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South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Energy

Nuclear power could help meet Africa’s growing electricity needs, including rising demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres, according to North-West University (NWU) principal and vice-chancellor Prof. Bismark Tyobeka

“It is a match made in heaven,” said Tyobeka, a nuclear energy expert, who made the case during an NWU public lecture on AI and nuclear power.

The argument comes as electricity demand from data centres is expected to rise sharply as AI develops.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects global data-centre electricity consumption to roughly double by 2030, although renewables are expected to meet a substantial share of the additional demand.

Tyobeka said many African countries would need additional reliable generation to support economic and technological growth.

“These two fields are converging to address one of the world’s most pressing energy challenges: delivering reliable, clean and secure electricity for a sustainable future,” he said.

“The need for more electricity therefore immediately accompanies our advances in artificial intelligence,” he said.

But we do not only need electricity, he added, we also need clean electricity.

Nuclear power can provide continuous, low-carbon electricity, while small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors are being developed as potentially more flexible alternatives to conventional plants.

“SMRs and microreactors are particularly well suited because their size allows them to be deployed almost anywhere. They can be built in factories,” said Tyobeka.

He also argued that AI could improve nuclear-plant safety and maintenance.“AI is a game changer,” he said.

“It can potentially enhance the safety features of nuclear power-plant designs. It can help us optimise the efficiency of nuclear power plants. It can also help us make rapid decisions across the entire nuclear value chain.”

However, nuclear projects face significant challenges, including high upfront costs, lengthy construction times, regulation, waste management and public acceptance.

“People do not trust AI as we sit here. People do not trust nuclear power as we speak. How do you secure buy-in from such suspicious people? Transparency is key.”

Tyobeka said nuclear investment could also support African mining, manufacturing and mineral processing.

“Nuclear power can enable Africa’s AI and industrial future. We have seen that the need is real and the opportunity is now.”

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Delta Heavy Equipment launches new forklift website

Construction

Delta Heavy Equipment, a South African material handling company, has launched a redesigned website at www.deltahe.com, bringing its equipment, rental and support services together on a single platform

The company has operated in the material handling sector since 1998, building a customer base that spans individual machine operators as well as warehouses, factories, farms and logistics facilities across South Africa.

The new website provides an overview of Delta Heavy Equipment’s complete offering, including short- and long-term forklift rentals, new DeltaLift forklift sales, used and ex-rental machines, forklift parts, tyres and forks, lifting equipment, driver training and load testing support. Customers can also access branch information for Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

A website designed around customer requirements

The redesigned platform organises the company’s services into dedicated sections, making it easier for customers to navigate directly to the equipment or service they require. These include Forklift Rentals, New Forklifts, Used Forklifts, Lifting Equipment, and Forks, Tyres and Parts.

The site also features a Knowledge Hub containing the company’s blog, video hub, machine gallery and a dedicated page covering the development of forklift technology. The gallery can be filtered according to different applications, allowing users to explore equipment used across various operating environments.

Customers can submit quote requests through the website using a location selector covering Gauteng, Cape Town and Durban. WhatsApp contact and 24/7 support options are also available throughout the platform.

Rental solutions focused on reducing downtime

Forklift rental continues to form a central part of Delta Heavy Equipment’s offering. The company provides both short- and long-term rental options, which can offer an alternative to the costs associated with purchasing and maintaining equipment.

Its vertically integrated model gives the company control over equipment, maintenance, parts and support, enabling it to provide rental solutions supported by its service infrastructure.

The rental offering is also designed to address equipment downtime. If a rented forklift becomes unavailable, Delta Heavy Equipment aims to repair, exchange or replace the machine as quickly as practical, helping customers maintain operations.

The website highlights several situations in which forklift rental can be suitable, including seasonal demand, temporary projects and sites, additional or replacement equipment, and continuing requirements at warehouses, factories and distribution centres.

DeltaLift forklifts for demanding applications

The New Forklifts section showcases DeltaLift forklifts available for purchase. The machines have been developed for South African operating conditions, combining established technology with robust construction and long warranties, supported by Delta Heavy Equipment as a direct importer.

The company also holds millions of rand worth of spare parts locally, supporting parts availability and after-sales service throughout the life of the equipment.

