More than 200 financial institutions globally, including five South African banks, have established coal exclusion policies, a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows. These include asset managers and owners with assets under management of more than $50-billion, as well as international banks, insurance and reinsurance companies, export credit agencies, multilateral development banks and development finance institutions with assets exceeding $10-billion.
The National Treasury is embarking on provincial roadshows to communicate the 14 conditions under which the debt owed to Eskom by municipalities can be written off over the coming three years. As of March 31, Eskom was owed a whopping R57-billion by municipalities and the municipal debt issue has continued to worsen despite several previous attempts to address the problem.
Gold and copper mining company Barrick is maintaining its transition to cleaner energy and supporting education initiatives, including in East Africa's Tanzania, the company said on Wednesday when it reported first-quarter results. On the environmental front, Barrick’s total emissions in 2022 were 6% lower compared with the year before and 11% lower than the 2018 baseline.
Bokokotla Motshabo Construction & Projects (Pty) Ltd, a Rustenburg-based company offering civil and structural construction services, as well as heavy-duty machinery rentals, has purchased a sixth high-pressure vacuum truck to add to its existing fleet procured from Werner Pumps. While the previous five truck units have either been vacuum trucks or combination vacuum and jetting trucks, the sixth one is an Amanzi Recycling Unit. Bokokotla Eric Mahlatji, Director of Bokokotla Motshabo Construction & Projects, says the company has been in operation since 2012 and strives for continuous growth. “We’re a family orientated business – we believe in the future of our young ones and that providing job opportunities will guarantee better futures for our children,” he says. “Our motto is ‘Unity is the power’ and we have a vision of growth.”
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has highlighted the country’s determination to develop a hydrogen economy, for a low carbon-emissions future. He did so at the recent meeting of the International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy (IPHE) steering committee, in Pretoria. The IPHE is an intergovernmental organisation with 22 members, which share information to encourage research and development into hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and their actual deployment, around the world. South Africa currently chairs the steering committee.