Thursday, February 25, 2010

From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Dennis Ndaba.

Making headlines:
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has approved a nominal Eskom power tariff increase of 24,8% as from April 1, 2010, and subsequent increases of 25,8% and 25,9% for 2011/12 and 2012/13 respectively, chairperson Cecilia Khuzwayo announced yesterday.
Reaction to the tariff hike has been largely negative, with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry saying that, while Nersa's decision brings certainty, it still expects that about 250 000 jobs will be lost as a consequence of the hikes, while the increases will be a factor in inflation remaining outside the target range of from 3% to 6%.
Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said that she respected the decision taken by the regulator. But she added that it had become necessary to conclude the "price path for the electricity industry in order to eliminate the uncertainty around the funding of the capital programme for the sector". Eskom's own response was muted, with the utility saying only that it was studying the full details of the determination and acting chairperson Mpho Makwana indicating that it would only make further comment once it had determined the "specific implications".

The pace of global warming continues unabated, say scientists, despite images of Europe crippled by a deep freeze and parts of the US blasted by blizzards, which have led some to question if global warming has stalled.
Understanding the overall trend is crucial for estimating consumption of energy supplies, such as demand for winter heating oil in the US northeast, and impacts on agricultural production.
Speaking in an on-line climate science media briefing, Australian climate scientist Neville Nicholls said that while warming is not taking place at the same pace everywhere, it is quite challenging to find places that have not warmed in the past 50 years. He added that last November to January is recorded as the hottest November to January the world has seen.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said in December that from 2000 to 2009 was the hottest decade since records began in 1850, and that 2009 would likely be the fifth-warmest year on record.
Scientists say that global warming is not uniform in all areas and that climate models predict greater extremes of cold and heat, floods and droughts.

South African President Jacob Zuma says that the country's public works programme will continue after the FIFA World Cup, to try to build on infrastructure projects and boost employment.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Zuma said that the government had put aside more than R800-billion to invest in infrastructure after the tournament finished.
Spending on infrastructure is expected to contribute 0,5% to the gross domestic product this year and Zuma said that the preparations for the World Cup had furnished workers with new skills.
But the country's official jobless rate climbed to almost 25% by the end of last year and remains a critical challenge for the government and a stumbling block for the economy as a whole.

Also making headlines:

The African National Congress Youth League slams former South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni's appointment as AngloGold Ashanti's new chairperson as a reward for having protected the interests of "male white capital".
Niger's military junta says that its members and those of a transitional government soon to be established, will not be allowed to stand in elections.
Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina appoints a new Vice Prime Minister in an effort to win international recognition as sanctions loom.
And, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will visit Rwanda today to cement renewed ties with his counterpart Paul Kagame following years of animosity over the 1994 genocide.

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.