THE BEST OF THE GPS E-NEWSLETTER
Each month Sassda rounds up a selection of global and local market intelligence articles that are sent to our members in an easy to read package of content. They’re designed to highlight pockets of potential growth in demand for stainless steel. Here are some of the best articles from the last few issues...
‘BUY LOCAL’ MESSAGE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER – RAMAPHOSA
Good news for stainless steel! President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged South African consumers and businesses to actively choose to ‘buy local’ to accelerate the country’s economic revival and stimulate job creation. “By buying local we are supporting livelihoods, small business development and job creation. We are supporting investment and research in new technology and innovation. As long as we are producing quality, locally made goods, we should also be buying them,” he said during a pre-recorded address presented at Proudly SA’s Buy Local Summit and Expo. Proudly SA is a government initiative that seeks to influence local procurement in the public and private sectors, increase local production and influence consumers to buy local goods and services to stimulate job creation. As the government’s official localisation campaign, Proudly SA, annually hosts the Buy Local Summit, its flagship event, to amplify this mandate.
SOUTH AFRICA’S ABILITY TO MANAGE WASTEWATER IS COLLAPSING: WHAT’S AT RISK
The first detailed report in nine years on the state of wastewater treatment in South Africa – a potential demand sector for stainless steel was released recently and it paints a dismal picture. The Green Drop programme is a comprehensive auditing and reporting system designed to improve the overall performance of wastewater treatment plants. It includes an account of factors such as the capacity of municipal wastewater managers and process controllers to operate and maintain the treatment of sewage. The programme was recently reinstated with the publication of the first Green Drop public report since 2013.
INTEREST POURS IN FOR TRANSNET’S LIQUIFIED GAS PROJECT AT RICHARDS BAY
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) says about 19 companies – including major developers and operators – from South Africa, Europe, Asia, America and the Middle East have expressed interest in the development of a liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal at the Port of Richards Bay. According to the ports authority, the request for information it issued in February received a positive response from companies aligned to different industries such as design, development, construction, finance and operations. It is hoped that the development, which is scheduled to be completed by 2026, will provide the country with a much-needed respite from its costly energy supply crisis.
MOZAMBIQUE’S MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY TO TALK GAS, LOCAL CONTENT AND INVESTMENT
Mozambique represents one of Africa’s most lucrative gas markets, and with over 100 trillion cubic feet of reserves, multiple large-scale project developments and a strategic location, the country is well positioned to meet domestic, regional and international gas demand while kickstarting long-term economic growth in southern Africa. Stepping into this picture, the newly elected Mozambican Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy H.E. Carlos Zacarias has made clear his intentions to resume project developments, awaken new investment and improve local company participation in oil and gas boding well for the stimulation of stainless steel demand.
READ MORE
EYE-WATERING R1 TRILLION NEEDED TO FIX SA’S WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
It will cost R1 trillion to repair, replace and restore South Africa’s broken water infrastructure which could do with a healthy infusion of stainless steel to ensure minimal leaks and maintenance and maximum lifespan. R1-Trillion is the eye-watering estimate from Akosua Boadu Anie, Senior Civil Engineer at Aseda Consulting Engineers, speaking at a recent webinar hosted by the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE). “We are a water-stressed country, and while the state looks to improve existing infrastructure, we as civil engineers need to implement alternative approaches to conventional potable water and stormwater management,” she said. “To achieve this, we must consider the available water resources, the needs of different water users, sanitation, and stormwater issues.” This approach is defined internationally as water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), which has seen great uptake in Australia, the UK and New Zealand.
NAMIBIA TO BEGIN MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR OIL PRODUCTION BY 2028
Namibia aims to reach production from its multi-billion dollar Venus and Graff oil discoveries by 2028 with associated projects set to generate significant additional demand for local stainless steel products. National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia MD Immanuel Mulunga has said; “The plan is now to appraise these discoveries and come up with options and hopefully begin producing oil by 2028.” Also speaking at the Namibian International Energy Conference (NIEC) in Windhoek, Mulunga noted that Shell and TotalEnergies had made the two finds in February this year. The latter’s GM for Namibia Adewale Fayemi described the Venus find as a “huge gamechanger.
THIS 24-YEAR-OLD OPENED A STEEL COMPANY DURING THE HARD LOCKDOWN - IT'S NOW VALUED AT R7.5 MILLION
Jeandre 
van Derhan is the 24-year-old CEO and founder of Steelkor Steer and Pipe, a steel and pipe provider that launched during the hard lockdown and made almost its first million in just the first five months. After completing high school, Van Derhan pursued a career in aviation but later abandoned that dream after realising that he was more interested in becoming a businessman as opposed to “sitting in a cockpit the whole day,” he said.
COULD RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS OFFER THE BOOST SA’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY NEEDS?
With South Africa’s embattled construction industry desperately in need of a boost, Databuild CEO Morag Evans believes this could come from projects based on renewable energy generation. According to Evans, not only will renewable energy projects help to stimulate the recovery of our construction industry while adding much-needed power to our ailing energy grid, but they will also promote job creation and further economic development in the regions in which they are located.
MAJOR GAS PROJECT A STEP CLOSER TO COMING ONLINE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Energy group Renergen says it is making ‘strong progress’ in commissioning phase 1 of its Virginia Gas Project. The Virginia Gas Project is the only onshore petroleum plant in South Africa, with the site covering an area that includes Welkom, Virginia, and Theunissen. It is owned and operated by Renergen through its subsidiary company Tetra4. Renergen has previously estimated its helium reserve could be as large as 9.74 billion cubic metres, more extensive than the known reserves of the entire US.