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The City of Cape Town will host the first-ever Nomad Week in March.

The event, a global gathering of digital nomads, will be hosted in collaboration with Work Wanderers, an organisation that supports people to adapt to a work-from-anywhere lifestyle.

"Cape Town has rapidly become the ultimate playground for digital nomads," says City of Cape Town Economic Growth MMC James Vos.

"Our vibrant city offers the perfect mix of natural beauty, infrastructure and a dynamic entrepreneurial culture.

"Hosting Nomad Week reinforces our commitment to positioning Cape Town as Africa's top destination for remote workers.

"In 2021, we hosted the Remote Work webinar, which brought together industry experts for dialogue about this market.

"We also persistently pushed for the implementation of a remote worker visa, which national government did last year," says Vos.

Under the new remote visa category, applicants are required to derive their income from a foreign source.

Research by Work Wanderers shows that digital nomads earn between $50 000 (R941 315.92) and $123 000 (R2 315 637.15, based on current exchange rates) a year.

"This is a market we are eager to tap into," says Vos.

"Not only do digital nomads bring valuable spending power, but they also contribute to local communities and create opportunities for Capetonians.

"We've worked closely with industry partners to develop products and services tailored to their unique needs."

"This event will be the ultimate gathering for location-independent professionals, a week of collaboration, networking, and growth," says Work Wanderers CEO and founder Andrae Smith.

"Cape Town's stunning landscapes, vibrant culture and innovative spirit make it the ideal destination for digital nomads."

Cape Town has come under fire recently for what critics call a lack of affordable housing opportunities for locals, owing to digital nomads pushing up rental rates.

Addressing a gathering of global leaders on January 21, World Economic Forum (WEF) founder and chairperson Klaus Schwab called on the global community to embrace "constructive optimism", urging stakeholders from all sectors - government, business, civil society and academia - to unite in crafting solutions to shared challenges brought about by the transition from the industrial to the intelligent age.

"This [transition] is occurring at an exponential pace, carrying unprecedented risks for humanity as we strive to prepare and adapt for its complexities. Yet, it also offers significant opportunities to transcend our current challenges and spark a new renaissance - one defined by advancements in knowledge, health, culture and societal welfare," he said at the fifty-fifth yearly meeting in Davos, Switzerland, highlighting the theme of the gathering: 'Collaboration for the intelligent age'.

"By embracing constructive optimism and believing in our collective capacity and commitment to improving the state of the world, we can shape the intelligent age as an age where every human being can realise their full potential," he said.

Speaking at what he described as "one of the most uncertain geopolitical and geoeconomic moments in generations", WEF president and CEO Børge Brende stressed that the world was at a critical inflection point and that this would be a year of enormous consequence.

"The longstanding international order that existed for the last three decades has receded. We need to find more effective ways to work together. It is the only way forward," he asserted.

In these turbulent times, democratic and liberal values serve as a critical signpost for stability and progress, Swiss Confederation 2025 president, federal councillor and Switzerland Federal Department of Finance head Karin Keller-Sutter said, adding that open markets, fair and transparent rules and fiscal discipline were the cornerstones of sustained prosperity.

"Only a State with stable institutions can create a sound environment where everyone can realise their potential, and a State must protect this freedom with rules," she said.

Also reflecting on the changing world order, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined Europe's plan to adapt to a new era of "harsh geostrategic competition" by increasing its competitiveness, strengthening global partnerships and maintaining its commitment to sustainable development.

"To sustain our growth in the next quarter of the century, Europe must shift gears. We should not take anything for granted. We must look for new opportunities wherever they arise. This is the moment to engage beyond blocs and taboos. And Europe is ready for change," she said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for renewed commitments to security and prosperity in the face of global challenges, emphasising that partnerships served as the "engine for successful economic development".

He highlighted plans to reform German public debt regulations to strengthen domestic growth and emphasised Europe's need to strengthen its defence capabilities and industrial base. His remarks acknowledged geopolitical challenges and uncertainties related to the new administration in Washington in the US under newly inaugurated President Donald Trump, but highlighted optimism about opportunities in emerging technologies.

