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Britain's construction sector expanded at its slowest rate for eight months in October as new orders, output and employment growth eased, a survey showed on Friday.The Chartered Institute |
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The Karnataka state government is trying to slow growth in Bangalore by encouraging new investors to set up their facilities in new townships.The concept of satellite towns is not new to Bangalore. While companies moved to these satellite towns because of the relatively cheap real estate, they did not provide housing there. As a result, employees had to commute from their homes in Bangalore to townships like Electronic City.Karnataka will now insist that companies establishing facilities in the new townships should also provide housing for their employees, said M.N. Vidyashankar, secretary for information technology in the state government. The township at Bidadi will be self-contained with schools, malls, and a direct link to an international airport under construction, he added.Besides the new townships, the government is also trying to reduce migration from the hinterland into Bangalore by trying to route new investments in IT, call centers, and business process outsourcing (BPO) facilities to other towns in Karnataka like Belgaum, Hubli, Bellary, and Mysore. The government has acquired land in some of these towns to be developed in partnership with the private sector.To get access to new staff pools, as well as to cut costs, Indian outsourcers are looking at smaller towns where they can set up their new facilities, said Siddharth Pai, a partner at outsourcing consultancy firm Technology Partners International Inc. (TPI) in Houston. Some outsourcing companies like Infosys already have operations in towns around Bangalore, like Mysore and Mangalore.Some of these small towns are centers for education, and hence good places to hire staff, Pai said. The only drawback so far has been poor connectivity by road and air, which the government should try to solve, he addedWith a population of over 6.5 million, the Indian city of Bangalore is reeling from too much growth at too fast a pace. The city houses the services delivery centers of top Indian outsourcers like Infosys Technologies and Wipro, and multinational companies like IBM, Dell, and Oracle.The traffic jams, high cost of housing, and shortage of staff in the city has not, however, slowed down new entrants to the city. In August, the state of Karnataka, of which Bangalore is the capital, cleared 52 new investments in the area of IT, said Vidyashankar.IT, call center, and BPO facilities in Bangalore employ 480,000 direct staff, apart from providing indirect employment to over 3 million other people, according to Vidyashankar. These sectors contribute to 36 percent of the state's GDP (gross domestic product), which is expected to increase to 50 percent of GDP by 2011, he added. |
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EXCEL DATA ANALYST - GRADUATE - MIDDLESEX needed with strong macro & construction of pivot tables experience for the build of commercial reports. A full job spec is available and all cvs by email in the first instance.
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Speech by Minister Alec Erwin at the France-South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry luncheon, Johannesburg Country Club25 September 2007 Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this luncheon. France is one of South Africa's most important trading partners, and it is important for us to keep engaging on issues of mutual interest, and improve economic and trade relations between the two countries. Europe remains the biggest source of trade for South Africa. Seven out of ten countries trading with South Africa are based in the European Union (EU), and we have seen a steady increase in bilateral relations between France and South Africa over the years. France ranks among South Africa's ten most significant economic partners in terms of trade, investment, development assistance and research and development, and has over 100 companies operating in the country, including multinationals such as Total and Lafarge. French construction companies are also involved in the building of the stations and railway line for the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link. Bilateral trade has more than doubled over the past eight years, to R25 billion in 2006. This comprised of R8,2 billion in South African exports, and R17 billion in imports from France. We need to work harder to facilitate an increase in South African exports, and thus help support local manufacturing sectors. It is envisaged that the South Africa-European Union Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (SA-EU TDCA), which was concluded in 1999, will be one of the approaches which are instrumental in helping to promote local exports. The France-South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been instrumental in providing support for South African companies wishing to set up business links in France, and this kind of assistance goes a long way in aiding local firms to increase their global footprint. Developing the country's manufacturing sector, which is the economy's second-largest, and making it more globally competitive, will give local firms a fair chance of competing with their international peers, and alleviate the pressure that a large trade deficit has on the economy. Over the next few years government is embarking on an ambitious infrastructure investment programme (nuclear!!), which will position South Africa as an investment destination of choice, and aims to step up economic growth, which will be shared by all South Africans, through increased development and employment. This is no minor task, and requires of us an unwavering confidence in this economy, and the courage to take these daring, and sometimes even unpopular steps, to ensure that South Africa's economy is geared towards higher and more sustainable levels of growth. The Department of Public Enterprises is responsible