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WIOCC Group secures digital infrastructure expansion funds

Published: 20 Jun 24

Digital infrastructure provider WIOCC Group is furthering its expansion strategy in three African countries, enhancing the continent’s digital infrastructure and connectivity and supporting economic growth after securing funding through a financing package from IFC and Proparco. The financing includes loans of $10-million and R200-million from IFC, as well as $20-million from Proparco, a development finance institution and subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement Group.

Assembly has started of the world’s biggest land-based crane

Published: 20 Jun 24

Netherlands-based global major engineered heavy lift and transport company Mammoet has announced that it has started assembly of its latest, and the world’s biggest and strongest land-based, crane, the SK6000. This is a ring crane design, and its assembly is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of this year. “This is a thrilling new chapter for Mammoet and modular construction in heavy industry, as we see the SK6000 taking shape,” affirmed SK6000 Project Manager Koen Brouwers. “It will offer a hook height, outreach, and lifting capacity far in excess of any crane on the market. We are excited to bring this groundbreaking technology to our customers, helping them achieve their project goals with greater efficiency and more sustainability.”

Eskom wins South African appeal to keep five polluting power plants open

Published: 20 Jun 24

South Africa’s State power utility and biggest source of air pollution won an appeal to keep five of its oldest plants open even though they are set to flout incoming emission caps. The plants - which account for almost a quarter of Eskom Holdings’ almost 45 GW of coal-fired generation capacity - will be allowed to operate under current emission limits until the end of March 2030, Barbara Creecy, South Africa’s environment minister, ruled. That will exempt them from more stringent restrictions on pollutants, ranging from particulate emissions to sulfur dioxide, that come into effect in 2025.

Johannesburg Water well prepared for Rand Water’s maintenance

Published: 20 Jun 24

Johannesburg Water says it is well prepared for the potential disruptions in water supply during Rand Water’s planned winter maintenance that is starting this weekend. The water supply across the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) is expected to be impacted as Rand Water undertakes extensive proactive maintenance across Gauteng from June 22 to July 29, to improve the reliability and efficiency – as well as extend the lifespan – of its water infrastructure.

Image of WesBank marketing and communication head Lebogang Gaoaketse

Traditional bakkie powerhouses to be challenged by buying-down trend, newcomers – WesBank

Published: 20 Jun 24

South Africa is bakkie country, dominated by Toyota’s Hilux as the country’s long-standing number-one-selling vehicle, with the Ford Ranger and Isuzu D-Max also perennial favourites, among others. These three bakkies are also produced locally, in Durban, Pretoria and Gqeberha, respectively.