Wednesday, August six, 2008.

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Shannon O'Donnell.

Making headlines today:

Tenders for a 5-billion-rand-plus investment by Eskom into flue gas desulphurisation technology for its Kusile power station, are being finalised. A preferred bidder should be selected soon.

The FGD technology will be used to remove sulphur dioxide from the exhaust flue gases. The technology has never been deployed in South Africa.

Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga said that Kusile, previously code-named ‘Project Bravo', would be the first power station in South Africa to have FGD installed. The power station is being built near Witbank, in Mpumalanga.

The fourth quarter of 2008 will see northern Johannesburg's Sandton City begin its transformation. This is as the 1,77-billion rand first phase of the ‘masterplan' gets under way. It includes the refurbishment of the existing centre, the addition of 30 000 square metres of new retail space, improved access and additional parking bays.

Liberty Properties property development managing director Caswell Rampheri said that the professional team of contractors responsible for the development is being finalised. He said that the tender would be awarded and announced within a month.

In February 2007, London-based RTKL Associates were chosen as the complex designers. RTKL were the designers of the Beijing International Sports and Exhibition Centre, which will house the 2008 Olympic Games. They also designed the Gateway Shopping Centre in Umhlanga, and are the designers for the new Twin Towers precinct in New York.

State power utility Eskom has signed a letter of intent with Anglo Coal South Africa. This is to supply its new 4 818-MW Kusile power station with 17-million tons of coal a year over its 47-year life.

Should the two companies reach a primary-energy agreement, the coal will be supplied through Anglo Inyosi Coal. The first coal supplies are expected for delivery in 2011, well ahead of the start-up of the first unit in 2013.

The coal will come from the New Largo deposit, with supporting coal from Zondagsfontein East No.2 seam and from the No.4 seam. It could also potentially come from the Zondagsfontein West resource, where exploration is currently under way.

Also making headlines:

South Africa is urged to strengthen its fixed investment as the economy runs out of productive capacity
Tito Mboweni says he is focused on the inflation outlook
Two-million people are expected to join in Cosatu's protest action
Xstrata makes a bid for rival Lonmin
Ernst & Young says that global gold exploration is ‘staggeringly unsuccessful'
And, CIC Energy signs an agreement with Shell for its Botswana coal-to-hydrocarbons plan

In political news:

Rwanda accuses France directly over the 1994 genocide
African ex-leaders are to press politicians over AIDS
Gaddafi says that isolated Iran risks the same fate as Iraq
And, Malawi parliament agrees to end budget impasse

That's a round up of news making headlines today. For more on these and other stories, visit engineeringnews.co.za, miningweekly.com and polity.org.za