for about R170 billion in state-owned assets, with two of our biggest State-Owned Enterprises (SOE), Transnet and Eskom, investing approximately R240 billion in the economy over the next five years to upgrade rail, ports and pipelines as well as to ensure security of supply of energy, which is in short supply globally. France has made great advances in the generation of nuclear energy, with over 70% of its energy derived from this source, up from 8% in the 1970s, making France one of the cleanest energy producers in the world. South Africa currently derives only about six percent of its energy from nuclear, and we would like to increase this significantly in coming years. Eskom's reserve margin, at about eight percent, remains low, and the build programme will, among other things, help us bring this figure closer to the internationally accepted level of 15%. The Competitive Supplier Development Programme, the impact of the Build Programme on the South African economy is expected to be huge, and it is important that we leverage this expenditure to develop the local supplier industry. The programme, developed by the Department of Public Enterprises, aims to reduce the import content of infrastructure investment programmes by creating an enabling environment for the development of local suppliers who can compete with global competitors. The programme targets business sectors related to the infrastructure investment programmes of Transnet and Eskom. This includes rail, ports, pipelines electricity generation, transmission and distribution. Transnet, Eskom and PBMR are now all participating in the programme. They are all in the process of developing their Supplier Development Plans (SDPs). Transnet and Eskom's plans will be completed by February 2008, and PBMR's by June 2008. The SDPs will provide a long-term strategic vision for the development of the local supply base of the SOE. In the meantime, the SOE are seeking opportunities for securing competitive local supply in their current procurement processes. This includes requesting Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to provide information on local content in their tender submissions, and using local content as a criterion in the tender adjudication process. The response from global suppliers has been positive (?), and we envisage that these procurement negotiations will result in significant foreign direct investments in South Africa, and the integration of South African suppliers into the global supply networks of international companies. The government has programmes in place to assist marginal South African suppliers to improve their capacity to participate in the supply networks of the international companies, and government agencies can assist international companies to identify local suppliers. Empowering our youth is also a task that is close to our hearts. Developing skilled workers, trained in maths and science, is key for South Africa's advancement globally. Through initiatives such as the Denel Youth Foundation, learners are offered a second chance to improve their marks in the critical areas of maths and science. This will open up to them career opportunities in the fields of science, engineering and technology, where the country is currently experiencing a shortage of skills. The only way we can ensure that South Africa has the necessary skills to take this country forward, is if we are willing to invest in their education and training. I therefore urge all of you here today to look at the companies you work for, and see how you can further the skills and training of your workers, so that they are better able to contribute to economic growth and development in our beautiful country. Thank you to the France-South Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI) for their hard work in helping to improve relations between France and South Africa. It is through efforts made by organisations such as yours that we can get closer to our goals of making the South African economy more competitive globally, and improving the lives of our people. Thank you Issued by: Department of Public Enterprises25 September 2007Source: Department of Public Enterprise (http://www.dpe.gov.za) |
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MALAWI: Torn between the lure and danger of uranium LILONGWE, 6 September 2007 (IRIN) - A project to mine uranium in northern Malawi next year promises to spur economic development in the area, but fears of serious health hazards associated with the radioactive element have aroused the country's civil society. The Malawian government granted a mining licence in April 2007 to Paladin Africa Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Australian company, Paladin Resources Ltd, to develop the Kayelekera uranium deposit, 40km west of the town of Karonga on the shore of Lake Malawi. According to James Eggins, a spokesman for Paladin Resources, the US$200 million capital cost of the project could generate between $150 million and $180 million a year, depending on the price of uranium. The project is expected to create up to 800 jobs during the construction phase and more than 200 permanent jobs in the operations phase, besides the employment of contractors. The venture could become a top export earner for the Malawian government, which owns 15 percent of Paladin Africa Limited. Henry Chimunthu Banda, Malawi's Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Resources, told parliament earlier this year that revenue from the project could boost the country's gross domestic product by 10 percent. Health concerns However, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), one of the leading rights organisations in Malawi, have called for an independent review of the environmental impact study, and are concerned about the possible social impact on neighbouring communities and exposure to radiation.Kossam Munthali, director of the Foundation for Community Support Services (FCSS), a reproductive health support group also opposed to the mining project, told a public consultative meeting held last year by the Kayelekera Uranium