Browse every article
10,632 articles
How AI Is Supporting Safety Compliance in African Mining Operations
Standard Operating Procedures remain the backbone of safety management in mining and mineral processing operations. Across Africa’s mines, systems such as Lock Out, Tag Out, Try Out (LOTOTO) continue to define how equipment is isolated before maintenance or repair begins. As artificial intelligence begins to find its way into parts of the African mining value
Highlights of South Africa's 2026 Budget Speech
February 25, 2026: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered a notably optimistic Budget Speech in Parliament this afternoon, marking a pivotal shift toward fiscal stability and economic recovery in South Africa. The address, themed around "restoring economic resilience through structural reforms and disciplined fiscal management," highlighted the country's progress in exiting the FATF grey list, securing
Business School – Managing Rising Operational Costs
Tips to Maintain Profitability in 2026 In 2026, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa face a challenging economic landscape marked by escalating operational costs. Inflation, energy shortages, supply chain disruptions, international tariff wars and volatile commodity prices are squeezing margins, with many businesses reporting input costs rising by 10-20% annually. For African SMEs, which
Lamborghini Hits Pause on EV Plans, Extends Hybrid Strategy
Lamborghini has put its first fully electric vehicle on hold. The project had previously targeted a market debut around 2029. Instead, the company is expanding its range of plug-in hybrid models while it assesses demand for high-performance electric cars. The Sant’Agata Bolognese manufacturer outlined its electric ambitions in August 2023 when it revealed the Lanzador
Rhino Reports Gas and Condensate Flow at Namibia’s Volans-1X
Offshore tests in Namibia’s Orange Basin have produced both natural gas and condensate, according to results released on Feb. 23 by Rhino Resources Namibia Ltd. The company reported flow rates of roughly 33 million cubic feet of gas per day alongside about 5,300 barrels per day of condensate during testing at the Volans-1X well. The
Capital Controls vs Growth: Are African Regulations Holding Back SME Investment?
SMEs and startups are frequently described as the backbone of economic growth across African markets. They are expected to create jobs, introduce new ideas and diversify economies that still rely heavily on a few sectors. But the financial environment they operate in has, in many cases, been more complicated than the policy narrative suggests. One
Could South Africa Be Another UAE?
In 2024 nominal average per person income in the UAE was US$ 49,400, roughly eight times that of South Africa’s US$ 6,250. On global rankings for GDP per capita, the UAE is among the top 25 countries, while South Africa ranks around the 110th, indicating the degree to which the UAE is ahead in relative living standards. The resultant accelerating migration
Are Banks Warming Up to Financing Early-Stage African Mining?
Securing bank financing for new mining projects remains a daunting task across much of the continent, despite vast reserves of copper, cobalt, platinum, lithium and gold. The hesitation is not about the geological potential of these deposits. Instead, lenders are weighing a combination of financial, regulatory and operational risks that make many projects harder to
Breaking News Today – Wednesday 25 February 2025
Business News Today Budget Speech Day in South Africa South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's 2026 National Budget Speech, tables at 14H00 today in Parliament (Cape Town City Hall). Expectations are for a steady, no-drama budget, after last years chaos with expectations it will be passed smoothly by the coalition Government. The budget is likely
No Free Lunch Podcast – The Death Of Cookies – Or Not
The Future of Cookies, Tracking, and Digital Privacy with Andre Steenekamp In this episode of No Free Lunch, we delve into the evolving landscape of digital cookies, data privacy, and the impact of AI on online targeting. Join me your host Greg Stewart as I chat with Andre Steenekamp, a seasoned digital media strategist, as we
Chery Debuts KP31 Double-Cab Bakkie for South Africa
Chery has revealed its new KP31 double-cab bakkie concept as it prepares to enter the pickup segment. The company’s South African division has confirmed that the production version of the vehicle, which has not yet received an official name, is planned for the local market. The KP31 concept features a 2.5-litre turbodiesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV)
Azule Energy Begins Production at Ndungu Oil Field Offshore Angola
Azule Energy, the joint venture formed by BP and Eni, has started production at the offshore Ndungu oil field in Angola’s Block 15/06. In a statement on February 18 issued alongside the National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), the company said the project had reached “first oil,” marking the start of commercial production.
Is Royalty Financing the Answer for Junior Mining Companies in Africa?
Royalty financing is gaining traction across Africa’s mining and energy sectors as companies search for alternatives to traditional debt and equity. In simple terms, royalty financing allows an investor to provide upfront capital in exchange for a percentage of future revenue or production from a project. For African extractive industries where projects are capital intensive
DRC Launches Gold Backed Crypto Token Under AXIS Development Program
Pre-sale of the Sovereign Gold Reserve Token (SGRT), a gold-backed crypto asset issued by the Fonds social de la République démocratique du Congo, has begun on the WinstantGold platform ahead of an official launch later this year in Kinshasa. Funding Development Through Tokenization The FSRDC, a public institution under the presidency focused on reconstruction and
Breaking News Today – Tuesday 24 February 2025
Business News Today Budget Speech Optimism in South Africa Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table the South African national 2026 Budget at 14H00 in the National Assembly (Cape Town City Hall tomorrow). Expectations for the budget this year include: Fiscal consolidation push (primary surplus path, deficit narrowing), debt stabilisation ( around78% GDP), tax revenue windfall
Training Women for the Next Wave of Tech-Driven Mining Jobs
Mining has changied in ways that are easy to overlook from the outside. Equipment is becoming more automated, operations are increasingly monitored from control rooms, and decision making relies more heavily on data. As a result, the skills mines need are constantly changing every day. Technical literacy, systems thinking, and digital maintenance are beginning to
What’s Holding African Small Businesses Back in Global Trade
For many small businesses, exporting represents the difference between stagnation and growth. Domestic markets can only absorb so much, particularly for producers working in agriculture, manufacturing, and specialised goods. Entering international markets offers access to larger customer bases and stronger currencies. However, many African SMEs still find it difficult to break into export markets. Financing
MTN Ghana and Huawei Deploy World’s First Large-Scale Alpha Antenna Network
MTN Ghana and Huawei have completed what they describe as the world’s first large-scale rollout of the Alpha antenna. The new radio system is designed to support more automated mobile networks. Announced on 14 February 2026, the deployment places Ghana among the early markets testing this type of telecom infrastructure. It also reflects Huawei’s broader
Breaking News Today – Monday 23 February 2026
Business News Today Trump Tariff Turmoil The US Supreme Court on Friday ruled against the US administrations blanket global tariffs and found this to be illegal The conservative-majority high court ruled six to three in the judgment, saying that a 1977 law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Trump has relied on
Africa's $90 Billion Debt Wall: Navigating Refinancing Risks and Trade Impacts in 2026
Optimism on the Rise in Africa Africa enters 2026 on a wave of economic optimism, as analysts forecast robust GDP growth across the continent. According to the United Nations' World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report, Africa's economy is projected to expand by 4.0% this year, accelerating to 4.1% in 2027, up from 3.5% in