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Intern at work for Nordex Energy South Africa

Nordex Energy South Africa progresses impactful internship programme

Published: 27 May 24

Original-equipment manufacturer Nordex Energy South Africa (Nesa) is progressing well with an internship programme for promising young engineers and technicians across three provinces. The programme, which was launched in November last year, aims to build a skilled pipeline of technicians in the wind sector, which is crucial for achieving the country’s energy transition goals.

Just Share unhappy that its question was not addressed at AMSA’s AGM

Published: 27 May 24

Nonprofit activist organisation Just Share has accused ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) of sub-par AGM governance because the chairperson closed the company’s AGM on May 24 before addressing a question posed by the nonprofit. “This is surprising given the high levels of civil society engagement at its AGMs in recent years,” Just Share said on May 27, while noting that this was the first AMSA AGM it had attended.

Barloworld profit dips as slowdown in local mining industry takes its toll

Published: 27 May 24

Barloworld’s South African businesses continued to face a myriad of challenging trading conditions, says CEO Dominic Sewela. Announcing the group’s financial results for the six months ended March 31, Sewela said on Monday that Barloworld’s domestic operations had had to contend with a constrained local macroeconomic environment, inflationary cost pressures, as well as relatively higher borrowing costs affecting both businesses and households.

South African food inflation continued a downward trend in April

Published: 27 May 24

In April, for the second month in a row, year-on-year (y-o-y) South African food and non-alcoholic beverage (NAB) inflation (hereafter to be referred to as food inflation, for short) ran at a rate below that for consumer price index (CPI) headline inflation, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) has reported. April was also the fifth consecutive month which recorded a decline in food inflation. The food inflation rate in April was 4.7%, while that for CPI headline inflation was 5.2%. Food inflation contributed 0.9 percentage points to CPI headline inflation in April. (Y-o-y food inflation in March had been 5.1%.) In month-on-month (m-o-m) terms, food inflation in April was 0.2%, whereas CPI headline inflation was 0.3%. Food inflation contributed zero percentage points to the m-o-m headline figure.

bp, Shell agree to sell Sapref land, associated assets to the CEF

Published: 27 May 24

Following successful negotiations, bp Southern Africa and Shell Downstream South Africa (SDSA) have reached an agreement for the sale of their respective 50% ownership of assets located at the Sapref refinery precinct, in KwaZulu-Natal, to South African State-owned entity the Central Energy Fund (CEF). The sale includes SDSA and bpSA’s interests in the Sapref land and other associated assets, which includes tanks, process units, pipelines to and from Sapref to Island View terminal, and the Single Buoy Mooring for crude imports.

An image showing Re-Purpose's reverse collection model

ALPLA, Re-Purpose partner to strengthen plastics cycle in South Africa

Published: 27 May 24

Plastic packaging manufacturer and recycler the ALPLA Group and waste repurposing company Re-Purpose have announced a strategic partnership that is expected to advance sustainable packaging solutions and strengthen the feedstock value chain of ALPLA’s first polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling facility in Africa. ALPLA is investing €60-million in the construction of a recycling plant in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.

A truck delivering coal to a power station

Uncertainty over coal jobs ahead of South Africa elections

Published: 27 May 24

Growing up surrounded by the towering smokestacks of coal-fired power stations, 22-year-old Siya Mokoena's life is inextricably linked to the coal industry that dominates his hometown of Emalahleni in South Africa's eastern province of Mpumalanga. Like many in Emalahleni, generations of Mokoena's family have worked in the coal sector. His father, a miner, was laid off in March when his mine was shut down.

Standard Bank undertakes largest student housing financing endeavour in Africa

Published: 27 May 24

Financial services provider Standard Bank has partnered with global advisory firm MiDA Advisors and real estate developer Acorn Holdings to mobilise long-term blended finance commitments for green and affordable student housing in Kenya. The transaction will comprise up to $180-million in financing from the US Development Finance Corporation, which should help to secure $380-million more financing arranged jointly by Stanbic Bank Kenya – a member of Standard Bank Group – and MiDA.

Transnet National Ports Authority Port of Ngqura harbour master Captain Thulani Dubeko

African Harbour Masters’ Committee elects Transnet harbour master as president

Published: 27 May 24

The African Harbour Masters’ Committee (AHMC) has elected South African State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Port of Ngqura harbour master Captain Thulani Dubeko as its new president. He has served as the committee’s VP since October 2022.

Grundfos at Nampo 2024

Published: 27 May 24

Global pump manufacturer Grundfos water utilities regional product manager Stephan Venter speaks to Engineering News about the role the company is playing in the digitalisation of agriculture, displaying its product offering at Nampo 2024, which was held from May 14 to 17, near Bothaville, in the Free State.