Project that the effects of uranium might cause long-lasting serious health problems in unborn children and residents in the surrounding areas. The deposit is close to a forest reserve and Lake Malawi, and the NGOs said it was important that the people of Karonga become aware of the impact that the mining project could have on the ecosystem of Africa's third-largest freshwater lake and the biodiversity of the entire area. Lake Malawi, which the environmentalists claim would be affected once the mining project commenced, is a major source of fish, the country's most affordable protein. "Uranium is naturally radioactive", according to Friends of the Earth, an anti-nuclear international NGO. "This means that as the element decays, it emits radiation". As uranium decays, it produces a dangerous gas Radon-222 which easily spreads during the mining and the further processing of uranium, according to the NGO. " As well as being dangerous due to its radioactivity, uranium is chemically toxic". The NGO maintained that no matter how uranium is mined, "there will be radioactive contamination of the environment as well as impacts from noise, dust, sulphur dioxide fumes, etc".The Uranium Information Centre (UIC) of the Australian Uranium Association, suggested that good ventilation systems be installed to keep exposure low. It also recommended the use of radiation-detecting equipment and regular safety checks. Environmental concerns Malawian NGOs have called on Paladin to ensure that no waste would be dumped into natural waters, such as the Sere Stream and the Rukuru River, both near the deposit, which would lead to the pollution of Lake Malawi. In particular, the NGOs warned of the dangers of mismanaging the mining operation's waste products, called tailings, which is the material left after the uranium has been extracted and contains most of the radioactivity. Paladin's Eggins assured the NGOs that the company, which operates another mine in Namibia, would use the best design criteria for management of the tailings and any water used by the project. The tailings would be compacted in dams, designed by experts in consultation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and ultimately covered and revegetated, he said. The company expected to draw from Australia's experience in managing tailings, as its uranium reserves were the world's largest, accounting for 24 percent of the global production, according to the UIC. The human rights group CHRR, along with other NGOs, has complained that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - a prerequisite for obtaining the mining permit - was procedurally incorrect and have lodged a case in the High Court in the capital, Lilongwe. Paladin has maintained that the EIA "was conducted in strict accordance with the law and to the highest international standards". Changing attitudes The IAEA, in its authoritative report on the future of uranium mining, Analysis of Uranium Supply to 2050, identified environmental and/or political opposition as the biggest obstacle to growth in the sector. "Western uranium mining and processing in recent times has an exemplary safety and environmental record, and programmes in the developing countries continue to adopt stronger environmental standards. Nevertheless, the world's environmental community continues to dwell on past mistakes, and to emphasise those mistakes in resisting uranium project development," the IAEA commented. Interest in uranium has been growing in tandem with rising concerns about climate change, prompting many countries to reconsider the "greener" option of using nuclear power to produce electricity, which meant more nuclear plants would be built, Eggins pointed out. The uranium market has been experiencing a strong revival, and new mines would be required in the coming years to meet the demand for growing uranium consumption by nuclear power utilities throughout the world. Paladin said the uranium spot price rose to its highest levels in the history of the civil nuclear industry in June this year. |
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Nuclear Power in South Africa(August 2007)* South Africa has two nuclear reactors generating 6% of its electricity. * Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1984. * Government commitment to the future of nuclear energy is strong. * Budget funding for the construction of a demonstration Pebble Bed Modular Reactor was given in 2004. Electricity consumption in South Africa has been growing rapidly since 1980 and the country is part of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), with extensive interconnections. A 400 MW power line serves Namibia. Total generating capacity in the region is 49.8 GWe, of which 41.3 GWe is South African, mostly coal-fired, and largely under the control of the state utility Eskom. Over 200 billion kWh is sent out each year, 87% from coal-fired plants and 6% from nuclear.Eskom supplies about 95% of South Africa's electricity and more than 60% of Africa's. By 2008 regional electricity demand is expected to exceed supply capacity, and SA power exports are already being curtailed.Nuclear industry development South Africa's main coal reserves are in the north-east, while much of the load is on the coast near Cape Town and Durban. Moving either coal or electricity long distance is inefficient, so it was decided in the mid 1970s to build some 2000 MWe of nuclear capacity at Koeberg near Cape Town. The Koeberg plant was built by Framatome and commissioned in 1984-85. It is owned and operated by Eskom and has twin 900 MWe pressurised water reactors (PWR) the same as those providing most of France's electricity.Operating South African power reactorsReactors Type Net MWe First power Koeberg 1 PWR9211984Koeberg 2 PWR9211985Total (2) 1842 MWeWhile there had been no intention to build further power stations of this type, the government announced early in 2006 that it was considering building a further conventional reactor, possibly at Koeberg, to boost supplies in the Cape province. Early in 2007 the Eskom board approved a plan to boost output to 80 GWe by 