As the war in Ukraine nears its third year, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Europe to solidify its position as a leading global power. Highlighting the need for unity and strategic investment, he emphasised that the continent must prioritise alliances, technological advancements and a cohesive security and defence policy. He pointed to existing models of cooperation in Ukraine's defence as examples of how collective action could strengthen Europe as a whole.

"Europe needs to compete for the top spot in priorities, alliances and technological development. We need a united European security and defence policy and all European cou...

With several new renewables and battery storage projects under construction or being advanced to financial close, 2025 is poised to be a significant year in Mulilo's ongoing transition from an entrepreneurial developer, which took minority stakes in projects, to a leading South African integrated independent power producer (IPP).

Towards the tail-end of last year, the Cape Town-headquartered company was awarded five projects during the second bid window of South Africa's battery storage procurement programme, as well as a 240 MW solar PV project under South Africa's seventh renewables bid window. Earlier, it concluded a private power purchase agreement (PPA) with Air Products South Africa for a 75 MW solar PV project in the Northern Cape.

In all cases, Mulilo is the consortium lead, representing a departure from past practice where it took minority positions. This was the case even with relatively recently awarded projects, including the battery storage projects secured after the first bid window, where EDF International led the consortium in which Mulilo participated, and the 260 MW renewables PPAs with Sasol and Air Liquide, where TotalEnergies led the consortium.

CEO Jan Fourie tells Engineering News that its newest portfolio of projects epitomises the business' strategic evolution towards being an integrated IPP; one that has been facilitated largely by an investment made into Mulilo by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) in 2023.

"Prior to the CIP investment, Mulilo was the developer of the projects, and then worked with bigger partners and took minority equity stakes."

The entrepreneurial founders Johnny Cullum and Christopher Aberdein continue to be minority investors and members of the board, which is now chaired by former Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer.

However, there has been a philosophical shift not only towards more rapid growth - a 5 GW target has been set for the coming five years - but also to the company increasingly taking the equity, construction, asset management, operations and maintenance lead in projects.

Mulilo currently participates in an operational portfolio of wind and solar PV projects of 420 MW, while its overall construction portfolio stands at 592 MW, including those projects where it is still a minority equity participant.

The company expects another 75 MW project will close soon and that a total of 1 GW should close during 2025 as a whole.

"The shift to being owner-operator means Mulilo needs to be more operationally hands-on and capacitated.

"It's an evolution that we believe to be necessary if we are to compete effectively against the large international utilities entering the South African renewable-energy market," Fourie explains.

It is also likely to mean ongoing growth in employment, with the company having already expanded from about 45 people in July 2023 to 140 currently and with plans to expand the business to more than 200 people by the beginning of next year.

In addition to adding capacity, Mulilo will begin adding new capabilities, including the likely creation of a national control centre to enable it to manage its portfolio of power stations around the clock.

The immediate priority, however, is to shepherd projects where it is the preferred bidder to financial close, to execute on the projects that have reached financial close and to continue to enhance its future project pipeline.

Fourie expects that the five battery energy storage system (BESS) projects awarded to it in December under the second bid window as well as the solar PV project awarded under the seventh bid window will have advanced to financial close by the fourth quarter, after which construction will begin.

The projects have a combined capital expenditure (capex) value of about R11.78-billion, with the BESS projects calculated at a combined R7.68-billion, while the solar PV project will involve capex of R4.1-billion.

The projects include the 76 MW/304 MWh Mulilo Mercury BESS, based in the Free State; the 77 MW/3...

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has revealed that preliminary data shows a 5.3% year-on-year increase in road-related fatalities and a 4.2% year-on-year increase in road crashes that involved fatalities over the 2024/25 festive season nationwide, with 1 502 deaths from 1 234 crashes.

During a media briefing on January 20, she noted that six provinces reported increases in the number of fatalities, namely KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, the Northern Cape and North West.

The Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State recorded increases of 70, 54 and 21 fatalities, respectively, year-on-year.

"This is most regrettable because it reverses the incremental strides made in recent years," she said.

Gauteng, the Western Cape and Mpumalanga recorded decreases of 76, 23 and 15 fatalities, respectively.

Meanwhile, Creecy also noted that 41% of all road fatalities over the period were pedestrian fatalities.

She explained that the highest percentage of pedestrian fatalities took place in the major urban centres of Gauteng, the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Gauteng had the highest pedestrian fatality rate at 63%, followed by the Western Cape at 53% and KwaZulu-Natal at 44%.

The Minister also noted that 87% of crashes occurred because of human error, such as hit and runs, speeding and drunk driving.

"All of us have to change our behaviour on the roads. The number of people who died on our roads this festive season has increased because people continue to behave badly."

Creecy revealed that 711 000 traffic fines were issued for various offenses, including 23 000 fines issued to drivers not wearing seatbelts and 16 000 fines to drivers for using their cell phones while driving.

Creecy also noted that 16 000 vehicles were found to be unroadworthy, with 8 900 vehicles impounded in areas where impoundment facilities were available.

Additionally, 9 500 motorists were arrested, including 3 840 for drunk driving, while 414 drivers were arrested for driving at high speeds. The transport minister pointed out that five high speed drivers were caught driving above 200 km/h.

"There must be consequences for drivers who break the law with wanton disregard for the lives of others, whether it is for speeding, drunk driving or any other offense that warrants arrest."

Creecy reiterated the aims of the Department of Transport's (DoT's) Festive Season Road Safety Campaign that was launched on December 1 under the theme 'Every Day without a Road Death - South Africa 2024.'

"At the launch of the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign on December 1, we said we were aiming to change driver behaviour, enhance our law enforcement actions and work together with everyone in the broader ecosystem to reduce fatalities and crashes," said Creecy.

The campaign was based on four pillars, namely responsible driving, pedestrian safety, enforcement and education, and collaboration among all stakeholders.

The Minister noted that stringent monitoring was put in place on 20 priority routes, alongside patrolling and law enforcement interventions.

Additionally, the DoT and the Road Traffic Management Corporation launched a communications campaign that included targeted messaging on platforms such as radio and social media.

Creecy explained that traffic law enforcement officers conducted more than 997 road blocks throughout the country over the festive season.

She said the road blocks were joint operations between local, provincial and national traffic police authorities, the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies, such as the Border Management Authority and the Cross Border Traffic Authority.

Creecy noted that provinces were conducting a detailed analysis of their respective statistics in order to create a plan moving forward. Respective parties were expected to convene on January 31.

She said the department would continue, together with the South African National Roads Agency Limited, to invest in designing and engineering safer road...

Engineering News editor Terence Creamer discusses the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager's (TRIM's) release of the much-anticipated Network Statement and whether it will be enough to facilitate the entry of new private train operators.

Cement group PPC has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with cement equipment and engineering company Sinoma Overseas Development Company for the construction of a new R3-billion low-carbon plant in the Western Cape.

The parties inked a strategic cooperation agreement in July last year to collaborate on identifying new projects and opportunities to improve efficiencies at PPC's operations.

The new plant will have the capacity to produce 1.5-million tons of cement a year.

It will replace and increase PPC's existing capacity and is set to be constructed at one of the company's existing sites - Riebeeck West.

PPC's existing two plants in the Western Cape will be mothballed once the new plant enters production.

The new operation will be equipped with a dedicated solar generation system, as well as other technology, which PPC believes will help enable it to supply the lowest-carbon cement in the country.

"South Africa's changing cement market dynamic urgently requires modern and cost-efficient assets and environmentally conscious producers," says PPC CEO Matias Cardarelli.

"With this new and most advanced energy and environmentally efficient plant in the country, we will be able to supply our customers with lower-carbon cement at a more competitive cost.

