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... 

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... 

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... 

Investors increasingly influenced by industrial policy and technology prowess, amid geopolitical tension

Management consulting firm Kearney's ‘2026 Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index’ reflects a global investment environment shaped by intensifying geopolitical tensions, expanding industrial... 

South Africa needs to reintroduce exploration into its mining DNA

Exploration is the start of any mining value chain and increasing investment in exploration is fundamental to South Africa using its mineral resources to drive development of its industries and... 

Africa Trade Barometer highlights ease-of-trade improvements leading to investment

The latest ‘Africa Trade Barometer’, which has been published yearly by financial services firm Standard Bank since 2022 and which tracks businesses' perceptions of the ease of trade in Africa,... 

ASP Isotopes subsidiary partners with Necsa to produce HALEU nuclear fuel

Nasdaq- and JSE-listed advanced materials company ASP Isotopes’ (ASPI’s) nuclear fuel processing subsidiary Quantum Leap Energy (QLE) and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) have... 

Samancor Chrome may retrench the majority of its 2 403 smelter, corporate employees

Ferrochrome producer Samancor Chrome has issued a retrenchment notice in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA). It envisages that about 2 400 employees may be retrenched at its... 

South Africa part of broader shift in acceleration of domestic solar panel production

Countries around the world are accelerating investment in domestic solar panel production capacity to strengthen energy security and industrial resilience, and South Africa is part of that broader... 

South Africa can expect fuel price increases amid Middle East conflict

The biggest immediate impact of the US-Israeli attack on Iran on countries like South Africa will be the elevated uncertainty about global oil prices and the prospect of higher fuel costs in the... 

AECI grows Ebitda, Ebitda margin; to invest in plants and equipment in 2026

JSE-listed mining and chemicals multinational AECI posted revenue of R32.1-billion for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was down 4% on the prior year; however, it achieved record earnings... 

Just transition an environmental, economic, social imperative, PCC says

A just transition is more than an environmental stewardship imperative, but is also an economic and social imperative and South Africa must ensure the shift to a low-emissions and climate-resilient... 

AMCU calls for enforcement of missing persons locator systems in mining sector

Trade union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) says various incidents of mineworkers going missing underground point to possible failures in the implementation, monitoring... 

Lion Smelter achieves first ferrochrome production tap after lower tariff, but still unsustainable

The Lion Smelter in Steelpoort, Limpopo, achieved its first ferrochrome production tap on February 16, following the successful recommissioning of 50% of its operating capacity, says natural... 

DMPR warns Gugulethu residents against illegally mining gold

In response to media reports of citizens digging up parts of the Gugulethu section of the Payneville informal settlement in Springs, Ekurhuleni, seeking to find gold-bearing material, the... 

EWSETA welcomes €2m investment to develop critical minerals, battery skills

The Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) has welcomed the €2-million investment received from the EU to advance demand-driven skills development linked to South... 

Afrimat reports stable performance, expects trading conditions to remain difficult in coming year

JSE-listed industrial minerals and construction materials producer Afrimat, in a pre-close operational update for its financial year ending on February 28, said trading conditions were expected to... 

Upcoming launch of electricity market seen as key step towards competition

Various organisations in the electricity sector are anticipating the start of the South African Wholesale Electricity Market (SAWEM) this year as a step towards phasing in a liberalised market, in... 

Afreximbank, DBSA partner to boost trade finance capacity for intra-Africa trade

Multilateral finance institution the African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) and development finance institution the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) have signed a Master Risk... 

Tshiamiso Trust has paid out R2.5bn in silicosis, TB compensation

Independently managed trust the Tshiamiso Trust has disbursed R2.5-billion to eligible claimants in compensation as agreed in the historic silicosis and tuberculosis (TB) settlement agreement. The... 

MQA to host Mining Skills Lekgotla in late Feb

Sector education and training authority the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) will host the 2025-2026 Mining Skills Lekgotla at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand, Gauteng, on February... 

Global FDI rebounds, but developing economies miss out – Unctad

Global foreign direct investment (FDI) rose 14% in 2025 to $1.6-trillion, rebounding after two weak years, although most of the increase came from financial flows through global hubs and not new... 