2025, including construction of 20 GWe of new nuclear capacity so that nuclear contribution to power would rise from 6% to more than 25% and coal's contribution would fall from 87% now to below 70%. The new program will start with 4 GWe of PWR capacity to be built from 2009-10, with the first unit commissioned in 2016. The environmental assessment process is under way, considering five sites, and selection of technology will follow - Areva and Westinghouse are likely to be favoured. A draft nuclear energy policy for South Africa in August 2007 addressed growing electricity demand and the country's 87% reliance on coal for this. Building upon 23 years of experience with nuclear power it outlines an extensive program to develop all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle. With uranium mining already well established, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication and also reprocessing of used fuel are envisaged as strategic priorities related to energy security. Reactor technology will be PWR, while the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) is developed for both electricity and heat. By 2016 the local manufacturing of nuclear components and equipment should be under way and the PBMR commercialized, all with a view to exports as well as local use. Conversely, export of unprocessed uranium will be restricted and a strategic stockpile will be maintained.The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) expects nuclear capacity to increase to about 27 GWe, supplying 30% of electricity, by 2030, including 12 new large PWR units and an initial set of 24 PBMRs.PBMRSince 1993 Eskom in collaboration with others has been developing the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) and is ready to build the lead unit of this design.The PBMR draws on well-proven German expertise and aims for a step change in safety, economics and proliferation resistance. Production units will be 165 MWe and will have a direct-cycle gas turbine generator and thermal efficiency of about 41%. Some 450,000 fuel pebbles recycle through the reactor continuously (about six times each) until they are expended, giving an average enrichment in the fuel load of 4-5% and average burn-up of 80 GWday/t U (eventual target burn-ups are 200 GWd/t). The pressure vessel is lined with graphite and there is a central column of graphite as reflector. Control rods are in the side reflectors and cold shutdown units in the centre column. Performance includes great flexibility in loads (40-100%), with rapid change in power settings. Each unit will finally discharge about 19 tonnes/yr of spent pebbles to ventilated on-site storage bins.Construction cost (when in clusters of eight units) is expected to be modest and generating cost competitive. In 2003 environmental approval was given for construction of the demonstration PBMR unit at Koeberg and the fuel plant at Pelindaba near Pretoria. In October 2004 the South African government budgeted to allow development of the first PBMR to proceed. This was seen as conditional approval for the demonstration unit at Koeberg.The Brayton cycle turbine design has been simplified from 3-shaft vertical to single shaft horizontal configuration.This change plus a successful procedural appeal on the environmental clearance resulted in the Department of Environment Affairs recommending a new environmental assessment, which was commenced in August 2005 and remains unfinished.PMBR Ltd has been seeking a further international equity partner in the venture. After the demonstration pilot plant is in operation, the South African government has said that it wants to order 24 or more units totalling at least 4000 MWe. One quarter of South Africa's electricity is envisaged from PBMRs.A shareholders' agreement for the PBMR project was struck in 2005 among Eskom (41%), the South African Industrial Development Corporation (14%), the SA government (30%) and the US company Westinghouse (15%), now owned largely by Toshiba. These shares were expected to move to 5%, 15%, 30% and 4% respectively by 2012, with 46% being held by another investor. However in August 2006 the agreement expired due to a delay in a licensing issue, and PBMR Ltd reverted 100% to Eskom. A new agreement is envisaged and Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Ltd's current investors are the South African government, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Eskom and Westinghouse...In April 2005 the PBMR company awarded a US$ 20 million contract to Uhde, a local subsidiary of Germany's Thyssenkrupp Engineering, to build a plant at Pelindaba near Pretoria to manufacture the fuel pebbles for the planned demonstration PBMR. The fuel plant is expected to be completed by 2010.In the USA, the company is planning to submit a design certification application for the reactor in 2008, and to bid for a nuclear-powered thermochemical hydrogen production plant at the Idaho National Laboratory. Uranium miningUranium production in South Africa has generally been a by-product of gold or copper mining. In 1951 a company was formed to exploit the uranium-rich slurries from gold mining and in 1967 this function was taken over by Nuclear Fuels Corporation of South Africa (Nufcor), which in 1998 became a subsidiary of AngloGold Ltd. It produces over 1000 tonnes U3O8 per year from uranium slurries trucked in from various gold mines and Palabora copper mine.In 2006 Uranium One obtained its mining right for the Dominion project. Production commenced early in 2007 and will increase to 1730 t/yr by 2011. Production cost is expected to be US$ 14.50/lb U3O8. The first sales contract for 680 tonnes was announced in November 2006. The new order mining right incorporates black empowerment targets for employment. Dominion has indicated resources of 29,500 tonnes U3O8 at 0.081% and inferred resources of 83,000 tonnes U3O8 at 0.038%.In February 2007 UraMin Inc increased its stake in the Ryst Kuil uranium project in the central Karoo Basin on the border of East and West Cape provinces to 74%. The deposit was discovered by Esso in the 1970s. Some 19,000 tonnes