The DeltaLift portfolio includes diesel, petrol and LPG internal combustion forklifts, lithium-ion battery electric forklifts, three-wheel electric forklifts, rough terrain machines, reach trucks, very narrow aisle turret trucks, driverless AGV units, heavy-capacity forklifts and a 45-ton reach stacker.

Individual product pages provide information such as capacity, fuel type and specifications. Customers can also request a quotation directly from each product page.

Used equipment backed by existing support

The website’s Used Forklifts section caters to customers seeking ownership at a lower initial investment than purchasing new equipment. Delta Heavy Equipment supplies used and ex-rental forklifts at competitive prices.

Ex-rental machines offer an additional advantage because they come from Delta Heavy Equipment’s own fleet, meaning the company has maintained and operated the equipment itself. Buyers can continue to access Delta’s after-sales service, parts and technical support following the purchase.

This provides customers with used equipment supported by the company’s existing service and technical infrastructure.

Forklift parts and lifting equipment

Parts and related equipment form another major section of the redesigned website. Delta Heavy Equipment supplies parts for virtually all forklift makes and models, while its forklift tyre offering includes competitive pricing and professional on-site fitment.

The company also supplies new and replacement forklift forks and can assist customers in identifying the appropriate part for their equipment.

Its Lifting Equipment section includes the DeltaLift range of hydraulic hand pallet jacks, a high-lift pallet jack, a fork-mounted safety cage supplied with compliance documentation and a lithium-ion battery electric pallet jack.

Training, licensing and load testing services

Delta Heavy Equipment also provides services intended to support safe and compliant forklift operations. Forklift driver training and licences can be delivered at customer premises, allowing operators to receive practical instruction relevant to their working environment.

The company can also assist with load testing enquiries and associated forklift support. Load testing is used to establish whether equipment can safely lift and control its rated load and can help identify potential problems involving components such as hydraulic systems, masts, lift chains, forks, steering, brakes and safety systems.

These services are supported through the company’s Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town branches.

Resources for forklift buyers and operators

The Knowledge Hub provides customers and operators with additional information alongside the company’s equipment and services. Its blog covers subjects including forklift rental, purchasing second-hand forklifts, selecting suitable equipment and safe forklift operation.

The hub also contains a video section and a gallery featuring Delta Heavy Equipment forklifts operating across applications such as mining, paving and brick manufacturing, plastics and packaging, recycling and scrap metal, tyre manufacturing and distribution, and warehousing and distribution.

A dedicated page tracing the evolution of the forklift provides further background on the development of the equipment and completes the Knowledge Hub offering.

Epiroc Pit Viper 276 boosts rotary blasthole drilling. (Image source: Epiroc)

Mining

Epiroc has launched the Pit Viper 276, a new rotary blasthole drill designed for soft rock surface mining applications 

The latest addition to the Pit Viper range combines increased hole depth with enhanced drilling performance and scalable automation capabilities.

The Pit Viper 276 is designed to drill hole diameters ranging from 9 to 10 5/8 inches (229–270 mm) and can achieve drilling depths of up to 239 ft (73 m) with its five-rod carousel. The machine features increased rotary torque, larger P14 pumps and improved levelling capability of up to 10 degrees.

An expanded dust hood has also been incorporated to improve the dispersal of cuttings during drilling. These features are designed to support productivity, flexibility and drilling performance across a range of soft rock surface mining applications.

"The Pit Viper 276 combines proven performance with the flexibility customers need to meet today's production demands. From increased hole depth capability and improved leveling performance to higher torque, the PV-276 helps customers maximise productivity while maintaining the durability and reliability that have made the Pit Viper series an industry benchmark," remarked Cynthia Rodriguez, global product manager - Large Blasthole.

Scalable automation for surface mining

The Pit Viper 276 comes as standard with Epiroc's Rig Control System (RCS), providing a range of automation capabilities. These extend from onboard automation to teleremote operation and fully autonomous drilling.

Using the established RCS operating platform, the drill allows customers to select the level of automation suited to their operational requirements.

Safety and maintenance features

Safety features are integrated into the Pit Viper 276 design, including a FOPS-certified operator cab and RCS safety interlocks. An optional Live Work Elimination package is available to help reduce operator and technician exposure to hazardous tasks while supporting maintenance efficiency and machine availability.