"It represents a major step in the sustainability of our business moving forward, and will play a key role in achieving PPC's commitment to reduce its carbon emissions and to deliver value to shareholders.

"By substituting existing capacity with a more efficient, environmentally friendly and larger plant, we are securing PPC's competitiveness in a key market, by delivering to our customers the best value proposition in the region," adds Cardarelli.

"At the heart of our 'Awaken the Giant' turnaround strategy is the active pursuit of strategic opportunities and projects to ensure that we are successful in a more competitive future market context."

PPC says the feasibility studies for the plant have already reached an advanced stage, and the parties will spend the next three months finalising the scope and final assessment of the new operation, as well as the associated turn-key engineering, procurement and construction agreements.

As the company will utilise an existing site, all mining rights and environmental approvals remain in place.

Subject to the PPC board's approval, it is anticipated that construction will start in the second quarter of this year, and that the plant will be commissioned by the end of next year.

PPC's existing plants in the Western Cape will continue to operate during the construction and commissioning process.

PPC says the project's funding structure is still being finalised, but believes that the project can be funded from debt facilities, assisted by the cash generated from existing operations during construction.

Also of assistance will be a milestone payment structure as agreed with Sinoma.

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report argues that nuclear capacity could double to 870 GW by 2050 in light of renewed interest in the building of new nuclear plants, including small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as in extending the lifetimes of existing power stations.

Nevertheless, the technology's share of global electricity generation is still expected to remain below 10%, in light of expectations that even stronger electricity demand growth over the period will be met primarily by renewable energy.

Titled 'The Path to a New Era for Nuclear Energy', the report asserts that interest in nuclear energy is at its highest level since the 1970s oil crisis, with more than 40 countries, including South Africa, pursuing or assessing new capacity and with the first commercial SMR projects expected to start operation in the 2030s.

The report includes reference to South Africa's decision to extend the life of Koeberg Unit 1 by 20 years to 2044, as well as processes to do likewise at Unit 2. It also notes moves by the country, which mothballed the pebble bed modular reactor programme in 2010, to develop its own SMR designs.

IEA executive director Fatih Birol said this renewed impetus was partly reflected in the fact that more than 70 GW of new capacity was currently under construction globally, albeit heavily skewed in favour of China, which is poised to have the world's largest nuclear fleet by 2030.

He also saw SMRs offering exciting growth potential, highlighting in particular the appetite being shown by the data-centre sector, especially in the US, where there were plans of varying maturity for up to 25 GW of SMR capacity.

Birol said that over the coming 15 years, the IEA was forecasting that SMR costs could fall to between $60/MWh and $80/MWh, which would make them competitive with offshore wind and large-scale hydro projects. These cost estimates, he noted, were higher than those being forecast by SMR vendors.

IEA energy markets and security director Keisuke Sadamori said improving the competitiveness of SMRs would require ongoing innovation by SMR technology companies and new business models that improved prospects for commercial funding.

The interest in SMRs being shown by private entities was seen as especially positive, as technology companies could take advantage of their strong credit ratings to facilitate financing for projects.

However, government support, including in the form of streamlined regulatory frameworks and processes, would remain key for de-risking projects and unlocking finance.

"Momentum is clearly building for the technology, but SMRs' success will hinge on whether government support, innovation and new business models enable them to bring down their costs quickly enough.

"If that happens, SMRs could account for 10% of all nuclear capacity globally by 2040," the reports states.

Birol argued that it would also hinge on an improved project-management performance by the industry, where previous projects in the US and Europe had experience delays of eight years on average and overshot their capital budgets by two-and-a-half times.

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The review of South Africa's steel tariff structure set to be undertaken by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has been described as the largest ever and is, thus, expected to have far-reaching consequences for the sector and the level of protection provided to industry participants across the value-chain.

Itac chief commissioner Ayabonga Cawe tells Engineering News that a Gazette outlining the scope of the review as well as the process that will be undertaken is likely within weeks, with the contents of the notice to feature on the agenda of the commission's first meeting of 2025 next week.

