Research Channel | Advanced Search - Research Channel Africa

Back All

Transnet volumes, revenue up, but falls short of recovery targets

Published: 26 Apr 24

State-owned Transnet has reported a 1.5% year-on-year improvement in the total rail volumes reaching 151.7-million tonnes at the end of March 2024, showcasing improvement in operational performance. However, this figure still fell 1.8% short of Transnet’s recovery plan target of 154.4-million tonnes for the 2023/24 financial year. Speaking at a media briefing at the Transnet Freight Rail headquarters in Johannesburg on Friday, Transnet group CEO Michelle Phillips acknowledged that while several metrics indicate positive momentum, challenges persist.

Eskom says generation recovery plan gathering momentum

Published: 26 Apr 24

During a State of the System address hosted on Friday, Eskom confirmed its generation recovery plan (GRP) is making tangible progress, with various coal-fired power station units having been refurbished, repaired or optimised. Launched in April 2023 following extensive stakeholder engagements, including with power station managers, the GRP aims to address challenges affecting South Africa’s energy availability factor (EAF) within a two-year timeframe.

LHWP tunnel closure won’t have significant impact on water supplies, assures DWS

Published: 26 Apr 24

The upcoming six-month closure of the Lesotho Highlands tunnel, from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, for scheduled maintenance is not expected to have a significant impact or disruption on Gauteng’s water supply. The shutdown will result in an 80-million-cubic-metre shortfall during 2024 in the water supply from the critical Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) to the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS).

View of the Cape Flats Managed Aquifer Recharge Programme

Cape Town budgets R5.3bn for water and sanitation capital projects

Published: 26 Apr 24

The City of Cape Town (CoCT) says its total proposed budget for water and sanitation for the upcoming 2024/25 financial year is R18.5-billion. Of this, R5.3-billion will be spent on capital projects, while R13.2-billion is allocated to operations.

Hyundai unveils nano cooling film able to slash interior heat in cars

Published: 26 Apr 24

The Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled what it says is the world’s first application of a nano cooling film. The South Korean car maker describes the film as “a revolutionary vehicle window tint that offers a significant improvement in interior cooling performance compared to conventional tint films”.

Eskom anticipates limited winter loadshedding amid generation improvements

Published: 26 Apr 24

Newly appointed Eskom group CEO Dan Marokane has provided assurances that loadshedding during the upcoming winter months will likely be contained at Stage 2, thanks to improvements in generation performance across the coal-fired power station fleet. As of April 26, Eskom has marked 30 consecutive days without loadshedding, which Marokane said on Friday was a “good moment” to reflect on. He attributed the achievement to the success of the generation recovery plan (GRP) implemented by the State-owned power utility since April 2023.

COP29 climate summit host Azerbaijan defends oil and gas investments

Published: 26 Apr 24

Azerbaijan, host of this year's UN climate summit, will defend the right of oil and gas producing nations to invest in the sector, the country's president said on Friday, noting that despite climate targets, fossil fuel demand remains strong. As the host of the United Nations COP29 climate summit in November, Azerbaijan will oversee negotiations among nearly 200 countries on how to raise more finance to combat climate change and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions heating the planet.

Kibo subsidiary progressing Pyebridge asset

Published: 26 Apr 24

Kibo Energy’s subsidiary, Mast Energy Developments (MED), has received official confirmation that its Pyebridge 9 MW flexible power generation asset in England has passed its satisfactory performance days (SPD) requirements under its current existing T-1 capacity market (CM) contract. This means that Pyebridge will retain the current CM contract’s associated yearly gross profit margin income of about £308 000 which is paid and received monthly in arrears.

Namibian Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta officially opens the new $1.2-million plastic flaking plant in Okhanja

Coca Cola’s Namibia recycling partnership turns bottles into brighter futures

Published: 26 Apr 24

An investment of more than $1.2-million through a partnership between Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) and plastic packaging company Plastic Packaging has culminated in the opening of a new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flaking plant in Okahandja, Namibia. The plant is expected to double the capacity of the only mechanical recycler of plastic waste in the country.

Cover image for Creamer Media's Africa Mining Pip 2024

Africa Mining Projects in Progress 2024

Published: 26 Apr 24

There is a significant, virtually unparalleled opportunity and “appetite” for Africa’s minerals and metals. Consequently, Africa potentially stands to benefit considerably from this minerals windfall owing to its vast resources and reserves. Creamer Media’s ‘Africa Mining Projects in Progress 2024’ report covers almost 40 mining projects across Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa, all offering very compelling mining propositions given the demand for the minerals and metals required for the worldwide shift towards renewable energy, which is projected to increase threefold by 2040.