News 14:00

BULLETIN 8 July 2 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# A minister reports an improved energy availability factor to 61.5-percent
# An association criticises the former Department of Mineral Resources and Energy for its failure to review South Africa’s fuel-pricing methodology
# And, cricket: Bavuma is back and Breetzke gets a maiden Test-call up for the Windies series

# Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says the energy availability factor has improved to 61.5-percent. He credited continuous priority interventions of implementing the energy action plan and proper maintenance of units. The minister reiterates the stance to delay decommissioning power stations. He also confirms a positive winter outlook, with Eskom recouping six-thousand-megawatts of unplanned capacity loss, bringing it down to 12-thousand-megawatts:

# The Motor Industry Staff Association has criticised the former Department of Mineral Resources and Energy for its failure to review South Africa’s fuel-pricing methodology since its announcement in 2022. Despite promises, including involvement in a review committee, no progress has been made. Misa highlights that high fuel levies and taxes persist, generating significant government revenue but burdening consumers. With the department now split, Misa expresses concern over further delays in addressing the issue, stressing the urgent need for economic relief and alternative revenue sources.

# Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi congratulated president Cyril Ramaphosa on his recent re-election. They affirmed their commitment to bilateral, continental, and multilateral cooperation. Both leaders pledged to strengthen fraternal ties and expand economic cooperation, including trade and mutual investment. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya expressed appreciation for El-Sisi’s well-wishes:

# Cricket: Proteas red-ball coach Shukri Conrad has included Temba Bavuma as captain in his 16-man squad for the two-match Test series against the West Indies. Wicket-keeper Ryan Rickelton also returns to the squad and batter Matthew Breetzke received his maiden Test call-up after an impressive summer. The first Test starts in Trinidad and Tobago on the seventh of next month, and the second in Guyana on the 15th. Conrad says they decided to rest all-rounder Marco Jansen for this series:

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 18-rand-14-cents and the euro at 19-rand-66-cents. One British pound costs 23-rand-27-cents and Bitcoin trades at 57-thousand-705-dollars-62-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-371-dollars-82-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 85-dollars-66-cents a barrel.

# And finally, last month was hotter than any other June on record and was the 13th month in a row with temperatures 1.5 Celsius higher than their average between 1850 and 1900. This is according to the European climate service Copernicus. In 2015, world leaders signed the Paris Agreement, pledging to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 Celsius. Copernicus scientists say there is hope that the planet will soon see an end to record-setting heat streaks, but not the climate chaos that has come with it.

Stay tuned for more news………….