations from the building, in partnership, of new renewable energy generation capacity linked to its goal of being a net-zero emitter by 2050 and the just energy transition strategy. In an address to members of the South African National Energy Association, Marokane also revealed that a board decision had been made for Eskom to participate directly in renewables projects on land adjacent to its existing power stations rather than releasing those grid-ready sites to private generators.

Image of the blackwater treatment plant at the V&A

Already green V&A Waterfront eyes starting up desalination plant; building second seawater cooling plant

Published: 06 Jun 24

Since starting its sustainability journey in 2008, the V&A Waterfront (V&A) in Cape Town has reduced its energy use by 40%, with 2 MW of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels generating 1 640 000 kWh of clean energy a year. The precinct has also diverted 62% of its waste from landfills. This includes more than 2 300 t of organic waste and 2 100 t of recycling every year.

Marokane says R285m spent on diesel in May compared with R2.8bn in May 2023

Published: 06 Jun 24

Eskom CEO Dan Marokane has rebuffed persistent suggestions that the utility is keeping loadshedding at bay owing to an “excessive” reliance on the diesel-fuelled open cycle gas turbines, reporting that it spent R285-million on diesel during May compared with R2.8-billion in the same month last year and against a budget for the month of R1.7-billion. Addressing the South African National Energy Association AGM against a backdrop of deep suspicion about how Eskom has managed to avoid resorting to rotational power cuts for 71 days, including over a highly competitive election period, Marokane attributed the stabilisation to the Generation Recovery Plan, which had been under way since March 2023.

Firetail’s stock catches alight with Canada copper acquisition

Published: 06 Jun 24

The share price of Australia-listed Firetail Resources skyrocketed 150% on Thursday, as the company unveiled a copper acquisition in Newfoundland, Canada. Firetail announced it had executed an option agreement for the acquisition of up to 80% of the York Harbour project through a staged earn-in.

South Africa’s telecoms companies face significant consumer sentiment challenges

Published: 06 Jun 24

The latest South African Telecommunications Sentiment Index, undertaken by PwC South Africa in collaboration with DataEQ, has revealed that the local telecommunications industry continues to face significant challenges related to consumer sentiment. An assessment of 1.62-million public mentions about Cell C, MTN, rain, Telkom and Vodacom from January 1 to December 31, 2023, found that, with a negative Net Sentiment score of -18.8%, local consumer sentiment toward telecommunications service providers lag other industries such as banking, insurance and retail.

TFR welcomes prison sentences for convicted cable thieves

Published: 06 Jun 24

State-owned Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has welcomed the recent arrest and conviction of four men for theft of essential infrastructure on its rail network. The Thabazimbi Regional Court on May 31 sentenced the four men to 49 years each for various charges related to the theft of essential infrastructure from the railway line between Northam and Dwaalboom, in Limpopo.

Absa, IFC unveil innovative climate-smart housing rebate

Published: 06 Jun 24

Financial services provider Absa, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has launched a new initiative within the South African residential market aimed at promoting sustainable green living. This three-year initiative, which takes the form of a rebate to customers, is expected to support prospective homeowners with the purchase of green-certified homes through the UK-IFC Market Accelerator for Green Construction (MAGC) programme.

West Red Lake aims for Madsen restart in H2 2025

Published: 06 Jun 24

TSX-V-listed West Red Lake is gearing up for a big year in 2025. After bolstering its financings through recent fundraisings, the company is setting its sights on restarting the Madsen gold mine, in Ontario, in the second half of next year. The company is currently working on a prefeasibility study (PFS) that will outline its the Madsen restart plan, with an expected release in early 2025.