Retreat in commodity prices to push SA back into deficit

South Africa’s two successive years of fiscal surplus would come to an abrupt end during the 2009/10 fiscal period, the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) released by the National Treasury on Tuesday revealed. However, government...

Daily podcast – September 23, 2008

In today's podcast: the ANC assures that Mbeki's departure will not translate into any major changes in macroeconomic policy, Agrément South Africa kicks off its thirteenth AGM and, Chamber of Mines economist Roger Baxter says that the South...

Daily podcast – September 12, 2008

In today's podcast: Mathews Phosa, insists that South Africa's macroeconomic frameworks will remain in place, Datatec announces that it has acquired a 50,01% stake in Indian ICT distribution business Inflow Technologies, South Africa's total...

Digging for darkness

In 2006, global coal production was 5,37-billion tons, with the largest coal producing country in that year being China (2,48-billion tons), followed by the US (990-million tons), India (427-million tons), Australia (309-million tons), and South...

Rio confirms SA aluminium smelter delayed to 2012

Aluminium producer Rio Tinto Alcan on Thursday indicated that it expected its Coega aluminium smelter to only come on line in 2012. Rio Tinto Alcan Aluminium CEO Dick Evans said that South Africa's power constraints meant that the...

New Eskom consultant Myburgh says utility should ‘definitely’ consider coal mining

Mining its own coal was definitely something that Africa's biggest power producer, Eskom, needed to consider, its newly appointed consultant on long-term coal sourcing strategy, Ras Myburgh, said on Wednesday. Formerly JSE-listed miner Kumba...

KwaZulu-Natal coal resurgence, mine royalty burden lightened, UN Global Compact signatories

Plans to further unlock the coal potential of northern KwaZulu-Natal have won the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) vocal support, if last week’s Miranda Mineral Holdings’ unveiling is anything to go by. Read on page 6 of...

Daily podcast - May 13, 2008

In today's podcast: Rio Tinto Alcan's task team looking into the timing of its planned aluminium smelter at Coega was making good progress, the Energy Intensive Users Group was sceptical of the utility's ability to continue through...

Daily podcast - May 12, 2008

In today's podcast: the ANC and its communist and labour union allies call for review of electricity supply to energy-intensive projects, Africa's telecoms industry needs fresh boost to continue growth, and DRDGold initiates PFS at ERPM.

Daily Podcast - April 16, 2008

In today's podcast: South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday again came under criticism over his perceived denialist stance on the Zimbabwean crisis, with African National Congress treasurer general Matthews Phosa saying he...

Daily podcast - April 2, 2008

In today's podcast: Buyelwa Sonjica stresses that Eskom's requested 53% tariff hike is 'not finalised yet', the newly elected ANC leadership will ensure overall continuity to legislation governing mining in SA, and Zambia...

Daily podcast - March 13, 2008

In today's podcast: business confidence levels in South Africa hit a seven-year low, JSE-listed Assore plans to sell an 11,63% stake to Shanduka Resources for about R1,9-billion, a South African state lawyer accuses Jacob Zuma of trying to...