The optional Automatic Bit Changer and Live Work Elimination solutions are designed to reduce manual intervention during drilling operations and routine maintenance.

Cable feed system supports drill string life

The Pit Viper 276 uses Epiroc's patented cable feed system with automatic cable tensioning. The system is designed to reduce wear on critical components and extend drill string life, helping to lower total cost of ownership over the machine's operating life.

With increased drilling depth, higher rotary torque, improved levelling, automation and safety features, the Pit Viper 276 extends Epiroc's rotary blasthole drill offering for soft rock surface mining.

The launch also highlights Epiroc's focus on applying automation, serviceability and machine performance improvements to specialised mining applications. By combining established Pit Viper platform features with new capabilities, the Pit Viper 276 is designed to support productivity, safety and operational performance in soft rock drilling.

MIGA issues US$62.6mn guarantee to Mota-Engil for Angola's Lobito railway corridor, boosting jobs and mineral trade. (Image source: MIGA)

Logistics

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), part of the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform, has issued guarantees backing the modernisation of Angola's Lobito railway corridor, a move set to generate employment while strengthening the country's trade and logistics capacity for critical minerals vital to the energy transition

MIGA has provided US$62.6mn in guarantees to Portuguese construction firm Mota-Engil, covering its equity investments in Lobito Atlantic Railway, which manages the Lobito Corridor under a 30-year concession granted by the Angolan government. The company oversees the operation, upkeep, and long-term upgrading of roughly 1,300 kilometres of railway running from the Port of Lobito on Angola's Atlantic coast to Luau at the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with a mineral terminal at the port.

The corridor provides one of the shortest and most cost-effective paths connecting the DRC's copper- and cobalt-rich Copperbelt to global export markets, cutting transit times well below those of existing road routes. Both copper and cobalt are critical to clean energy technologies such as EV batteries and energy storage systems, and demand for these minerals is projected to rise sharply in the decades ahead.

At full capacity, the project is expected to create more than 1,600 direct jobs, with Angolan nationals making up 97% of the workforce. The corridor currently employs around 945 workers, including 529 who transferred from state-owned rail and port operators — a shift that is helping build local skills across the route.

"The Lobito Corridor will play an essential role in creating jobs, strengthening trade, and supporting the global energy transition," said Tsutomu Yamamoto, managing director at MIGA.

"We are proud to support Mota-Engil and Lobito Atlantic Railway in this landmark project, which will bolster the country's trade and logistics infrastructure and boost Angola's economic competitiveness, while creating jobs for Angolans."

"The partnership with MIGA strengthens the conditions required to deliver an investment of this scale and reflects international confidence in the project and in the execution capabilities of its partners," said Manuel Mota, Vice-CEO of the Mota-Engil Group.

"For Mota-Engil, its participation in the Lobito Corridor represents the continuation of an 80-year commitment to Angola and the conviction that strategic projects must be built on strong partnerships, a long-term vision and the creation of sustainable value for the country and the wider region."

Through its political risk insurance, MIGA will shield Mota-Engil's equity stake in Lobito Atlantic Railway from risks including expropriation, war and civil unrest, and breach of contract.

Africa can still thrive amid global geopolitical upheaval (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Finance

Africa has an opportunity to convert geopolitical tensions and shifting global trade patterns into a catalyst for industrialisation and long-term economic resilience, according to a new Afreximbank report

Leveraging Geopolitics for Trade and Industrialisation in Global Africa examines trade and economic developments across the continent and globally, and outlines strategies for African nations to benefit from supply chain realignments and changing geopolitical dynamics.

“Africa stands at a critical juncture,” said Dr Yemi Kale, group chief economist and managing director of research and trade intelligence at Afreximbank.

“Geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation are reshaping global trade patterns, but they also present a historic opportunity for the continent. By strategically leveraging these shifts, Africa can build a more resilient, competitive and inclusive economic future.”

Despite a challenging global backdrop, the report highlights Africa’s strong recent economic performance.

While global economic growth slowed to 3.4% in 2025 and is projected to ease further to 3.1% in 2026, Africa’s real GDP growth accelerated from 3.4% in 2024 to 4.5% in 2025, outperforming the global average.

Africa’s merchandise trade also expanded by 6.1% to approximately US$1.5 trillion, while aggregate inflation fell significantly from 21.6% in 2024 to 13.1% in 2025.

