World Bank warns largest energy price surge in four years will drive inflation

Energy prices are projected to surge by 24% this year to their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity... 

CrossBoundary Energy secures $40m from Inspired Evolution to boost renewable energy deployment

Climate investment firm Inspired Evolution has made a $40-million investment in distributed renewable energy company CrossBoundary Energy to accelerate the deployment of commercial and industrial... 

NEC XON to distribute Pace Digitek's battery solutions in Southern Africa

India-based infrastructure and energy solutions company Pace Digitek has partnered with technology systems integration company NEC XON South Africa to distribute and deploy its product portfolio,... 

BLSA Reform Tracker shows progress, but some institutional reforms are lagging

The Reform Tracker of business organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) shows that central government reforms are generally progressing, albeit some more slowly, and are broadly moving... 

PPC rehabilitates duo-cell silo at Hercules plant

JSE-listed construction materials company PPC has completed the R26-million major structural rehabilitation of one of the reinforced concrete duo-cell silos at its Hercules plant, in Tshwane,... 

AASA urges Southern African airline industry to be transparent about jet fuel supply plans

Industry organisation the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) calls on fuel suppliers, depots, airports and governments in the region to urgently share their contingency fuel allocation... 

Hulamin to dispose of its extrusions business

JSE-listed rolled aluminium products manufacturer Hulamin will sell its aluminium extrusions business Hulamin Extrusions to Norsaf ERS for R10-million. The proceeds from the proposed transaction... 

Itac recommends import duties on top-loader washing machines from China, Thailand

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has requested the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to impose definitive antidumping duties on... 

Mondi reports challenging trading conditions, rising material costs

In a trading update for the three months to March 31, JSE-listed packaging and paper company Mondi reports earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of €212-million,... 

AGC delivering South African-made raise bore machine to a customer in India

Specialised mining equipment manufacturer Atlantis Group of Companies (AGC) has shipped its latest raise bore machine to industrial and mining services company Laxyo, in India. This marks the... 

SAF planned at Saldanha Bay

Energy company Phelan Green, through its clean fuels subsidiary Phelan eFuels, has selected industrial technology manufacturer Honeywell’s renewable fuel process technology for its planned... 

Investec to use $200m IFC loan to support sustainable building in South Africa

Financial services firm Investec Bank has secured a $200-million loan from development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support the expansion across South Africa... 

Local govt White Paper aims to create new social contract in municipalities – Hlabisa

Municipalities and the services they provide are foundational for the functioning of society and businesses, and creating effective, efficient and sustainable municipalities is a focus that has... 

Four diverging pathways for global economy show potential split by 2050 – BCG

The global economy could follow markedly different paths over the next 25 years, with four scenarios modelled by think tank Boston Consulting Group Henderson Institute (BHI) indicating that global... 

South Africans adjusting behaviour owing to inflation of everyday goods prices – TransUnion

South African consumers are adjusting their financial behaviour in response to rising cost pressures, with credit bureau TransUnion's 'First Quarter 2026 Consumer Pulse Study' showing meaningful... 

Despite month-on-month decline, business confidence still higher than a year ago

Business organisation the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (Sacci’s) Business Confidence Index (BCI) declined by 3.3 index points month-on-month to 131.3 points in March. The BCI... 

Procurement shown to be strategic business function, amid supply chain disruptions – CIPS

Global disruptions, including geopolitical conflicts and logistics bottlenecks, have transformed procurement into one of the most strategically important capabilities within modern organisations,... 

Global energy demand up 1.3% in 2025, electricity demand up by 3% – IEA

Global energy demand growth slowed to 1.3% in 2025, which is slightly below the preceding decade’s average of 1.4% and significantly lower than in 2024, while global electricity demand increased by... 

To tap into tourism potential, South Africa must address airport, visa bottlenecks – Mavuso

To seize the opportunity for boosting growth and development presented by tourism, South Africa must address airport capacity constraints, particularly at the OR Tambo International Airport, in... 

Tribunal approves WBHO’s acquisition of Zamori

The Competition Tribunal has approved, without conditions, construction company WBHO Construction's acquisition of all shares of solar project specialist company Zamori. WBHO is part of a broader... 

Oil persists, coal declines, renewables increase by 2040, but global warming to rise through to 2100, says Bain&Co

Even under the low-carbon scenario, modelled by consulting firm Bain & Co in its 'Global Energy and Materials Outlook 2026' report, fossil fuel supply constitutes 52% of global primary energy... 

Infrastructure, services are the cornerstone of economic recovery – Cesa

The delivery of infrastructure and essential services is a basic human right and a cornerstone for economic recovery, and South Africa must move to actionable outcomes that improve lives and... 

Greater AI fluency in tandem with expert skills foundational for effective deployment

While artificial intelligence (AI) systems require information technology (IT) and data science skills to deploy, they also demand industry-specific expertise to ensure their effective integration... 

Greater AI fluency in tandem with expert skills foundational for effective deployment

While artificial intelligence (AI) systems require information technology (IT) and data science skills to deploy, they also demand industry-specific expertise to ensure their effective integration... 

Tongaat Hulett liquidation hearing adjourned, but viable transaction needed, say BRPs

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court on April 16 granted an adjournment of the provisional liquidation application of distressed agri-business Tongaat Hulett, with the matter set down for hearing on June... 

Developing countries launch borrowers' platform for collective voice on debt – Unctad

Developing countries have launched the Borrowers’ Platform that brings together finance Ministers and central bank governors from developing countries to strengthen debt management capacity,... 

SAPVIA, City Power discuss Joburg solar registration challenges

Industry organisation the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) and Johannesburg utility City Power have held talks to resolve the small-scale embedded generation (SSEG)... 

Imesa flags gaps in local govt White Paper, says previous input not considered

Industry organisation the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (Imesa) says the draft White Paper on Local Government has critical gaps, despite the latest rounds of consultation... 

Standard Bank closes $800m sustainability-linked syndicated loan from international lenders

Financial services firm Standard Bank has closed an $800-million sustainability-linked syndicated loan with 30 banks from across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. The... 

V&A continues with water pipelines, sewerage upgrades

The V&A Waterfront, in Cape Town, will resume its programme to replace ageing water and sewerage pipelines and will remain open and fully operational during this time. The work will take place over... 

Ramaphosa says fixing local governments key to South Africa’s development

Economic growth is an outcome of a well-functioning system and unlocking local economic development requires fixing service delivery, which requires fixing governance, President Cyril Ramaphosa... 

Wetility's free municipal grid reliability tool points to stark differences

Solar energy company Wetility has released a free-to-use interactive lookup tool that allows anyone to search their municipality and view a detailed electricity outage profile, including average... 

IFC signs R1.6bn agreement with Citi to boost local currency financing in South Africa

Development finance institution (DFI) the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is part of global finance organisation the World Bank, has signed a R1.6-billion borrowing facility with... 

Salga, Global Trust Project to pilot stronger municipal trustworthiness scheme

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) and advisory firm The Global Trust Project (TGTP) will pilot the voluntary Trust Equity Framework (TEf) in up to 18 participating... 

Diesel fuel costs, weaker rand to place pressure on inflation, export-competitiveness

Financial brokerage and asset management firm EBC Financial Group (EBC) warns that the R3-a-litre levy cut will provide relief only for a month, while Brent-linked diesel costs and a weaker South... 

Emira makes offer for a further 14.73% of Octodec’s shares

JSE-listed real estate investment trust (Reit) Emira Property Fund has made a voluntary offer to shareholders of fellow listed Reit Octodec Investments to increase its shareholding in Octodec to... 

worldsteel expects 0.3% steel demand growth this year, names new director-general

Global demand for steel is estimated to grow by 0.3% this year to 1.72-billion tonnes, and by 2.2% in 2027 to reach 1.76-billion tonnes, global organisation the World Steel Association (worldsteel)... 

Wyda strengthens local supply of foil containers

South African aluminium foil and packaging company Wyda Packaging has acquired key operational assets, including presses and moulds, from Hulamin Containers, significantly expanding local... 

Mkango subsidiaries to collaborate in UK grant-funded project to develop recycled magnets

Aim- and TSX-V-listed rare earth elements and associated minerals company Mkango Resources’ subsidiaries HyProMag and Mkango Rare Earths UK have been named as collaborative project winners of the... 

ASP Isotopes expects first shipments of nuclear medicine, electronics isotopes in 2026

JSE- and Nasdaq-listed advanced materials company ASP Isotopes expects to dispatch the first commercial shipments of silicon-28 (Si-28), used to produce advanced electronics, and ytterbium-176...