Only 30% of CEOs confident about revenue growth in the next year – survey

Audit and assurance firm PwC's ‘2026 Global CEO Survey’ shows that only three in ten, or 30% of, CEOs say they are confident about revenue growth over the next 12 months, which is down from 38% in... 

Cape Town International recorded 11.1m two-way passengers in 2025

Cape Town International Airport saw a record-breaking 11.1-million two-way domestic and international passengers during 2025, and also surpassed its December 2024 international passenger record.... 

Market liberalisation, grid access needed to sustain energy reform momentum

Even if only incremental steps are taken, South Africa must continue to progress its electricity market liberalisation and reform agenda, such as launching the South Africa Wholesale Electricity... 

Sasol reports Louisiana cracker plant restart, beneficial operation at South African destoning plant

JSE-listed energy and chemicals company Sasol, reporting on its performance for the six months to December 31, 2025, says its Southern Africa destoning plant reached beneficial operation in... 

Stakeholders invited to comment on Eskom’s ferrochrome NPA application

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) invites members of the public to submit comments on State-owned power utility Eskom’s request for a temporary electricity price relief for... 

Jubilee receives $10m second instalment from sale of South African chrome, PGM operations

AltX-listed Jubilee Metals Group, which is now focused on copper production in Zambia, has received the second cash instalment of $10-million from South African private mining resources group One... 

EIB Global extends €350m loan to Transnet for modernisation, green hydrogen efforts

Multilateral finance institution the European Investment Bank’s (EIB’s) development finance arm EIB Global has extended a €350-million loan to State-owned transport and logistics company Transnet.... 

Mining awareness among new engineers low, but energy transition attracts them – report

Engineering group Sandvik's 'The future of mining talent: What STEM graduates really think' report says that, while awareness of mining remains low among young engineers, many are open to joining... 

Andru Mining receives new centenary D8 Caterpillar dozer from Barloworld Equipment

Mining services company Andru Mining received a new grey-coloured D8 dozer, made by construction and mining equipment company Caterpillar, from industrial equipment company Barloworld Equipment on... 

EIB Global extends €350m loan to Transnet for modernisation, green hydrogen efforts

Multilateral finance institution the European Investment Bank’s (EIB’s) development finance arm EIB Global has extended a €350-million loan to State-owned transport and logistics company Transnet.... 

AI data centre expansion exposes strains in construction supply chains

The complex requirements of new data centres that are capable of supporting AI workloads may be outpacing supply chain preparedness, says professional services company Turner & Townsend in its... 

Awareness of mining low among new engineers, but energy transition can prompt them to join industry – report

Engineering group Sandvik's 'The future of mining talent: What STEM graduates really think' report says that, while awareness of mining remains low among young engineers, many are open to joining... 

Springbok solar project reaches commercial operation ahead of schedule

Renewable energy company the SOLA Group's 195 MW Springbok solar power project, in Virginia, in the Free State, has achieved an early commercial operation date. The multi-buyer, flexible energy... 

South Africa moves to create system for tracking clean-energy attributes

South Africa's public and private sectors involved in environmental regulations and electricity are working to develop an energy attribute certificate (EAC) system that would enable the... 

High electricity prices to continue putting pressure on mining, smelting, says Minerals Council

The improvement in the performance of State-owned Eskom’s ability to supply electricity and the uptick in Transnet’s operational performance bode well for mining, but the sector faces the threat of... 

Fatalities, safety incidents down, but security dominates in Rail Safety Regulator report

The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) recorded 9 200 safety-related occurrences, which is a 7.2% decrease from the previous year, while fatalities fell to 81, which is the lowest in five years, the... 

Transport Forum discusses embedding crucial reforms by demonstrating their impact

The virtual conference held by transport sector engagement organisation the Transport Forum on November 6 heard from a range of experts about the progress of reforms in the transport sector and the... 

TNPA awards concession for Cape Town liquid bulk terminal to FFS Tank Terminals

State-owned Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has signed a terminal operator agreement with FFS Tank Terminals to operate and maintain a liquid bulk terminal at the Port of Cape Town for a...