Brazilian aerospace major reports strong delivery growth during the third quarter

Brazil-based global major aerospace group Embraer has reported on its deliveries for the third quarter of this year (3Q23) and total deliveries for the first nine months of this year. For the... 

Western Cape can achieve breakout growth rates, assures its Economic Development head

The Western Cape economy indeed had the potential to achieve “breakout growth” rates of 4%/y to 6%/y, and the provincial government was determined to achieve these rates, through the implementation... 

Infrastructure investment key to future of Cape Town, highlights city’s mayor

City of Cape Town Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has re-emphasised his belief in the importance of infrastructure investment to stimulate economic growth, and the importance of economic growth... 

South African astronomer appointed to prestigious international post

The National Research Foundation (NRF), which falls under the aegis of the Department of Science and Innovation, has announced that local astronomer Dr Vanessa McBride has been appointed as Science... 

International researchers demonstrate stable and efficient next-generation solar cell

An international team of scientists, from South Korea, the US, China and India, have developed a new technique to produce stable and efficient perovskite solar cells. Perovskites have a crystalline... 

UK test data indicates space-based solar power plants are practical

A study undertaken by UK researchers has indicated that solar power plants in space would be practical and could be commercially viable. The study was carried out by researchers from the... 

African automotive industry body has a new president

The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) on Tuesday announced the name of its new president. She is Volkswagen Group South Africa chairperson and MD Martina Biene, who is also... 

Researchers develop new, more efficient way to produce key lithium-ion battery component

Japanese researchers at Hokkaido and Kobe Universities have discovered a method to produce a key component of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) at much lower temperatures and in a much shorter time than... 

African SME-focused private capital fund has reached final closure

BluePeak Private Capital (BluePeak) announced on Tuesday that it has achieved final closing of its $156-million inaugural fund, the BluePeak Private Capital Fund SCSp. BluePeak describes itself as... 

Airbus wins major support and upgrade contracts for its military version of the A330

Airbus Defence and Space, part of the Europe-based global major Airbus aerospace group, announced on Monday that it had signed two major contracts with agencies of the French Ministry of Defence,... 

Gap between South Africa food and CPI inflation narrows again

After five consecutive months of decline, South African food and non-alcoholic beverage (NAB) inflation – hereafter to be referred to simply as food inflation – increased again in September, but... 

Embraer wins commercial and defence aviation contracts on three continents

This past week has been a significant one for Brazil-based global major aerospace group Embraer, with it being able to announce a series of commercial and defence aviation contracts, selections and... 

Energy transition in SA will need blended finance, collaboration

A key question facing South Africa, regarding the just energy transition, was how to finance it. So highlighted University of Stellenbosch Centre for Sustainability Transitions co-director Prof... 

Rolls-Royce successfully tests its latest business jet engines with 100% sustainable fuels

UK-based global major propulsion and power systems group Roll-Royce announced on Wednesday that it had successfully tested its latest generation of business jet engines using 100% sustainable... 

Cape Town Air Access wins prestigious award for the second time

For the second year in a row, the Cape Town Air Access (CTAA) initiative has won the Routes World Destination Award at the Routes World Air Service Development Conference (Routes World 2023, held... 

Two major international agencies launch joint ‘Atoms4Food’ initiative

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) launched, in Rome, in Italy, on Wednesday, their flagship Atoms4Food initiative. This... 

Africa needs lots of geological research regarding critical clean energy mineral deposits

The recently developed global need for critical clean energy minerals has created a need for deeper geological research across the continent, including in mature mining jurisdictions. This was one... 

Africa aims to use global demand for critical minerals as a basis for development

African countries were determined to use the opportunity provided by the world’s need for the metals and minerals essential for the clean energy systems of the future to develop their economies... 

Africa not a major player in solar energy – yet

All the critical minerals necessary for all renewable and battery energy technologies are found in Africa, highlighted consultancy and data company Rystad Energy senior partner and head of analysis... 

South Africa airline opens offices in Gaborone and Lusaka

South African private-sector domestic and regional airline Airlink has opened new offices in both Botswana and Zambia, in Gaborone and Lusaka respectively. The purpose of these offices is to... 

