America’s wind installations grew five-fold in 2014, making the United States the world’s second-largest wind market behind China, according to new figures from research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance. US installations reached 4.7GW, thanks to the extension of the Production Tax Credit in January 2013. The extension allowed projects to qualify by starting construction before the deadline. While the US returned to growth, China continued its pattern of record-setting installations up 38% from 2013. In 2014, China installed 20.7GW – four times more than the US – and 40% of all new capacity worldwide. 2009. For perspective, China has been…
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Outotec, the global provider of leading technologies and services, has been ranked 12th on the 2015 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World (Global 100) Index. This was the third consecutive year Outotec was included in the index (ranking 3rd in 2014). Corporate Knights media and investment advisory company screened altogether 4,609 listed companies and included in the index the top overall sustainability performers in their respective industrial sector. “The Global 100 represent the corporate trailblazers who are forging new ways to make more with less,” Corporate Knights CEO, Toby Heaps said. “We are proud to be again…
De Beers has announced the 2015 Forward Contract Sales (FCS) programme for its Auction Sales business. As a result of customer feedback, the new programme includes a number of changes from the programme first launched in 2014. The company said revealed that in response to customer demand for greater availability of Forward Contracts in the first half of the year and for increased range and quantity of products, a single FCS event will take place in March 2015. At the event, registered customers will have the opportunity to bid for future supply of a wider range of products (from the +2 Cts,…
Walkabout Resources Ltd has announced the results of a technical scoping study finalised as part of the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) over the 7 billion tonne 2004 JORC Inferred Resource Takatokwane Thermal Coal Project in Botswana. According to the company, the mine design has focused on the Target Mining Area where 748 million tones have been classified under 2004 JORC Indicated resource. It said the conceptual operation at Takatokwane Mine contemplates two open-cut strip mines employing drag line machinery each mining some 6 million tonnes per annum of coal. Some of this product will be upgraded through a modular two stage…
De Beers Group Chief Executive, Philippe Mellier says maintaining success in the diamond industry is dependent upon investment to sustain supply, finance and demand. Addressing a Sightholder reception, Mellier pointed to the company’s investment in mining projects in Botswana, South Africa and Canada to deliver sustainability of supply, in its distribution strategy to ensure the most efficient ways of bringing the product to market, and in the sustainability of demand through Forevermark. “Whether your focus is on economies of scale, improved use of technology or more efficient distribution, sustainably capturing value in the midstream requires ongoing investment so that your…
Africa’s leading utility, energy and water professionals and projects are to be honoured again at the annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa that is taking place in Cape Town from 12-14 May this year. Designed to celebrate the African triumphs and successes of the industry throughout 2014, the industry will be able to nominate candidates for ten award categories in the African Utility Week Industry Awards on 13 May, ranging from Utility Executive to Clean Energy Project of the Year and the new category of Outstanding Woman in Power/Water. The esteemed panel of judges that will decide on the winners includes…
Rio Tinto, the global mining group said there was uptick in performance in the fourth quarter with a number of units registering growth. The company said global iron ore shipments of 302.6 million tones (Rio Tinto share 239.9 million tonnes) were 17 per cent higher than 2013 and production of 295.4 million tonnes (Rio Tinto share 233.6 million tonnes) was an 11 per cent increase year on year. Rio Tinto’s share of production in the period was 12 per cent higher than in 2013. Mined copper production for the year was four per cent higher than last year, driven by…
Eskom said it has withdrawn its participation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2015 event in Davos, Switzerland saying its Chief Executive, Tshediso Matona’s attendance had already been cancelled on 9 January 2015 at his own discretion – prior to questions being asked about Eskom’s attendance at Davos. “At that time, only the Chairman Mr. Zola Tsotsi and the Group Executive for Sustainability, Dr Steve Lennon, were confirmed to go,” the corporation stated. “We have taken note of the public concern and have withdrawn our participation accordingly. Mr. Tsotsi and Dr Lennon will therefore not be attending the meeting in…
Stanbic Bank Botswana has been named the Best Foreign Exchange Provider in Botswana for a third consecutive year for the 2015 Global Finance World’s Best Foreign Exchange Providers Awards. Standard Bank Group, has also been named Best Foreign Exchange Provider in Africa. The following operations within Standard Bank Group were also named Best Foreign Exchange Providers in their respective countries: Nigeria Stanbic IBTC South Africa Standard Bank Kenya CfC Stanbic Bank Zambia Stanbic Zambia, Furthermore, in the only new African country submission that was available, Standard Bank Angola also won Best Foreign Exchange Provider in Angola 2015. “We are once…
The 2015 Investing in African Mining Indaba taking place on 9 – 12 February 2015 in Cape Town South Africa will feature an array of globally recognised economic visionaries, mining thought leaders and some of Africa’s largest deal-makers for the approximately 7000 delegates set to arrive from more than 110 countries. Mining Indaba’s lineup of speakers include: Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman and Founder, Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., Anita Marangoly George, Senior Director, Global Practice on Energy and Extractive Industries, World Bank Group, Dr. Dambisa Moyo, International Bestselling Author and Global Economist and Rob Hersov, Founder & Chairman, Invest Africa. Others are Jim…