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Janet Wilhelm
17 April 2023
Managing rents in local commodity value chains
Business Day - 4 April 2023 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)
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TIPS In the News
Topic:
17 April 2023
Steel sector decarbonisation roadmap workshop
Roadmap workshop for decarbonisation of the steel sector in South Africa
18 April 2023, 09.00-17.00 IST
MEDIA
Media release: Industry stakeholders gather in South Africa to map decarbonisation challenges and opportunities in the iron and steel value chain
Media article: South Africa’s green direct reduced iron export potential highlighted as industry mulls decarbonisation options - Terence Creamer (Engineering News 18 April 2023)
Media article: SA's green steelmaking "ä matter or utmost urgency" - Michele Gumede (Business Day 19 April 2020)
08:30-09:00 Registration and coffee
09:05-09:30 Welcome and introduction to the workshop
09:30-09:50 South Africa’s iron & steel sector
09:50-10:10 South African case – DRI H2
10:10-10:20 Q & A
10:20-10:35 Overview of LeadIT initiative & walk-through of the road mapping tool and aims
10:35-10:50 Tea & coffee
10:50-11:45 Panel discussion: Current context and transition
11:45-12:45 Lunch
12:50-13:15 Examples of decarbonization strategies and plans from around the world: JSW Steel
13:15-14:45 Activity 1: Vision and challenges activities
14:45-15:00 Coffee break
15:00-16:30 Activity 2: Key actions and actors
16:30-16:45 OECD presentation on South African iron and steel process
16:45-17:00 Next steps and closing
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Workshops
Topic:
17 April 2023
Loadshedding and the implications for industrial policy - How to make the economy more resilient
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TIPS Development Dialogues 2023 Monday 24 April 2023 |
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PRESENTATIONS AND PAPERS Presentation: Metals and Engineering Sector Load Shedding Impact Assessment - Tafadzwa Chibanguza, SEIFSA Paper: SEIFSA Load Shedding Impact Assessment on the Metals and Engineering Sector Presentation: Impact of loadshedding on municipal finances and services survey - Dr Silas Mulaudzi, Salga Presentation: Loadshedding and industrial policy - Dr Neva Makgetla, TIPS MEDIA Media article: Loadshedding hindering industrialisation - Tasneem Bulbulia, Engineering News Media article: Consider competing interests in transition to green energy, experts urge - Michelle Gumede, Business Day Background The energy emergency has placed immense pressure on energy systems, including the national grid, to exacerbate an already fragile South African economy. while further breaking the trust in the national government. The consequences therefore increase the fiscal pressure on all sectors of business but more especially small businesses which have been left more vulnerable. While South Africa has a vibrant small business sector, more work needs to be done to empirically understand the impact of loadshedding on enterprises. From limited research it has shown that small business owners have had to work longer hours, work different hours, lose potential sales, or produce less of their products. These all impact on profitability and the viability of firms. The cumulative impact across the economy has an overall negative outcome for economic growth and job creation. The concern is that the loadshedding has held back much needed economic growth and stronger recovery as we move out of COVID. The fragility of the grid means Eskom is just not meeting the needs of the economy and requires that firms find mitigation strategies and alternatives. More needs to be done – landlords, municipalities, and industrial sites should all be looking at long-term solutions to move off the grid and supply as much of their own electricity as possible through renewable energy. The available evidence shows that it is cost effective to do so and TIPS is doing further research to confirm that. There are increasingly also finance options and companies that are offering renewable solutions. The challenge is also for bigger enterprises or high-energy consumers who are also exploring alternatives to cope with the current situation. This Development Dialogue will unpack how industrial policy can assist all businesses to stay resilient. It will explore the real cost of electricity and diesel, how the communities on the ground are impacted, alternative solutions to working off the grid, rolling out solar energy and other renewable energy sources, and how the different sectors can build for resilience in spite of the Eskom reality. Agenda Opening and welcome by chairperson: Saul Levin Presentations and discussion: Tafadzwa Chibanguza: SEIFSA - Load Shedding Impact Assessment on the Metals and Engineering Sector Dr Silas Mulaudzi: Salga - Impact of loadshedding on municipal finances and services survey Dr Neva Makgetla: The economy and the energy emergency Discussion and Closure About the Speakers Neva Makgetla is a senior economist at TIPS. Makgetla has published widely on the South African economy and worked for many years in government. Tafadzwa Chibanguza is Chief Operating Officer at SEIFSA. Previously, he worked as an Economist at the Minerals Council South Africa, as a Senior Economist at SEIFSA and a Technical Wealth and Investment Analyst at Rand Merchant Bank. In the mining and metal sectors his broad focus areas include formulation of mineral, industrial policy, and micro/macro-economic impact assessment modelling. Dr Silas Mulaudzi is a Specialist at SALGA responsible for Sustainable Energy. He has more than 15 years’ work experience in the energy sector at a local and national government. He has previously worked for the Department of Energy as a Deputy Director responsible for Grid-Connected Renewable Energy and City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality as a Deputy Director responsible for Energy and Environment. Neva Makgetla is a senior economist at TIPS. Makgetla has published widely on the South African economy and worked for many years in government. The Development Dialogue brings together academics, policymakers, civil society organisations, workers and practitioners to discuss these issues and share ideas on the way forward. TIPS is partnering with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). For more information, please contact TIPS via email to: buhle@tips.org.za |