He also reiterates Itac's commitment to public consultations and transparency, indicating that public hearings could be scheduled in light of the broad-based nature of the review and its likely impact.

Initial consultations on the scope of the review have been concluded in line with a directive issued by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau to Itac.

The directive stipulates that the tariff structure for steel products included in chapters 72, 73, 82 and 83 of the tariff book be reviewed, along with other possible import controls, such as quotas or permits.

Describing it as a "flagship" project, Cawe says the outcome will take the form of a recommendation to Tau, who has indicated that he is expecting some initial feedback by June.

Cawe stresses, however, that a final outcome is not anticipated by mid-year, owing to the large scope of the review and Itac's commitment to public consultations.

During a webinar hosted on the upcoming review, XA Global Trade CEO Donald Mackay described it as an "enormous" project that is likely to take far longer than six months to complete.

There is also much as stake, as chapters 72, 73, 82 and 83 deal with products whose yearly imports have a combined value of R66-billion, of which R30-billion arises in the form of primary carbon and stainless-steel products covered under Chapter 72.

Chapter 73 includes fabricated products such as pipes and wire, Chapter 82 includes tools and equipment, ranging from wheelbarrows and spades to cutlery, while Chapter 83 includes a range of other miscellaneous steel products.

The net duties, after rebates, arising from the import of steel products used in intermediate and final consumption, as well as in gross fixed capital formation has been calculated by XA to be R3.5-billion.

The review forms part of what Cawe describes as a move by Itac to become more strategic and proactive amid expectations that trade instruments are likely to be used more assertively by governments in light of the tariff signals being sent by US President-elect Donald Trump.

He also stresses that while it could result in some products receiving additional protection, it is also aimed at ensuring that tariffs are removed from those products that should not be protected.

HIGH ANXIETY

However, it also comes amid heightened anxiety in the domestic steel sector following ArcelorMittal South Africa's (AMSA's) announcement that it would be closing its long products division.

The decision, which will affect 3 500 direct and indirect jobs and which could threaten tens of thousands more in the downstream value chain, has been attributed to structural conditions that are undermining the competitiveness of AMSA's Newcastle Works, in KwaZulu-Natal, and its associated long units in Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

Although logistics and energy have been identified as key factors, rising imports from China and a government scrap policy intervention have been highlighted as two key reasons for the decision, particularly given persistently weak domestic demand.

Mackay calculates that the price preference system, which provides domestic consumers of scrap with a 30% discount, together with a 10% export tax on scrap, has r...

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

The V&A Waterfront hopes to break ground later this year on a proposed R20-billion development to be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years.

The new development and its funding have already been approved by joint shareholders Growthpoint and the Public Investment Corporation.

V&A Waterfront spokesperson Donald Kau says the project requires rezoning approval, with a decision now pending from the City of Cape Town's Municipal Planning Tribunal.

The application was released for public comment in July last year.

The massive new development will involve reclaiming land from the sea.

To put it in perspective: The V&A Waterfront's application is for an additional 440 000 m2 in development area to add to its current 614 000 m2 footprint.

The majority of new build is planned for the Granger Bay precinct.

It is envisaged that Granger Bay will be developed as a residentially led, mixed-use precinct with public and cultural amenities - a process that will include reestablishing public access to the ocean edge.

Kau says the V&A Waterfront's vision for the Granger Bay site includes a public walkway linking the city centre to Mouille Point, connecting with the current Atlantic seaboard promenade.

"The V&A Waterfront's ultimate vision for Granger Bay is opening up public access to a new protected area," he notes.

"Our design approach will strengthen the shoreline and protect the bay, at the same time as creating a new leisure destination for swimming, walking and water-based activities.

"This will be subject to statutory approvals, including environmental impact assessments and reclamation approvals."

Granger Bay currently houses popular landmarks like the Oceana Power Boat Club and Oranjezicht City Farm Market, which will both be integrated into the new development.

The V&A Waterfront in its current guise welcomed more than 25-million visitors in 2023.

