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Electricity, logistics reforms in the spotlight as coalition govt looms

Published: 31 May 24

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the coalition scenarios facing South Africa as the election results are being tallied and what this could mean for the reforms under way in electricity and freight logistics.

Students should use AI to interrogate knowledge, not just answer questions, IT experts advise

Published: 31 May 24

AI-based systems can provide personalised learning experiences, as well as identify students' strengths and weaknesses and adjust teaching to better facilitate and accelerate learning, IT industry experts said during a discussion on AI in education hosted by Regenesys Business School, in Sandton, on May 28. They stressed, however, that using AI-based systems, such as generative AI (genAI), to only generate answers without a student applying critical thinking and reasoning does not help to develop skills and is merely skimming the surface.

Queensland outlaws carbon storage in Australia's biggest aquifer

Published: 31 May 24

Australia's Queensland state will ban carbon capture and storage in a giant aquifer that spans much of its territory, the state government said on Friday, after an outcry from farmers who said such projects could poison their water supply. The decision closes one route to decarbonisation in Queensland, which aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 75% from 2005 levels by 2035 and achieve net zero by 2050.

Rio Tinto secures future of NZ aluminium smelter, acquires full ownership

Published: 31 May 24

Commodities giant Rio Tinto announced on Friday that it would keep New Zealand’s sole aluminium smelter operational until at least 2044, following the completion of new 20-year electricity supply agreements. The Tiwai Point smelter, owned and operated New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS), has secured these contracts with key energy providers.

Air passenger demand continues to grow strongly, reports IATA

Published: 31 May 24

Global air passenger demand continued to increase in April, in year-on-year (y-o-y) terms, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA was the representative body for the global airline industry.) Total passenger demand was up 11%, with international demand rising 15.8% and domestic demand increasing 4%. Total capacity rose 9.6%, with international capacity increasing by 14.8% and domestic capacity by 2.1%. The total global load factor in April was 82.4%, which was a one percentage point (ppt) increase, y-o-y. The international load factor was 82.2% (up 0.7 ppt) and the domestic load factor reached 82.6% (a rise of 1.5 ppt).

Nigeria secures $500m World Bank loan for electricity sector

Published: 31 May 24

Nigeria has secured a $500-million World Bank loan for its electricity sector to boost power distribution, after last month's hike in tariffs for top consumers in Africa's most populous nation. The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), the country's privatisation agency, on Thursday said the loan was approved by the World Bank in 2021 and included the government's borrowing plan this month after achieving some milestones.

UKZN student support services manager Dr Saloschini Pillay

UKZN using automated solution to monitor, support students' academic and holistic wellness

Published: 31 May 24

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has piloted an automated student academic and holistic wellness solution among 9 000 students in the College of Health Sciences and aims to roll the solution out to the entire university of 53 000 students, UKZN student support services manager Dr Saloschini Pillay has said. The automated student wellness and academic transformation (SWAT) programme evolved from the Teaching and Learning and Student Support Services, and the Academic Monitoring and Support programmes the university put in place in 2005 to support especially first-year students through regular engagement.

An image of a mineworker in an underground mining operation

Mine consultancy offers software suite for streamlining mine management

Published: 31 May 24

On the back of mine health and safety remaining an international talking point, mining industry operational software solutions provider Mineware Consulting has developed an innovative AI-powered feature aimed at transforming risk mitigation processes in the mining industry. With a spotlight on mine health and safety, the company notes that significant efforts are being poured into the management and mitigation of risk to personnel, as well as work stoppages resulting from health and safety incidents.

Acquisition boosts asset, fleet management solutions

Published: 31 May 24

Mining technology solutions provider Datamine aims to expand its asset and fleet management solutions for mining, industrial and construction operations, through its parent software development company Vela’s acquisition of Samtech – a Latin America-based fleet management, machine performance and telematics software and hardware provider. Datamine will also be responsible for the global distribution of Samtech’s products to mining industry players, including the overarching monitoring system for all equipment types. These products are likely to complement Datamine’s Sodep Minetrack dispatch solution.

An image of a plant in the digital twin format

Digital twins as test beds for planning

Published: 31 May 24

Digital twins can, and should, be used by mine operators as a “testing ground for analysis and scenario planning”, as well as to provide real-time feedback through Internet of Things (IoT) sensors as a means to optimise production, reports Geospatial solutions company 5DGEO principal and professional land surveyor Chris Kirchhoff. The company equips South African mines with digital twins – a digital profile of the current and historical behaviour of a physical asset and related processes – to streamline mining operations and enhance various processes by using three-dimensional (3D) scanning, drone-mapping and mobile laser-scanning to process real-time, on-site 3D data into information that can be easily interpreted, he says.