Research Channel | Advanced Search - Research Channel Africa

Back All

Image of Maltento's Dominic Malan and Dean Smorenburg

Fly farmer Maltento opens laboratory to expand insect research

Published: 24 Apr 24

Fly farmer Maltento has unveiled a new laboratory at its insect breeding facility in Cape Town. The laboratory has been built to expand Maltento’s research on insect biotechnology, and aims to position the company as a leader in the functional ingredient and sustainability space.

Blue Energy signs 20-year green power deal with wheel manufacturer

Published: 24 Apr 24

Local developer and operator of clean energy infrastructure, Blue Energy Africa, has signed a 20-year deal with Borbet South Africa (SA) for the procurement of power from renewable-energy sources. Founded in 1962 by Peter Wilhelm Borbet, the family-owned company has five locations in Germany, as well as one each in Austria and South Africa, with the latter in Gqeberha.

Defy launches solar-powered off-grid range

Published: 24 Apr 24

Amid the compounding effects of loadshedding in South Africa and increasing concerns about climate change, appliance manufacturer Defy has launched its Solar Off-Grid fridge and freezer range to address local energy challenges. Sabrina Jardim tells us more.

South Africa advised by World Bank on climate insurance, contingency fund options

Published: 24 Apr 24

The World Bank is advising South Africa’s National Treasury on a climate risk strategy after floods in recent years caused billions of dollars of damage. The country may take out climate insurance or establish a contingency fund to deal with major adverse weather events, a person familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified as a public announcement hasn’t been made. Municipalities could also be incentivised to invest in infrastructure and other measures to reduce the impact of unexpected weather events, the person said.

Acquabox offers sustainable drinking water solutions

Published: 24 Apr 24

Acquabox has extended its water delivery services nationwide, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional bottled water delivery services and enables access to water as piped supply is disrupted. According to Mountain Falls and Acquabox founder Michael Beatham, Acquabox is a viable option amid water shortages to ensure access to clean, quality water for all South Africans, offering water delivery that combines convenience, quality and environmental responsibility.

Red Rocket of South Africa hires Goldman to explore sale option

Published: 24 Apr 24

Red Rocket, a South African independent power provider, hired Goldman Sachs Group to advise on the next steps for the closely held business – including a possible sale. Shareholders of the Cape Town-based company “have decided to explore strategic options,” for the business, CEO Matteo Brambilla said by email.

Opinion: A call for clear, uniform solar policy in South Africa

Published: 24 Apr 24

In this article, residential solar solutions provider GoSolr CEO and co-founder Andrew Middleton, writes that solar power has the potential to significantly reduce loadshedding, but patchwork policies, differing tariffs and a lack of incentives are stalling growth.

MTN South Africa, Investec, Electrum collaborate to introduce PayShap on MoMo

Published: 24 Apr 24

Information and communications technology group MTN South Africa has partnered with Investec and Electrum to introduce the PayShap solution on its Mobile Money (MoMo) platform. The collaboration aims to provide users with an instant, cost-effective mobile payment system, with MoMo becoming the first non-banking player to offer PayShap, which will address a critical gap in serving the unbanked population.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel

Successes, learnings on employee share ownership plans marked

Published: 23 Apr 24

Employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) or worker share ownership programmes have enjoyed several successes in South Africa, especially gaining traction in the past five years, and this needs to continue and be bolstered to reach more people and contribute to the country’s economic growth. Speakers highlighted this during the inaugural Worker Share Ownership Conference, held on April 23, in Sandton, Johannesburg.

TotalEnergies committed to the energy transition, assures company executive

Published: 23 Apr 24

French multinational energy group TotalEnergies was committed to the energy transition and has a strategy for this, highlighted the group’s MD and CEO marketing and services and country chair and executive VP: Southern Africa Mariam Kane-Garcia on Tuesday. She was addressing a session of the African Refiners and Distributors Association 2024 conference, in Cape Town. The TotalEnergies transition strategy had two pillars, she pointed out. The first was ‘more energy, less emissions’, with fossil fuels. “We are not giving away our core business, which is oil and gas,” she noted. The second was the development of its low-carbon ‘Integrated Power’ business, which involved the deployment of renewable energy.