Podcast a feature on the South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry
Thématique :
RSA
From Engineering News in Johannesburg, 05/12/2007
South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry has lifted the veil on the country’s new motor industry support policy.
The Motor Industry Development Programme, which is currently under a government review, now seems to no longer focus as heavily on export incentives as the State attempts to bring the policy in greater alignment with Word Trade Organisation rules.
Trade and Industry industrial policy chief director Nimrod Zalk says any subsidies linked directly to exports or local content are viewed as so-called "red-light subsidies" by the World Trade Organisation, and that they can be subject to a fast-track complaint mechanism.
He says this is making the Motor Industry Development Programme “vulnerable”.
The programme is an import/export complementary arrangement, whereby the local content value of components or built-up vehicles exported, earn credits that can be used to rebate import duties on components and vehicles.
The framework of the replacement scheme should be released before Christmas.
Independent power plant developer Ipsa has unveiled plans to fast track the first 250 MW of a 500-MW power station being built in the Eastern Cape.
The rapid development comes as the owner of the coal mine, which will feed the plant, confirmed that the coal reserves will justify an on-site power station.
Ipsa says the fast-track approach is reflecting the national need for South Africa to bring new power capacity on line “as swiftly as possible”.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, or CSIR, and the North West University will jointly establish what will be South Africa’s first hydrogen research centre.
The centre will focus on hydrogen production, storage, delivery and distribution and is expected to greatly reduce South Africa’s dependency on oil and gas and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The CSIR says that hydrogen and fuel cells are globally seen as energy solutions that enable clean and efficient production of power and heat from a range of key natural resources, such as platinum.
South Africa has more than 75% of the world’s known platinum reserves.
Fuel pipeline operator Transnet Pipelines says it anticipates that work on its R11,2-billion multiproduct fuel pipeline, from Durban to Gauteng, should start during the first quarter of 2008.
This will be crucial for the company to complete the 24-inch pipeline by the third quarter of 2010.
The company is now only awaiting final licence conditions from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and a record of decision signalling environmental sanction.
Also in this week’s Engineering News Online:
Automotive fastener companies CBC Fasteners and Nedschroef will have to pay administrative fines after the South African Competition Commission have found them guilty of fixing trade conditions.
Technology group Altron will be going "back to the drawing board", after the Public Investment Corporation blocked its planned buy-out of subsidiary Altech, arguing that the company lacked transformation and representivity of its board.
South Africa’s new vehicle sales have slipped by 13,8%, to 47 707 units in November to its weakest level in the last two and a half years. The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa says trading conditions generally, and particularly in the new car market remained "under severe pressure".
South African Civil Aviation Authority has announced that CEO Zakes Myeza will be stepping down. This comes after concerns have been raised about the separate roles of the CEO of civil aviation authority and the commissioner for Civil Aviation.
And in this week’s Engineering News magazine, out on Friday, read our cover story, on new bus rapid transport (BRT) systems.
We also report on the crucial relationship between mature and novice engineers, and look into how private power production can be fostered despite the unattractive price environment.
Finally, don’t miss our features on the Coega development in the Eastern Cape, and the Berg Water Project in the Western Cape.
South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry has lifted the veil on the country’s new motor industry support policy.
The Motor Industry Development Programme, which is currently under a government review, now seems to no longer focus as heavily on export incentives as the State attempts to bring the policy in greater alignment with Word Trade Organisation rules.
Trade and Industry industrial policy chief director Nimrod Zalk says any subsidies linked directly to exports or local content are viewed as so-called "red-light subsidies" by the World Trade Organisation, and that they can be subject to a fast-track complaint mechanism.
He says this is making the Motor Industry Development Programme “vulnerable”.
The programme is an import/export complementary arrangement, whereby the local content value of components or built-up vehicles exported, earn credits that can be used to rebate import duties on components and vehicles.
The framework of the replacement scheme should be released before Christmas.
Independent power plant developer Ipsa has unveiled plans to fast track the first 250 MW of a 500-MW power station being built in the Eastern Cape.
The rapid development comes as the owner of the coal mine, which will feed the plant, confirmed that the coal reserves will justify an on-site power station.
Ipsa says the fast-track approach is reflecting the national need for South Africa to bring new power capacity on line “as swiftly as possible”.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, or CSIR, and the North West University will jointly establish what will be South Africa’s first hydrogen research centre.
The centre will focus on hydrogen production, storage, delivery and distribution and is expected to greatly reduce South Africa’s dependency on oil and gas and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The CSIR says that hydrogen and fuel cells are globally seen as energy solutions that enable clean and efficient production of power and heat from a range of key natural resources, such as platinum.
South Africa has more than 75% of the world’s known platinum reserves.
Fuel pipeline operator Transnet Pipelines says it anticipates that work on its R11,2-billion multiproduct fuel pipeline, from Durban to Gauteng, should start during the first quarter of 2008.
This will be crucial for the company to complete the 24-inch pipeline by the third quarter of 2010.
The company is now only awaiting final licence conditions from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa and a record of decision signalling environmental sanction.
Also in this week’s Engineering News Online:
Automotive fastener companies CBC Fasteners and Nedschroef will have to pay administrative fines after the South African Competition Commission have found them guilty of fixing trade conditions.
Technology group Altron will be going "back to the drawing board", after the Public Investment Corporation blocked its planned buy-out of subsidiary Altech, arguing that the company lacked transformation and representivity of its board.
South Africa’s new vehicle sales have slipped by 13,8%, to 47 707 units in November to its weakest level in the last two and a half years. The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa says trading conditions generally, and particularly in the new car market remained "under severe pressure".
South African Civil Aviation Authority has announced that CEO Zakes Myeza will be stepping down. This comes after concerns have been raised about the separate roles of the CEO of civil aviation authority and the commissioner for Civil Aviation.
And in this week’s Engineering News magazine, out on Friday, read our cover story, on new bus rapid transport (BRT) systems.
We also report on the crucial relationship between mature and novice engineers, and look into how private power production can be fostered despite the unattractive price environment.
Finally, don’t miss our features on the Coega development in the Eastern Cape, and the Berg Water Project in the Western Cape.
