After a sluggish start to the year, South Africa’s economy has finally shown signs of life. The latest GDP figures from Statistics SA reveal a 0.4% growth in the second quarter of 2024, meeting economists’ expectations and hinting at a broader recovery. The spark behind this uptick? A combination of improved electricity supply, increased consumer…
PGM miner Sibanye Stillwater, a leading precious metals mining company, announced on Monday that it expects to report a half-year loss due to a significant writedown on its US assets. The company attributed the loss to the declining price of palladium, a key metal used in vehicle exhaust systems to reduce emissions. The writedown, valued…
INDONESIA will seek to sign US$3.5 billion of trade and investment agreements with Africa as global trade battles spur a hunt for new markets outside Asia, according to a senior diplomat. The deals will be announced at the ongoing Indonesia-Africa Forum, which will be held until Tuesday (Sep 3) in Bali, Vice Foreign Affairs Minister…
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to China is expected to open and strengthen economic ties and attract investment to the country. During his visit, Ramaphosa will on Tuesday travel to Shenzhen, a major economic and technology hub in Guangdong Province, where he will engage with industry leaders and tour the headquarters of leading…
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…
