South Africa








Energy Markets

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels

IMF urges African oil exporters' reforms to boost 'controlled' development

SubSaharan African nations that depend upon product exports need to reform their economies to tackle irregular regional financial development, International Monetary Fund Africa Director Abebe Aemro Selassie stated. The region is expected to grow by 3.6% this year, unchanged from in 2015 and down from an April projection of 3.8%, the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook released today, with product economies lagging their varied equivalents. The product intensive countries are growing at about half the rate of the rest of the area, the IMF stated in the report, with oil exporters struggling one of the most in...

Fossil Fuels

Saudi's MbS will not participate in Russia's BRICS summit

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is not anticipated to participate in the Russianhosted BRICS top later this month, according to the Kremlin, which said the world's biggest oil exporter would be represented by the Kingdom's foreign minister. BRICS, originally Brazil, Russia, India and China, has broadened over the last few years to consist of South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy assistant, Yuri Ushakov, said that nine of the 10 BRICS member states would send their leaders, though Saudi Arabia would send its foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al...

Fossil Fuels

European donors woo South Africa's sceptical coal belt on green energy

European political leaders and diplomats held talks with officials and employees' unions in South Africa's coal belt on Wednesday to attempt to encourage them that switching to renewable energy from fossil fuels require not leave them destitute. The discussions in Mpumalanga province involving abundant countries moneying the energy transition aim to conquer resistance from communities fearing economic disaster. At Emalahleni, the location of coal in Zulu, union leaders were honestly sceptical at speeches recommending task losses could be balanced out by a boom in climate-friendly energy. I don't believe one conference will persuade them, Elsebeth Krone, the ambassador of Denmark,...

Fossil Fuels

Anglo expects binding offers for Australian coal properties by mid-November

Anglo American anticipates to receive binding offers for its steelmaking coal properties by midNovember as it advances a strategy to reorganize the company after fighting a takeover deal from competing BHP Group , CEO Duncan Wanblad said. The London-listed miner could settle the sale of the Australian mines before completion of the year, Wanblad said at the Feet mining summit in London. The process to offer the coking coal possessions has actually passed the first round of auction, he included. So in the middle of November, we ought to be getting final binding deals, Wanblad said. Then we will begin...

Fossil Fuels

China is not pressing Africa into financial obligation trap, South African president says

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that he did not think Chinese investments in Africa were pushing the continent into a financial obligation. trap but were rather part of a mutually advantageous. relationship. Ramaphosa made the remarks on the sidelines of a. China-Africa summit in Beijing, where delegates from more than. 50 African countries gathered today. I don't always buy the concept that when China. ( invests), it is with an intention of, in the end, guaranteeing that. those countries end up in a financial obligation trap or in a debt crisis,. Ramaphosa said, when asked by reporters...

Power Markets

South Africa could have no power cuts over next 7 months, Eskom states

South Africa might have no scheduled power cuts over the next 7 months if stateowned energy Eskom's unexpected electrical energy losses stay at their current level, its chief executive said on Monday. Power cuts have limited financial development in South Africa for more than a years, with interruptions on a record 335 days last year. But Eskom has not carried out power cuts in more than 150 days, considering that late March, after a big improvement in the efficiency of its fleet of generally coal-fired power stations that captured numerous analysts off-guard. CEO Dan Marokane informed an instruction on the...

Fossil Fuels

Sasol profit plunges 66% on weak chemical rates, avoids final dividend

South African petrochemicals business Sasol reported a 66% fall in fullyear earnings on Tuesday, mainly due to weaker chemical rates, and skipped a. last dividend. Sasol published 11.5 billion rand ($ 648.47 million) headline. earnings in the year to June 30, compared to 33.8 billion rand. throughout the very same duration last year. It did not declare a final dividend, leaving the interim 2. rand per share stated at half-year as the full-year payout for. the 2024 fiscal year. Sasol stated it altered its dividend policy, which was. formerly based upon 2.5-2.8 times core headline earnings per. share, to 30%...

