The Department of Minerals and Energy said on Monday that it wants to create a new industry around nuclear energy. Speaking at the release of the draft Nuclear Energy Policy and Strategy for public comment, the department’s director general, Sandile Noxina, said such a new industry would lead to the creation of jobs.
South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry this week indicated that it was considering building a state-backed, but privately operated, steel mill to compete with ArcelorMittal South Africa and Highveld Steel and Vanadium. According to the National Industrial Policy Framework, the department aims to finalise the feasibility study by March 2008.
Anglo Platinum, the world’s largest platinum producer, has been forced to lower its expected 2007 production figures following the introduction of strict new safety measures being implemented across its mines. The surprise resignation of Anglo Platinum CEO Ralph Havenstein has been directly linked to the new safety strategy.
A possible strike in the petroleum sector has been temporarily averted after employers made a provisional offer of 8% to trade unions, it was announced on Tuesday. Negotiations in the chemical bargaining council on Monday saw trade unions reduced their demand to 9%, while employers increased their original offer from 7% to 7,5%.
Mining giant BHP Billiton said on Wednesday that Cape Town-born Marius Kloppers is to succeed Chip Goodyear as its CEO from October this year. A chemical engineer by training, Kloppers is currently group president of non-ferrous materials including copper, lead, zinc and nickel, as well as diamonds.