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France's Orano says Niger has removed mining permit for its Imouraren unit

Published: 21 Jun 24

French company Orano said on Thursday that Niger had removed a mining permit for its subsidiary Imouraren. Orano said the decision would have a negative economic impact on Niger and added it reserved the right to take legal measures to challenge the decision.

China's coal imports from Russia rise to eight-month high in May

Published: 21 Jun 24

Russia's coal shipments to China rose to the highest level in eight months in May after Moscow suspended export duties, official data showed on Thursday. Russia's coal exports to China rose to 9.1-million metric tons in May, according to Chinese customs administration data. That was up 1.5% on the year and the highest level since September.

Allegations of human rights abuses 'unfounded', Barrick Gold tells UNHRC

Published: 21 Jun 24

Barrick Gold said in a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday that allegations of human rights violations at its North Mara gold mine were "misdirected, unfounded" and "lacked substance". The UNHRC's special procedures branch had sent a letter to the Canadian gold miner in April, saying it had received information about allegations of killings, assault, torture, sexual abuse and violence against women and girls, among others, committed by security forces and private security contractors at the North Mara mine in northern Tanzania.

Canada oil sands group removes online content over federal anti-greenwashing rules

Published: 21 Jun 24

he Pathways Alliance, a group of Canada's biggest oil sands producers, has removed all content about environmental goals from its website and social media pages, citing "significant uncertainty" over the federal government's anti-greenwashing legislation. Bill C-59, which only needs royal assent to become law after Canada's parliament gave approval on Wednesday, would force companies to show proof of their environmental claims.

Streamlined PPP framework could unlock infrastructure investment

Published: 21 Jun 24

In February, the National Treasury asked for public comments to be submitted in respect of the newly drafted amendments to the National Treasury Regulations (NTR) 16, and key elements of municipal public-private partnerships (PPPs) legislation, to bring it in line with recommendations based on a complete review of the PPP framework. The closing date for public comments was April 15, with efforts being made to promulgate the new regulations before the close of the current financial year, the National Treasury tells Engineering News & Mining Weekly.

A photo of the new Cape Town Station which has been re-imagined to house over 3 000 students and has sports grounds, a shopping centre and cinemas

Mixed-use project completed

Published: 21 Jun 24

Privately owned construction company GVK-Siya Zama has worked “around the clock” to complete the redevelopment of Cape Town Station, in the Western Cape, into a mixed-use residential and retail space. This despite experiencing one of Cape Town’s wettest winters in ten years last year, which threatened to derail the process.

A road in Africa taken from a lower angle with a yellow line painted through it and a Cats Eye reflector in the tar

Eastern Cape road projects planned

Published: 21 Jun 24

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) announced in March that it expected to inject close to R2-billion into the Dr AB Xuma local municipality, in the Eastern Cape, when it implements its road maintenance projects over the next three years. The roads agency said it will implement two road infrastructure development projects in the municipality, which include the road improvements of the R61 National Road between All Saints and Bayiza, as well as road improvements of the R61 National Road between Qumanco and eNgcobo.

A man’s arm holding a hard hat wearing other PPE in the foreground of a construction site

Fatalities draw attention to health and safety standards

Published: 21 Jun 24

Recent tragic events, resulting in the loss of over 40 construction workers' lives across three sites last month, have brought heightened attention to both the wellbeing of construction personnel and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight. The fatal construction-related incidents were recorded at a new apartment building in George, in the Western Cape; a residential construction site in Ballito, in KwaZulu-Natal; and a previously constructed retaining wall at a shop in Ngcobo, in the Eastern Cape.

Institutes promote sustainable development

Published: 21 Jun 24

Members of welding professional body the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) stress the importance of high-quality welder education and training strategies to help catalyse the “reindustrialisation” of developing countries – including many of the countries on the African continent – and empowering impoverished and underprivileged communities by creating employment in the welding sector. The education and training initiatives established by the SAIW to improve the overall value of the welding industry by enhancing the national welding capability also aligns with the United Nations’ (UN’s) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notes a report on the 17 SDGs written by SAIW executive director John Tarboton and veteran SAIW and International Institute of Welding (IIW) member Chris Smallbone.

New-vehicle sales down 14.2% as consumers suffer from election jitters

Published: 21 Jun 24

April’s 2.2% bump in new-vehicle sales proved to be an anomaly as new-vehicle sales again returned to negative territory in May, with the market down 14.2%, to 37 105 units, compared with the same month last year. April’s positive blip followed eight months of market decline.