Long in the Making

Thirty years ago, a basket of rights was granted for Cape Town's then neglected docklands through a zoning agreement to develop 603 859 m2 of floor space, says Kau.

In 2015, this increased to 613 859 m2, with the approval of an application to redevelop the historic grain silo precinct.

Today, the Waterfront's remaining development rights are mostly accounted for through approved plans, and limited opportunities remain for future development, notes Kau.

It is in this context that the V&A Waterfront applied to rezone its property from 'Development Zone' (the unique zoning established for the Waterfront in March 1993) to 'Mixed Use 3' in terms of the City of Cape Town's Development Management Scheme.

This is considered the most appropriate zoning for the Waterfront and its broad mix of land uses, says Kau.

About 66% of the 440 000 m2 of floor space applied for is earmarked for the Granger Bay development area.

The remaining 34% is proposed for other parts of the Waterfront property, including the Canal District, which has seen renewed interest and investment with the development of Battery Park, an inner-city park with leisure and recreational facilities centred around remnants of the historic Amsterdam Battery.

This audio is brought to you by Endress and Hauser, a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation.

International Trade Administration of South Africa (Itac) chief commissioner Ayabonga Cawe reports that a summary report relating to the commission's review of the Price Preference System (PPS) for scrap metal has been handed to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).

The document reflects public comments received by the November 8 deadline arising from the initiation, in late September, of the review of the PPS guidelines. However, Cawe tells Engineering News that it does not represent a final recommendation, with further work ongoing.

The PPS is designed to regulate scrap exports to facilitate the affordable supply of ferrous and nonferrous material to domestic consumers.

It has come under the spotlight again after ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) cited the PPS and the scrap export tax as one of the reasons for its decision to wind down its long-products business and place its Newcastle facility into care and maintenance, at the expense of 3 500 jobs.

Other reasons provided related to weak domestic demand, surging imports and high and rising rail and electricity costs.

AMSA claims that the benefits arising as a result of the 30% ferrous scrap discount and 10% export tax have placed its Newcastle mill, which produces steel from iron-ore using blast-furnace technology, at a competitive disadvantage when compared with steelmakers using scrap in electric arc furnaces.

Cawe confirms that the comments received covered a range of issues, including the discount rates, transactional costs, delivery periods and costs, as well as payment terms that deviated from the cash-on-delivery method envisaged.

Some stakeholders raised questions about the effectiveness and desirability of the policy itself, but because Itac is not the policymaker, its review is limited to the administrative and procedural aspects of the PPS.

Cawe expects Itac to finalise its recommendations on the PPS guidelines during the first half of the year and says AMSA, which also made comments on the guidelines, had been appraised of progress during meetings held under the auspices of a task team set up to address obstacles to the sustainability of its longs unit.

"It's regrettable, therefore, that AMSA has made the wind-down announcement, as we would have hoped that the company would have had more faith in the dialogue that was under way," Cawe tells Engineering News.

In line with the dtic's reaction to the AMSA announcement, he says Itac remains committed to seeking a resolution.

He also confirmed that Itac was making progress on the review of the tariff structure for primary, midstream and downstream steel products, in line with a directive given to it in May.

The review will look at the existing trade-related measures in the steel sector and assess their effectiveness. It will also consider the suitability of further measures to raise the level of protection for the domestic steel sector.

The intention, he says, is to strike the right balance between protection for the domestic steel industry, while facilitating imports where needed by downstream steel users.

"We are taking a value-chain approach and we are analysing the entire tariff book in relation to primary, midstream and downstream steel products to assess what the tariff structure looks like, while seeking input from market participants on the adequacy or inadequacy of the existing measures of protection."

Opportunities will be provided, during various stages of the review process, for public and stakeholder comment and Itac is aiming to make its recommendations to the Minister during the coming few months.

The review forms part of what Cawe describes as a move by Itac to become more strategic and proactive amid expectations that trade instruments are likely to be used more assertively by governments in light of the tariff signals bei...