Nuclear Power

South Africa delays nuclear power plant strategy to seek advice from more

South Africa will delay starting the procurement process for a new nuclear power station to permit more assessment, its energy minister said on Friday, following legal challenges. The federal government said in December that it was preparing to request bids for an additional 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power, however the then-opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party and two non-governmental organisations released legal difficulties to attempt to obstruct the procurement. The DA is now part of the union federal government formed after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary bulk for the very first time in 3 decades in an election...

Refined Products

Petrochemicals group Sasol selects brand-new financing chief

South African petrochemicals company Sasol has actually promoted Walt Bruns to primary monetary officer, it stated on Tuesday, replacing Hanre Rossouw from the start of next month. Sasol said Rossouw resigned to pursue a different career chance after 2 years with the company. He leaves on Aug. 31. Bruns, who is currently finance chief of Sasol's southern African operations, actions up at a difficult time for the company, which provided an earnings warning on Monday after weaker rates triggered heavy writedowns on the carrying worth of its chemicals and fuel assets. Sasol, which produces chemicals and artificial fuels from coal,...

Fossil Fuels

Anglo to deal with investors with careful eye on BHP's potential return

Anglo American investors will keenly scrutinize CEO Duncan Wanblad on Thursday as he gives an update on the Londonbased miner's strategy, just months after combating a $49 billion takeover bid from bigger rival BHP Group. Delivering first-half earnings results for the very first time after rebuffing the world's No. 1 miner, Wanblad and his team need to convince financiers that the technique to refocus on copper, iron ore and a fertilizer job is on track. While Wanblad pinned his method on getting an early start with selling Anglo's coking coal possessions in Australia, which the company said has drawn substantial...

Fossil Fuels

Cricket-Duckworth, co-creator of DLS approach, passes away aged 84

Frank Duckworth, the pioneering statistician who cocreated the Duckworth Lewis approach embraced in cricket to revise targets in restricted overs video games truncated due to rain, died recently at the age of 84, the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) stated on Tuesday. Duckworth and Tony Lewis produced the well-known technique which was adopted by the International Cricket Council in 1999. It was commonly used in one-day internationals and later on in T20 matches. Fellows will be unfortunate to discover that Frank Duckworth passed away on 21 June 2024, at the age of 84, the RSS stated in a declaration. Frank will...

Fossil Fuels

Exxaro weighing choices for Australian coal JV in the middle of Anglo's scheduled exit

South Africa's Exxaro Resources is weighing its choices for its Australian coal joint endeavor project with Anglo American Plc following the mining giant's planned exit from the business, an executive stated on Tuesday. The South African coal miner and Anglo equally own the Moranbah South metallurgical coal task in Queensland. On May 14, Anglo revealed strategies to spin off or offer its coal, nickel, diamond and platinum companies to focus mainly on energy transition metal copper. While Exxaro is not presently evaluating any of the properties to be put up for sale by Anglo, it was examining the joint endeavor...

Environment

Environment

COP29 climate agenda clouded by trade tensions ahead of top

China has actually put trade talks onto the proposed agenda for the COP29 summit, a. U.N. document showed, raising the prospect that the problem could. disrupt the start of international climate talks. The draft agenda for this year's environment top, published. on Friday, consists of a Chinese proposal, formerly reported by. Reuters, for talks on carbon border taxes and other limiting. trade measures that Beijing states hurt establishing nations. Delegates at the conference must embrace the summit agenda by. agreement as their first task when the COP29 talks start on Nov. 11 in Baku, Azerbaijan. However some diplomats said the...

Climate Change

Prince William visits fishing neighborhood on last day of South Africa trip

Britain's Prince William checked out a fishing community in Cape Town on Thursday, the last day of a climatefocused journey to South Africa prepared around his multimillion dollar ecological reward. Introduced in 2020, the Earthshot Reward intends to discover innovations to combat the world's most significant environmental issues. On Wednesday five winners were granted 1 million pounds ($ 1.3 million) each to drive their projects. Prince William shook hands with crowds throughout a check out to Kalk Bay Harbour, where he met regional fishermen who told him about their sustainable fishing techniques. He stated he had actually been drenched by...