U3O8 resources (16,000 tU) are estimated on historic basis @0.1% grade, and two further leases under application will lift this to 29,000 tonnes (24,600 tU). Mine production of 1350 t U3O8 per year is projected by the end of 2009. A full feasibility study is due to be completed in March 2008.First Uranium Corp of Canada, is building a US$ 55 million uranium processing plant at Ezulwini mine, which has 2600 tU in measured and indicated resources and 84,000 tU inferred resources. It is building a larger $63 million plant at the Buffelsfontein mine which has some 18,000 tU measured and indicated resources and 5400 tU inferred resources. The first uranium production is expected in June and November 2008 respectively. Both plants are in the Klerksdorp area southwest of Johannesburg.Fuel cycle, R&DOriginally fuel for Koeberg was imported, but at the height of sanctions the Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC) was asked to set up and operate conversion, enrichment and fuel manufacturing services for Koeberg. These have now been closed down. Enrichment was undertaken at Valindaba, 60 km north of Johannesburg, by a unique aerodynamic Helikon vortex tube process developed in South Africa. Since this was not economic both centrifuge and molecular laser isotope processes were being explored when operations ceased. The semi commercial plant was of 300,000 SWU/yr capacity.The AEC became the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa), which was established as a public company under the Nuclear Energy Act, 1999 and is wholly-owned by the State. Its main functions are to undertake and promote research and development in the field of nuclear energy and radiation sciences and technology, and to process source material, special nuclear material and restricted material. Apart from its main operations at Pelindaba, Necsa is also responsible for radioactive wastes. Eskom now procures conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication services on world markets.Since 1965 the AEC/Necsa has operated a 20 MW tank-type research reactor - Safari-1 - at the Pelindaba nuclear research centre. Since 1981 it used 45% enriched fuel elements manufactured locally from locally-enriched uranium, though the pilot enrichment plant producing this closed in 1990.Radioactive Waste Management In 2005 the SA Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy was set out.Necsa operates the national repository for low and intermediate-level wastes at Vaalputs in the Northern Cape Province. This was commissioned in 1986 for wastes from Koeberg and is financed by fees paid by Eskom.Some low and intermediate-level waste from hospitals, industry and Necsa itself is disposed of at Necsa's Pelindaba site.Spent fuel is stored at Koeberg.Decommissioning of two uranium enrichment plants was undertaken by Necsa and financed from state grants.Regulation and safetyIn 1948 the Atomic Energy Act created the Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC). In 1963 the Nuclear Installations Act provided for licensing and in 1982 the Nuclear Energy Act made the AEC responsible for all nuclear matters including enrichment. An amendment to it created the autonomous Council for Nuclear Safety, responsible for licensing.The Nuclear Energy Act of 1999 gives responsibility to the Minister of Minerals & Energy for nuclear power generation, management of radioactive wastes and the country's international commitments. The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) is a state corporation established under the Act.The National Nuclear Regulator Act of 1999 sets up the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) -previously the Council for Nuclear Safety - covering the full fuel cycle from mining to waste disposal. It is focused on health and safety.The Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) has overall responsibility for nuclear energy and administers the above Acts.The Department of Environmental Affairs is responsible for environmental assessment of projects, and now has a cooperative agreement with the National Nuclear Regulator for nuclear projects.Non-proliferation South Africa is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as a non-nuclear weapons state. Its safeguards agreement under the NPT came into force in 1991. It is member of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group. In 2002 it signed the Additional Protocol in relation to its safeguards agreements with the IAEA, and this is in force. When South Africa acceded to the NPT and concluded a comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA in 1991, it submitted a report on its nuclear material subject to safeguards and asked the IAEA to verify the conclusion of its weapons program. Between 1979 and 1989 South Africa had built and then dismantled a number of nuclear weapons based on uranium enriched to about 80% U-235. In 1995 the IAEA was able to declare that it was satisfied all materials were accounted for and the weapons program had been terminated and dismantled.References:IAEA 2002, Country Nuclear Power Profiles AEC Review 1990 www.uramin.com © 2007 World Nuclear Association. All rights reserved 'Promoting the peaceful worldwide use of nuclear power as a sustainable energy resource'Contact WNA <mailto:wna@world-nuclear.org> |
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'The Road to Jobs: Patterns of Employment in the Construction Industry in Eighteen Metropolitan Areas' suggests win-win remedies for achieving equity in the industry and providing a growing industry with ... |
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Most of my focus on employment has been related to potential residential construction job losses. |
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The rate of U.S. Hispanic employment has grown exponentially in recent years, particularly in the building and construction sector. |
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The strike hit laborers working for a road construction company that had been contracted by the U.S. |
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