Australia's east is facing a gas shortage after a cold snap drove up demand for heating and power while supply dipped due to an extended outage at the region's main gas plant, the energy market operator said. To help boost supply, the market operator has asked gas producers in Queensland state, which include Shell, Origin Energy and Santos, to send gas to the southern states.

Australian sustainable aviation company Dovetail Electric Aviation (Dovetail) has selected Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Xcelerator software portfolio to employ in the design of its zero-emission aircraft propulsion systems, both battery electric and hydrogen-electric. Dovetail’s propulsion systems are intended to be retrofitted into existing regional aircraft types, both decarbonising their operation and reducing regional airline operating costs by up to 40%. “Whilst a lot has changed in the world of aviation, the fundamental structure of an aircraft hasn’t changed much,” pointed out Dovetail CEO David Doral. “Therefore, it makes perfect business and sustainability sense to retrofit capable aircraft with new generation, zero emissions drivetrains that take a significant step towards cleaner air travel. This helps us collectively achieve net zero and saves costs.”

In response to a recent Johannesburg High Court order favouring State-owned utility Eskom in a payment dispute with the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and City Power, the CoJ and City Power say the court did not fully consider critical aspects of the evidence.  “While we accept and respect the court’s decision, the city reserve[s] the right to appeal the ruling,” the CoJ and City Power said in a June 21 media statement.

ASX-listed Ausgold has finalised the acquisition of two freehold properties at its 100%-owned Katanning gold project (KGP), about 275 km south-east of Perth, marking a milestone in advancing the project towards production. The acquired properties span a total area of 1 026 ha within the KGP. One property, situated within mining lease 70/488, covers 94 ha and encompasses the southern extent of the Central Zone resource, which includes deposits such as Jinkas, Jinkas South and Jackson. This area is slated to be a primary source of ore during the initial 18 months of production at the KGP.

Exploration company Alicanto Minerals has made several board and management changes as part of a new growth strategy that will see it review potential project acquisitions. Raymon Shorrocks has moved from nonexecutive chairperson into the role of interim executive chair. With more than 30 years of experience in the resources sector and senior corporate finance executive roles, Shorrocks has advised a diverse range of mining companies and managed equity capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions.

Nasdaq-listed Zebra Technologies has found that 61% of manufacturers expect AI to drive growth in the sector by 2029, up from 41% in 2024. These findings are part of Zebra’s ‘2024 Manufacturing Vision Study’, the results of which were released on June 21.

As part of a rebranding strategy to showcase its full spectrum of services, electromechanical contractor and facility management services provider, BUTEC Group has rebranded its subsidiaries in South Africa to BUTEC. As previously reported in Engineering News, the group is currently rebranding its subsidiaries Thermaire as BUTEC – an electromechanical solutions provider – and Ampair as BUTEC Services – a facility management and maintenance service provider.

Having secured permission to operate five aged power stations under existing minimum emission standards (MES) plant limits until their closure in 2030, Eskom has confirmed that it will be applying for exemption from the MES timeframes and limits for four stations that will remain operational post-2030. On May 23, the State-owned utility received confirmation from then Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy that it could continue to operate Hendrina, Grootvlei, Arnot, Camden and Kriel at existing MES plant limits until March 31, 2030.

Ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s much anticipated new Cabinet appointments, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse is urging him not to reappoint Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe, Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande and Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga. Outa also suggests that Ramaphosa consider reducing the size of the new Cabinet. Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage cited systemic inefficiencies, mismanagement, irregularities in procurement processes and corruption, which he said had been observed in all three departments. “Reappointing these Ministers would perpetuate poor performance, with more negative consequences for the country, further impacting service delivery to the people,” he said. Duvenage said that it believed meaningful change for the better would come if Ramaphosa appointed “the right people” to Cabinet, noting that under Mantashe, the mining cadastre system had collapsed, impacting negatively on transparency and investment in South Africa’s mining sector. “In addition, the lack of transparency when it comes to diesel procurement for Eskom’s peak power usage and other dubious activities on his watch, coupled with his alleged involvement in State capture transactions as reported by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, make Mantashe unfit for any Cabinet role,” he said. In discussing Nzimande’s alleged shortcomings, Duvenage pointed to procurement irregularities in the sectoral education and training authorities, universities, technical and vocational education and training colleges, and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. Meanwhile, he highlighted that Chikunga’s short tenure as the Minister of Transport and her previous role as deputy minister has been disappointing, pointing to challenges with road safety, corruption in driver’s licence testing and inefficiencies in the Natis vehicle registry system.

On June 24, 501 days after two South African men were allegedly unlawfully arrested in Equatorial Guinea, their families are going to hand over a formal request to Pan-African Parliament (PAP) president Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, in Midrand, to ask the institution to help secure the urgent release of engineers Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham. It is part of the PAP’s mandate to protect the human rights of African citizens, the families say, adding that they will also stage a peaceful demonstration at the PAP’s offices on the day.