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About the Development Dialogue Seminar Series The objective of the seminar series is to provide a platform to share views and ideas on development and policy issues. These seminars are geared towards individuals that are involved the policy development process. To access the presentations of seminars which have already taken place, visit the TIPS website Dialogue section. This Development Dialogue will be held in a hybrid format allowing for both in-person and virtual participation. |
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Published in
Development Dialogue Seminars
Topic:
06 April 2023
Import Tracker - Q3 2022
South Africa’s trade surplus declined to about R51 billion in the year to the third quarter of 2022, from about R109.3 billion in the third quarter of 2021. Although exports have continued to grow, they have done so at a lower rate than during the COVID-driven rise in the price of minerals mainly seen during 2020 and 2021. Imports, having reached their lowest level during the second quarter of 2020, have begun to grow at a higher rate than exports. Exports grew by slightly under 10% to R543 billion in the year to the third quarter of 2022. Imports grew by 27% to R492 billion over the same period, the highest third quarter value between 2010 and 2022. Nevertheless, exports were 24% higher in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period in 2020, while imports were 57% higher.
Published in
TIPS Import Tracker
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This Working Paper analyses the linkages between industrial policy and local economic development planning in South Africa in terms of both economics and governance. It outlines the role of four groups of municipalities in the economy: the largest metros (Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, Cape Town and eThekwini); the five secondary cities in Mpumalanga and the North West that depend on coal and platinum, which have seen an upsurge in the past 20 years; the smaller metros and other secondary cities, where the economic picture is more mixed; and smaller towns in commercial farming and historic labour-sending regions, many of which are struggling. It then asks how municipalities can do more to take forward industrial policy. Answering this starts with an understanding of the authority and capabilities of municipalities around economic development, on the one hand, and the nature of industrial policy on the other. The paper considers each in terms of Constitutional mandates and policy aims; the legal framework; and the systems and capacity for engaging with other spheres. It evaluates the District Development Model, initiated in 2019, which prioritises alignment of national and municipal economic strategies through joint planning at district level. It also reviews the spatial programmes of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. These initiatives centre on support for special economic zones and, on a smaller scale, for state-owned industrial parks established as decentralisation points under apartheid.
Case studies of Makhado, Mbombela and uMhlathuze provide a more textured understanding of the lived realities of local economic development planning.
Published in
Trade and Industry
30 March 2023
Export Tracker - Q3 2022
The third quarter of 2022 saw South Africa’s merchandise exports increase by 9.5% from the same period last year, amounting to R543 billion, with a marginal increase of 2.8% from the previous quarter (Q2 2022). Imports experienced a larger increase, growing by 27.1% year-on-year to the value of R491 billion in constant rand terms. The greater increase in imports compared to exports in the third quarter of 2022 resulted in a decline in South Africa’s trade balance which shrunk by 53% from R109 billion (US$6.9 billion) in Q3 2021 to R51.3 billion (US$3 billion) in Q3 2022. In US dollar terms, exports saw a marginal year-on-year increase of 1.2%, amounting to US$31.9 billion, representing a 3.6% decrease from Q2 2022. Imports were up by 17.5% year-on-year to US$28.9 billion.
Published in
TIPS Export Tracker
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The Citizen - 26 March 2023 by Ina Opperman
Published in
TIPS In the News
Topic:
23 March 2023
FDI Tracker Q3 2022
This quarter 12 projects not previously recorded in the FDI Tracker were registered, and nine existing projects were updated. The total pledged investment value for the quarter was R22.5 billion from nine projects. The values of the remaining three projects have not been announced. The FDI Tracker identified 1 460 employment opportunities from three projects, with Enel Green Powers reporting a combined number of 1 160 temporary jobs created during the construction phase of the Karusa and Soetwater wind farms. Permanent jobs comprise of 300 opportunities announced by Canadian firm CostCertified.
Published in
TIPS FDI Tracker
Topic:
Engineering News - 17 March 2023 by Marleny Arnoldi
Published in
TIPS In the News
Topic:
News24 - 16 March 2023 by Lameez Omarjee
Read online at News24
Published in
TIPS In the News
Topic: