Transition raises costs, skills pressures

 Businesses transitioning to environmentally friendly refrigerants and heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) systems are facing growing operational, financial and... 

South Africa's mining sector urged to collaborate, develop and own the tech it adopts

Stronger collaboration, localisation and technology adoption are needed to help South Africa build a more competitive mining equipment manufacturing sector, mining equipment manufacturers’ cluster... 

Timber leads bio-based shift

Bio-based construction materials generally compare favourably with conventional materials in terms of embodied carbon, although performance varies in terms of material and application, says... 

Green buildings show stronger returns

Green-certified office buildings continue to outperform non-certified assets across several key investment metrics, says sustainability-focused property sector body Green Building Council South... 

Local valve industry under pressure

The local valve and actuator manufacturing industry is under strain, with several factors affecting performance in recent years, says valve manufacturing industry body the South African Valve and... 

Urine-based system targets nutrient recovery

Urine beneficiation startup PeeCycling is advancing a decentralised fertiliser production model that recovers nutrients and water from human urine, offering a climate-resilient solution for... 

Refrigerant shift signals major change

South Africa’s heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration sector is undergoing a significant transition as the phase-out of ozone depletion substances and phase-down of high global... 

Gas supply constraints stall power transition

Securing reliable, long-term gas supply is the main constraint to expanding gas-to-power and industrial energy solutions in South Africa, says electrical power solutions provider Clarke Energy... 

GISTM gaining traction

An official tailings progress report from mining and metals advocacy group ICMM, published in November 2025, shows that 67% of 836 of its member tailings storage facilities (TSFs) in Africa were... 

Tailings retreatment, land restoration intertwined

Recovering gold from legacy tailings storage facilities (TSFs) and restoring land are not separate objectives, but outcomes of the same activity, says gold tailings reminer DRDGOLD CEO Niël... 

Jagersfontein failure sees strict oversight

The September 2022 Jagersfontein tailings dam failure marked a shift in South Africa’s regulatory approach to tailings management and a move from compliance-based oversight to enforcement-driven... 

Monitoring data strengthens tailings safety, compliance

Geotechnical monitoring is playing an increasing role in improving tailings storage facility (TSF) safety, consequently allowing for earlier risk detection and more informed operational decisions,... 

Precise dosing supports retreatment efficiency

Accurate tailings material reagent dosing and robust slurry handling are central to tailings retreatment performance, says mining pump solutions provider Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions... 

Manufacturing faces demand constraints despite improving outlook

Manufacturing in South Africa is showing early signs of recovery; however, weak demand, rising costs and global trade uncertainty continue to constrain growth, speakers said at a strategic outlook... 

Recycled feedstocks advance circularity

Proprietary systems are enabling the direct use of recycled materials in production, supporting the development of circular manufacturing models, says additive manufacturing company Amnova MD... 

Additive manufacturing gains traction in niche production

Greater adoption of additive manufacturing is enabling South African manufacturers to produce complex, low-volume components more cost effectively, says additive manufacturing company Aditiv... 

US grant boosts rare earths prefeasibility at Monte Muambe

A $1.87-million grant agreement signed with the US Trade and Development Agency for the prefeasibility stage of exploration and development company Altona Rare Earth’s Monte Muambe project, based... 

Efficiency drive supports colliery through market slump

Operational efficiency, cost discipline and environmental stewardship have enabled coal mining company Canyon Coal’s flagship operation, Khanye Colliery, to sustain its performance in 2025 despite... 

Research targets recovery from coal waste

Research programmes investigating how valuable minerals, found in coal discard, brine and coal ash, can be recovered are being advanced by Johannesburg-based coal research organisation Coaltech... 

Service offering upped

Amid the structural stability of South Africa’s domestic coal market, mining contractor Zizwe is expanding its presence in the coalfields of Mpumalanga. With coal remaining a baseload energy... 

Predictive maintenance improves plant reliability

Equipment reliability is key to maintaining continuous production in chemicals plants, says electrical engineering company Delba Electrical marketing spokesperson Mike Lerios. Amid South Africa’s... 

Logistics resilience underpins downstream supply

Reliable logistics remain critical to supporting South Africa’s downstream chemicals and petrochemicals value chain as industry depends more on secure fuel supply, says integrated energy company bp... 

Performance-based decisions shaping petrochemicals projects

Engineering design choices, brownfield upgrades and changing regulatory requirements are reshaping the way in which petrochemical and storage infrastructure projects are being executed, says... 

Structural shift under way

Despite the closure of some older steel mills, new investment in steel production is reshaping South Africa’s industry, says steel industry organisation Southern African Institute of Steel... 

Sector exposed to mounting pressure

South Africa’s steel industry remains vulnerable to global market distortions, especially with the continued flow of low-priced Chinese imports, says trade credit insurer Coface Africa economist... 

Regulatory reforms set to increase steel consumption

Updated public–private partnership (PPP) regulations have reshaped the framework within which South Africa’s steel industry operates and they are expected to increase steel demand across... 

Power shortages shape strategy

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) mining sector continues to attract global capital, but power shortages are still the biggest challenge to growth and shape how financiers engage with the... 

Lower-emission technologies gain traction

South Africa’s capital equipment industry is undergoing a shift toward flexible procurement, life-cycle optimisation and lower-emission technologies as industrial sites respond to economic pressure... 

Ownership preference persists for specialised forklifts

Although the capital equipment industry remains under sustained pressure as customers aim to limit capital expenditure and explore more flexible procurement models, forklift solutions provider... 

Credit cover facilitates exports

South Africa’s construction capital equipment sector is increasingly relying on export credit insurance to support participation in international projects that are under economic pressure, says... 

Economic pressure drives uptake of hybrid ownership models

Procurement decisions in South Africa’s capital equipment industry are increasingly being shaped by customers’ need for predictable costs, minimal downtime and reduced operational risk, says... 

New global standard to refine responsible mining

Collaboration among industry, governments and civil society is becoming more urgent as Africa aims to convert its mineral wealth into sustainable economic gains, says mining and metals advocacy... 

Regulatory certainty a critical component

Partnerships will shape Africa’s next phase of mineral development, says advisory company Deloitte South Africa economic advisory leader Hannah Marais, noting that while Africa holds major... 

University strengthens skills pipeline as digital mining accelerates

As Africa’s mines prepare for deeper digital integration, University of the Witwatersrand’s (Wits’) School of Mining Engineering professors, lecturers and leaders report that the sector’s... 

Integrated blasting products to be highlighted at Indaba

While showcasing its advancement in partnership-led approaches across Africa’s mining value chain, explosives and chemicals group AECI will also use this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba... 

Indaba should spotlight policy certainty, investment, exploration

Discussions at the upcoming Investing in African Mining Indaba need to centre on how South Africa can unlock the full potential of its mining sector, says professional services firm KPMG lead... 

Zambia eyes copper, growth opportunities

Stronger collaboration across Zambia’s mining ecosystem will be central to unlocking the country’s copper and critical-minerals growth ambitions, says Zambia Chamber of Mines (ZCM) CEO Sokwani... 

Technology, storytelling to shape 2026 events

South Africa’s business and industry events sector landscape is shifting fast as organisers respond to rising digital and sustainability demands, says event management company Anzomode. This shift... 

Turnkey support strengthens event offering

South Africa’s business and industry events sector is preparing for a busy 2026 calendar, shaped by rising demand for high-quality venues, reliable infrastructure and seamless delivery across... 

Sector builds momentum amid global shifts

South Africa’s business events industry is strengthening its position as a preferred host for major African and international gatherings as several advantages continue to set the country apart,...