According to Afreximbank, these gains reflect improved macroeconomic management, ongoing policy reforms and the role of development finance institutions in supporting economic stability.

However, the report warns that significant structural challenges remain.

Africa’s trade finance gap is estimated at approximately US$74bn in 2025, limiting the continent’s ability to fully capitalise on trade and industrial opportunities.

The situation is compounded by foreign exchange constraints and a continued decline in correspondent banking relationships.

The report also notes that evolving shipping routes and persistent disruptions in global logistics networks are increasing freight costs and extending delivery times, particularly for economies dependent on imported inputs and external markets.

To strengthen resilience, Afreximbank identifies accelerated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expansion of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and reforms to the global financial architecture as key priorities.

The report notes that stronger industrial ecosystems, increased intra-African trade and sustained financial support will be critical if the continent is to transform geopolitical disruption into sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

“It is imperative for the continent to act decisively to strengthen regional value chains, deepen industrial capacity, expand access to trade finance, and accelerate continental integration,” said Kale, adding that Africa “cannot afford to delay.”

Read more:

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New trade finance facility for Angolan firms

Beyond expanding battery production, the gigafactory is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Morocco.

Manufacturing

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a €100mn (approx. US$117mn) loan to Gotion Power Morocco to support the construction of an integrated lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery gigafactory in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Free Trade Zone, marking a significant step in the development of Africa's electric vehicle manufacturing ecosystem

In addition to its direct financing, the Bank intends to mobilise up to a further €141mn (approx. US$165mn) from financial partners under the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), where it will serve as the Mandated Lead Arranger. The blended financing package is designed to accelerate delivery of one of the continent's largest battery manufacturing investments.

Building Africa's battery manufacturing capacity

The project is being developed by Gotion High-Tech Co. Ltd., a leading global battery producer headquartered in Hefei, China, and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Once operational, the facility will become the first fully integrated cathode-to-cell LFP battery manufacturing plant in both Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Phase one of the project will deliver an annual production capacity of 10 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery cells and battery packs for electric vehicles, with long-term plans to increase output to 100 GWh. The investment is expected to reinforce Morocco's position as an emerging global centre for electric mobility manufacturing and green technology supply chains.

The project also reflects growing investment in battery production as demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage continues to expand worldwide. By establishing large-scale local manufacturing capacity, Morocco aims to strengthen regional supply chains while supporting the transition towards cleaner transport and energy systems.

Kevin Kariuki, the Bank group's vice-president for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, said, "Battery storage is the missing link in Africa's clean energy transition. A facility of this scale, powered primarily by renewable energy, strengthens the foundations for the large-scale integration of solar and wind power, which our grids increasingly depend on. This is exactly the kind of project that will deliver reliable, low-carbon energy while creating green industrial jobs and building the resilient value chains Africa needs to sustain its energy transition."

Supporting industrial growth and local value creation

Beyond expanding battery production, the gigafactory is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Morocco. During its initial phase, the development is projected to create more than 600 direct jobs while achieving a 70% local industrial integration rate, supporting skills development and strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities.

The project is also intended to encourage the growth of local supplier networks and increase value addition within Africa's critical minerals sector, helping retain more economic value from resources that are essential to global energy transition technologies.

Achraf Tarsim, the African Development Bank group's country manager for Morocco, commented, "This gigafactory will be a major catalyst for strengthening Morocco’s industrial competitiveness and for accelerating its emergence as Africa’s manufacturing hub for sustainable mobility industries. It will help foster an African industrial ecosystem for batteries and electric vehicles while promoting the local beneficiation of critical minerals essential to the energy transition."

Advancing Africa's clean energy ambitions

The investment supports the African Development Bank Group's Four Cardinal Points strategic vision by promoting resilient infrastructure, accelerating industrialisation, increasing value addition to Africa's natural resources and strengthening regional integration.

As demand for battery storage continues to rise alongside renewable energy deployment and electric vehicle adoption, projects of this scale are expected to play an increasingly important role in positioning Africa within global clean energy and electric mobility value chains. By expanding domestic battery manufacturing and energy storage capabilities, the initiative is set to support the continent's transition towards a lower-carbon economy while enabling wider deployment of renewable energy technologies.

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