Navigating sluggish demand In the first half of 2023, South African auto manufacturers reported modest sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with only 800 units sold nationwide. Volvo and BMW/Mini led the sales charts, with 374 and 283 units sold, respectively. Despite having over 12 million vehicles on the road, South Africa’s electric vehicle fleet…
Botswana is set to reap a significant economic reward from its latest diamond discovery, driven by visionary beneficiation initiatives and cutting-edge investment frameworks that prioritise national benefit, localisation, and community prosperity. The second-largest diamond ever found – a rough 2,492-carat stone – has been unearthed in Botswana at a mine operated by the Canadian company…
At the inaugural African Critical Minerals Summit held in Sandton exactly a year ago on September 8th, South Africa’s Minerals Minister Gwede Mantashe candidly acknowledged that the country lacks a coherent policy approach for Critical Minerals (CRMs). As delegates listened intently, it became clear that this absence of a defined CRM strategy is more than…
While South Africa’s renewable energy sector has been gaining momentum in recent years, driven by the country’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and diversifying its energy mix, the local market’s growth is closely tied to global trends, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage systems (ESS) industries, as well as the global push…
There is no question that the establishment of the Dangote Refinery, a $19 billion project, represents a significant stride towards Africa’s self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products and its ability to export to other African nations. This transformative initiative has the potential to reduce the continent’s reliance on imports, create jobs, and drive industrialization, ultimately contributing…
A report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has highlighted Africa’s vast potential as a hub for manufacturing investment. The continent’s rich reserves of critical minerals and metals, such as aluminium, cobalt, copper, lithium, and manganese, make it an attractive location for technology-intensive industries. Africa’s abundant resources and expanding consumer markets…