Angola’s flag carrier has ordered 787 Dreamliners from Boeing

TAAG Angola Airlines (TAAG), the west African country’s national flag carrier, has announced that it is to acquire four next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliner widebody airliners. This is the first... 

Global and African nuclear bodies formalise their cooperation

The World Nuclear Association (WNA) and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), covering civil nuclear energy applications, to support the... 

Local health-tech startup attracting attention with its medication app

Startup healthtech company Agile Africa has already secured its first significant client, and is attracting interest from other major health sector entities, only two years after being launched,... 

Africa needs to develop hydrocarbon resources, but must do so responsibly

Understanding was growing that Africa could not go without developing its oil and gas resources, highlighted Africa Finance Corporation senior VP: financial advisory Mohammed Abdul-Razaq. He was... 

African oil and gas projects can need innovative finance, and carbon credits can be an option

“We continue to support the natural resources space,” assured Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) senior VP financial advisory Mohammed Abdul-Razaq, in a panel discussion at the Africa Oil Week... 

ESG important for African hydrocarbon projects but the term covers very different themes

The abbreviation ESG took three very different themes and lumped them all together, cautioned Ernst & Young EMEIA energy and resources partner Jon Clark. He was participating in a panel discussion... 

Nuclear initiative to help decarbonise global energy highlighted at international conference

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) second Climate Change Conference, in Vienna, Austria, was, on Wednesday, the platform on which the Net Zero Nuclear initiative updated delegates on... 

Worldwide air cargo demand rose in August, reports IATA

Total global air cargo demand increased by 1.5%, year-on-year (y-o-y) in August, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported. (IATA is the global representative body for the... 

Pop-up showcase for Western Cape exporters during October inaugurated

Western Cape provincial trade, investment and tourism promotion agency Wesgro on Friday inaugurated its “Made in the Cape Market”, at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The market will run throughout... 

Southern African airlines body elects its leadership for next year

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) on Saturday elected its chairperson and deputy chairperson for the next 12 months. The election took place during the association’s fifty-third... 

International Finance Corporation to develop offshore wind power road map for South Africa

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank group, is to develop an offshore wind power road map for South Africa, IFC Principal Renewable Energy Specialist Sean Whittaker... 

Batteries essential part of solar systems for business customers

A paradoxical risk with regard to the adoption of solar energy as a power source for commercial and industrial customers was loadshedding, vertically integrated independent power producer New... 

Necsa requests to have some nuclear generation capacity assigned to it

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) has formally requested Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe to change its mandate, to allow it to become involved in the... 

Academic wind energy conference being held in parallel with industry conference

Running in parallel with the Windaba 2023 conference is WindAc Africa 2023, an academic conference focused on wind power. Hosted by the South African Wind Energy Association, WindAc 2023 is also... 

Many wind turbine components can be recycled

An issue regarding wind farms that will have to be addressed is how to handle their inevitable decommissioning issues, including what to do with wind turbines (towers, machinery and blades) that... 

Wind sector in South Africa at risk of being seen as exclusive

South Africa’s wind energy industry was in danger of being seen as an exclusive sector, Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority CEO Mpho Mookapele warned, in her keynote address to... 

Wind power has significant future role in South Africa, affirms association

The South Africa wind power sector now faced a “transformative juncture”, highlighted South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) CEO Niveshen Govender in his opening address at the Windaba 2023... 

The just energy transition in South Africa will need blended finance and collaboration

A key question facing South Africa, regarding the just energy transition, was how to finance it. So highlighted University of Stellenbosch Centre for Sustainability Transitions co-director Prof... 

UK seeking to support development of South African space sector

British research and development funding agency Innovate UK has launched a programme to help revitalise the South African space industry. This is part of a wider programme which also seeks to... 

South African food inflation continued its downward trend in August

Food and non-alcoholic beverage (NAB) inflation (hereafter to be referred to simply as food inflation) in South Africa continued to decelerate in August, in year-on-year (y-o-y) terms, the Bureau...