Environment

Prince William says partner Kate doing 'truly well' after chemotherapy

Britain's Prince William stated on Wednesday his spouse Kate was doing truly well and had been amazing in a year when she has actually undergone preventative chemotherapy for cancer. The British heir to the throne is presently in South Africa where he will later host the yearly awards event for his multi-million-dollar Earthshot Prize . He made the journey without Kate who is still recuperating from her treatment. He stated she would be cheering him on from their home in Britain. She's doing actually well thanks, he informed the BBC ahead of his environmental prize's awards event in Cape Town....

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Barrick sees handle Mali over new mining code before year-end

Barrick Gold, the world's No. 2 gold miner, is confident of concluding talks for a. new mining code with Mali's juntaled government before the end. of the year, CEO Mark Bristow told Reuters on Thursday. Talks in between Toronto-based Barrick and the authorities in. Mali on how to implement brand-new mining guidelines governing its. Loulo-Gounkoto mining complex, one the greatest cash cow in. Mali, have actually dragged on for months. The West African country is requiring about $500 million in. overdue taxes from Barrick, Reuters reported mentioning sources, as. the government tries to wring more income from the sector, which....

Climate Change

Ecologists sue over US approval of ioneer's Nevada lithium mine

Environmental and Indigenous groups on Thursday submitted a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Interior Department's approval of ioneer's Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine in Nevada, the very first domestic source of the battery metal to be allowed by Democratic President Joe Biden's. administration. In a claim filed in federal court in Las Vegas, groups. consisting of the Center for Biological Variety argued the task. posed an existential threat to the unusual wildflower Tiehm's. buckwheat and could drive it to termination. They said the mine would likewise adversely effect groundwater,. springs, wetlands, air quality, cultural resources and wildlife. habitat and would change a...

Mineral Resources

South Africa seeks to Africa and China ties as worldwide trade fences go up

South Africa's trade minister said his nation is pursuing more robust trade and financial investment ties within the continent and with China its most significant trade partner as the global trade environment ends up being progressively stuffed. Parks Tau said that while he has actually had extensive and positive engagements with leaders in the United States, and collaborative relationships with Europe, South Africa is keen to develop more trade within Africa. Trade globally, he stated, was becoming progressively complicated as the U.S. and China enforce tariffs on each other, while Europe has included carbon import taxes. There's almost an undeclared...

Climate Change

US Treasury allows miners to access tidy energy manufacturing aid

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday it would permit some mining companies to access a tax credit aimed at improving American production of solar panels, lithiumion batteries and other clean energy components, a shift in position after industry pressure. The relocation reflects the growing awareness in Washington that efforts to fight climate modification will be moot unless the U.S. enhances its production of lithium, cobalt, and other important minerals and curbs dependence on China and other overseas rivals. Washington last December issued proposed guidelines for producers to access the so-called 45X tax credit, produced by President Joe Biden's 2022...

Mineral Resources

South African rand companies; platinum group metals stocks soar

South Africa's rand acquired versus a weaker dollar on Thursday while regional platinum group metals (PGMs) producers' shares skyrocketed over issues about supply sanctions on top palladium producer Russia. At 1520 GMT, the rand traded at 17.6825 versus the dollar , about 0.6% stronger than its previous close. The rand is trading greater today, improved by a weaker dollar that is raising emerging market currencies, Zain Vawda, market analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA, said. The dollar index was last down about 0.2% versus a. basket of significant currencies, pausing a recent rally fuelled by. bets on a slower pace of...

Mineral Resources

Can Anglo's copper pivot aid ward off restored takeover quote?

