Pledges worth $2.2-billion to support clean-cooking access in Africa were made at a summit in France on Tuesday, convened by the International Energy Agency (IEA). It is estimated that more than one-billion people in Africa currently lack access to clean-cooking solutions and instead cook over open fires and basic stoves, using charcoal, wood, agricultural waste, and animal dung as fuel.
Real estate investment trust Equites Property Fund has reported sustained growth in its rental portfolio over the past few years and expects this trend to continue. In its results presentation for the 2024 financial year, where the company highlighted a dividend a share of R1.31 at a 100% payout ratio, in line with market guidance, Equites CEO Andrea Taverna-Turisan said like-for-like rental growth in South Africa for the period was 6.4%.
JSE-listed real estate investment trust Dipula Income Fund has reported improved operational and financial metrics, as well as strategic gains in a period that marked the first phase of its new solar PV initiative roll-out for the six months ended February 29. Dipula’s revenue grew by 9% and its net property income by 6%, which the company says highlights efficient operations supported by rental growth.
Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) has again expressed concern about the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill on the eve of its planned promulgation by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s. Signing the NHI as is into law will discount the significant public comment having been made on the proposed Bill, most of which has found the NHI to be unworkable, economically damaging and contrary to the precepts of the South African Constitution.
The head of energy at the South African Local Government Association (Salga) has called for a review of both the size of the free basic electricity (FBE) allocation as well as the way the grant is assigned, arguing that many indigent households are currently not benefiting from the scheme as intended. Speaking during a roundtable discussion on South Africa’s electrification programme as part of government’s ongoing activities to mark 30 years of democracy, Nhlanhla Ngidi described the current monthly... Читать дальше...
Chinese car maker LDV has confirmed that its full range of passenger and commercial vehicles have been given the go-ahead for introduction in the South African market. The company is part of the SAIC automotive group.
A keel-laying ceremony has marked the beginning of construction of a new multipurpose vessel that will increase the marine fleet availability for Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) in Cape Town. As the first milestone in the history of a ship, the keel-laying ceremony marks the laying of the large beam around which the hull of the ship will be built.
JSE-listed real estate investment trust Octodec Investments achieved income growth of 3.1% for the six months ended February 29, largely driven by higher rentals in its residential portfolio. Rental income for the period was just over R1-billion, compared with R974.2-million in the first half of the 2023 financial year.
The UK Government has initiated the consultation process for its proposed policy to regulate the siting of commercial nuclear fusion reactors in England. (Siting policies for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility for their respective devolved regional governments.) The UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero has done so by publishing a document, 'Consultation on a new National Policy Statement for Fusion Energy – The proposed approach to siting fusion energy facilities'. Читать дальше...
Diversified mining major Anglo American is targeting value elevation in its planned demerging of South Africa-based Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and the envisaged divestment or demerger of Southern Africa-dominant De Beers. In rejecting BHP’s second takeover offer, Anglo intends reshaping its portfolio to consist of copper in Peru and Chile, top-quality iron-ore in South Africa and Brazil, and the opportunity presented by the crop nutrients project in the UK.
A group led by Japanese trading house Itochu Corp. is nearing an agreement to buy green ammonia from Hive Hydrogen South Africa, a $5.9 billion project that could make the country a global leader in producing the fuel. Hive Hydrogen may start output of green ammonia — which could be utilized as a fuel for heavy industry and power plants and is also used in fertilizer and cleaning products — from the new facility in South Africa’s southern port of Coega in 2029.
ASX-listed Kinetiko Energy has successfully demonstrated that it can produce gas-to-power (GtP) from an onshore natural gas resource at its Amersfoort project, in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The company is focused on developing an energy transition solution for South Africa focused on commercialising advanced shallow conventional gas projects in the country's Mpumalanga, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
South Africa’s official unemployment rate has widened by 0.8 of a percentage point to 32.9% in the first quarter of the year, compared with 32.1% in the fourth quarter of last year. The number of employed people in South Africa increased by 22 000 to 16.7-million, but the number of unemployed people increased by 330 000 to 8.2-million, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reports.
Energy company bp Southern Africa (bpSA) on May 9 celebrated its 100th year of operation in South Africa and says it will use this milestone to refresh and re-energise for the next century and beyond. To signal its commitment to a long-term future in South Africa, bpSA has designed a special 100-year identifier, in which the double zero has been converted to the well-known “lazy eight” sign for infinity.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel has launched the Medical Technology (MedTech) Master Plan, which is aimed at creating a proficient and competitive medical technology industry over the next three years that will supply domestic and international markets. “The medical technologies sector offers a unique and significant opportunity for growth in South Africa. The sector has emerged as an increasingly innovative sector, developing technologies that can service both our local market and abroad.
Business and political parties have expressed disappointment with President Cyril Ramphosa’s announcement that he will, on Wednesday, sign into law the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill. On Monday, Ramaphosa announced that he would publicly sign the Bill, which government hoped to use to achieve universal coverage for health services and, through this, overcome socioeconomic imbalances and past inequities.
Forensic Pathology Services (FPS) and the South African Police Service are planning to expedite the identification of persons killed in a building collapse in George, in the Western Cape, with only six of the 32 deceased persons identified thus far. Eighty-one people were working on site on the partially built building when it collapsed on May 6.
JSE-listed MTN on Tuesday posted a dip in service revenue and earnings during the first quarter of the year, amid ongoing high inflation and local currency devaluations in some of its key markets. The group reported a 28.7% contraction in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) from R24.27-billion in the first quarter of 2023 to R17.3-billion in the first quarter of 2024.
