This is the Real Economy Report. Our top stories this week: South African mine protected vehicle plant is geared for growth, Impala Platinum targets a 45 MW power reduction and, South Africa's first bus rapid-transit system is to be operational by May 2009.

This is the Real Economy Report. Our top stories this week: DRD Gold turns the corner with a near break-even at ERPM, Nissan is to nearly triple its vehicle production, and Bell takes the lead in satellite truck monitoring.

This is the Real Economy Report. Our top stories this week: Acsa's plan for the 2010 world cup, Eskom speaks to us about how it has gone about securing equipment for its two new coal-fired power stations and the possible spin-offs for South African industry and, Rand Uranium's CEO firms up production plans.

This is the Real Economy Report. Our top stories this week: we explore the efforts being made to reduce air pollution from South Africa's newest coal-fired power station, the energy boom spurs a R100m manufacturing investment in Pretoria and, we look at the A-Darter missile programme.

This is the Real Economy Report. Our top stories this week: we speak to new Angloplat CEO Neville Nicolau on safety and production challenges, explosives prices to increase futher and, we speak exclusively to ArcelorMittal South Africa's CEO about the group's long-steel expansion plans.

Valve manufacturing and distribution company Insamcor, is to build on its local and African geographical footprint by reassessing the company’s distribution network.

AAnglo American's enterprise development and investment initiative, Anglo Zimele, aims to fund an additional 113 small enterprises through its Small Business Start-up Fund (SBSF) by the end of 2009, chairperson Godfrey Gomwe said on Friday. A total of R25,5-million, out of the R50-million fund value, was spent on supporting small enterprises during the first year of the fund's existence. The fund was started in October 2007 and 87 loan transactions for small businesses had already been approved.

Diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) had iron-ore reserves that could “easily” maintain 16 Mtpa – or even 20 Mtpa production – for more than 20 years, ARM CEO André Wilkens told Mining Weekly Online in an exclusive interview. “We have also said that, if the market takes a slightly lower grade of iron-ore in the future, we have significant upside in the current orebody,” he reiterated, after presenting a superb set of record results that saw ARM’s cash war chest soar to an unprecedented R2,6-billion.

There are many undetected diseases in the pipeline and we need to protect young people from further exposure to asbestos, argued Brian Gibson, chairperson of the asbestos-related diseases compensatory fund, the Kgalagadi Relief Trust, at an asbestos regulations workshop, held in Johannesburg, last week.

A local manufacturer of steel products for the mining industry VR Steel reports that it will set up shop in India from January next year, making this the company’s fifth global operation. The company has appointed an Indian national who will work directly from VR Steel’s offices in Delhi, the capital of India.

The official importer and distributor of the Astra HD8 range of heavy duty trucks is Autumn Star Trading 758.

The Bearing Man group is an inspirational success story, growing from humble beginnings as a modest bearings shop in Durban, opened by husband and wife team Greg and Lorelle Till in 1974, to one of Africa’s leading distributors of dynamic engineering consumable products.

The Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) programme is part of an initiative by the government to encourage export oriented growth in South Africa. This initiative is driven by the Department of Trade and Industry to encourage sub regional economic growth and job creation.

Established in October 1915, Goodyear Engineered Products (GEP) SA operates from Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg, with a manufacturing plant in Uitenhage.

Heavy earthmoving supplier High Power Equipment (HPE) Africa has earned a reputation for its products in the heavy capital equipment market, particularly its Hyundai skid steers, wheel loaders and excavators.

In today's podcast: Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa unveils the details of the successor to the Motor Industry Development Programme, Government spokesperson Themba Maseko announced the incorporation of Jipsa into the HRDS-SA and, Botswana's Ponatshego Kedikilwe said that Botswana was negotiating an "accelerated" power programme to deliver more electricity "far earlier".

In today's podcast: Sasol has obtained a 51% working interest in four hydrocarbon prospecting licenses in PNG, WBHO's building division is investigating opportunities beyond South Africa's borders and, Keaton Energy announces that it will start coal production at its Klipfontein project immediately .

In today's podcast: Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga acknowledged that the resignation of financial director Bongani Nqwababa and human resources head Mpho Letlape was a "big blow" to the organisation, Sasol will welcome about 300 000 ordinary South Africans as shareholders of the company on September 8, and Lonmin again rejects the $10-billion hostile offer from diversified miner Xstrata.

In today's podcast: the Department of Trade and Industry releases further details on its proposed successor to the Motor industry Development Programme, house prices in South Africa fell 1,8% in August and, Anglo Platinum appoints Bongani Nqwababa as CEO.

In today's podcast: Vodacom unveils the R5,3-billion acquisition of Gateway Telecommunications, KPMG finds that only one third of companies involved in major construction projects worldwide produce 80% of their projects on time and, African Rainbow Minerals announces a R7,3-billion, six-million ton expansion at its jKhumani iron-ore mine.

In this broadcast: The Russians are expected to launch South Africa’s pioneering Sumbandila satellite; May 2010 is the new deadline for the first phase of South Africa’s first rapid rail system, the Gautrain; South Africa’s Impala Platinum is to invest another R2-billion in its platinum mines in Zimbabwe, where it touches the lives of 50 000 people.

In this broadcast: South Africa is burning power station coal at a rate faster than it is producing it, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Keaton Energy is warning; Global leader De Beers is preparing to open up its treasure chest of successful diamond technology to the world for the first time in its 100-year history; Air-monitoring stations are being set up in Mpumalanga to clean up South Africa’s air-polluted Highveld hot-spot.

In this broadcast: The doyen of South African mining Brian Gilbertson has returned with big investment plans for the thriving coloured gemstone business; Billions upon billions of rand going into coal mining to meet South Africa’s huge future energy needs; Johannesburg all set to host a record number of visitors for Africa’s biggest mining exhibition.

In this broadcast: South Africa is shooting itself in the foot by selling its raw chrome ore to China before adding value to it at home; Kusile is the name of South Africa’s next big power station, which is being built in Mpumalanga; Sandton will become the home of Africa’s tallest building in 2011.

In this broadcast: Transnet’s new rail command centre live in Johannesburg; South Africa has struck gold in Senegal; the Canadians want to do a ‘Sasol’ in neighbouring Botswana