The speed at which Anglo American shifts to ending up being a copperfocused miner might well determine its supreme fate survival as an independent operator, or absorption by a larger rival such as BHP Group, which previously this year failed to buy the group. BHP left a $49 billion bid to obtain Anglo in May after it was rebuffed 3 times. With a six-month block on another approach set to end at the end of November, a deal is once again under scrutiny. Anglo had the ability to encourage investors throughout BHP's. method that it had a much better strategy...

Mineral Resources

US Treasury enables miners to access clean energy production aid

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday it would permit some mining companies to access a tax credit focused on boosting American production of solar panels, lithiumion batteries and other clean energy parts, a shift in position after industry pressure. The move reflects the growing realization in Washington that efforts to fight environment modification will be moot unless the U.S. improves its production of lithium, cobalt, and other important minerals and curbs reliance on China and other overseas rivals. Washington last December released proposed rules for manufacturers to access the so-called 45X tax credit, developed by President Joe Biden's 2022...

Mineral Resources

South Africa mulls tax rebates, subsidies to increase regional EV industry

South Africa is thinking about presenting tax refunds or subsidies for customers to boost buying of electric lorries, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday, as Africa's most industrialised economy shifts its vehicle market. Global car manufacturers like Ford, Volkswagen, BMW and Toyota manufacture designs in South Africa for both the regional and European markets. Britain and the European Union collectively consume 46% of the cars the nation produces. The move towards cleaner and more sustainable fuels, plus rigid policy in key markets, is putting pressure on some global car manufacturers to shift towards electrical and hybrid models, Ramaphosa stated at...

Mineral Resources

UAE's IRH eyes mining, energy and logistics projects in South Africa

Abu Dhabibased International Resources Holding (IRH) has signed a contract with South Africa's Public Financial investment Corporation (PICTURE) to purchase rail infrastructure and green energy tasks, the 2 entities stated on Monday. IRH is a subsidiary of International Holding Business , the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) richest business, while the state-owned picture is Africa's largest possession manager. The PIC's. 2.89 trillion rand ($ 169 billion) properties under management. consist of mining, farming, production, property and. financial services financial investments. IRH and photo would work together on South Africa's planned. replacement of its coal-dominated power generation with cleaner. sources of energy,...

Mineral Resources

Consistency targets very first copper from Australia mine by 2028

South Africa's Consistency Gold expects to start producing copper from its Australian mining project by 2028, the company stated on Thursday, as it diversifies into the key decarbonisation metal. Consistency obtained the Eva Copper project in Queensland in 2022 to diversify away from gold and remains in the procedure of upgrading the task's expediency study. We want to make the final financial investment choice by the end of the (financial) year. It's a two year construct, then Eva Copper will remain in production, Consistency CEO Peter Steenkamp told Reuters in an interview. The mine is anticipated to produce as much...

Mineral Resources

Congo seeks brand-new buyers for gold mined in eastern provinces

Democratic Republic of Congo is searching for new purchasers of gold from its eastern areas after taking complete control of Primera Gold which had an exclusive agreement to buy and offer gold mined in the east, the business's head stated. UAE-based Primera Group recently sold its stake in Congo-based Primera Gold, which had been a joint endeavor with the government, ending a questionable plan where it had been granted sole rights to trade gold dug by small manufacturers or so-called artisanal miners in eastern Congo. Primera Gold, now wholly owned by the federal government, is eager to invite other financiers...

Mineral Resources

Gold gains as investors no in on Fed cuts, inflation information

Gold costs acquired on Thursday, sustained by strong expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in September with financiers focusing on U.S. inflation information for further insights on the prospective size of the cut. Spot gold included 0.3% to $2,510.44 per ounce by 9:29 a.m. ET (1329 GMT). U.S. gold futures increased 0.2% to $ 2,543.60. The marketplace appears to be booking a rate cut no matter what, and now it is just a concern of what size-- how huge of a rate cut does the Fed do, stated Everett Millman, chief market analyst with Gainesville Coins. My expectation right...