Creamer Media’s ‘Projects in Progress 2024’ report provides a comprehensive overview of developments in South Africa’s economy, as reflected through some of the major infrastructure projects under way across key sectors such as electricity, transportation, water and mining. 

South Africa’s telecommunications landscape continues to expand and evolve rapidly, forming a critical part of the economy and connecting an increasingly diverse population and businesses. As the country adapts to a growing demand for connectivity, mobile and fixed-line broadband services are expanding at an unprecedented rate. Commercial 5G networks have been launched, and fibre networks are extending to more homes, businesses, and rural areas, driving digital inclusion and enhancing access to essential services like education, finance, and healthcare. Despite challenges such as power disruptions, vandalism, and infrastructure theft, the sector remains resilient and continues to see significant investments, especially in next-generation technologies.

Creamer Media’s ‘Telecommunications 2024: SA's telecoms landscape expanding and evolving’ report examines South Africa’s telecommunications sector in respect of its connectivity profile, the trends in the sector, the challenges it faces, policy and regulatory developments, as well as the companies that are driving the sector forward.

Creamer Media's Projects in Progress 2024 report presents a comprehensive overview of the upcoming and ongoing infrastructure projects in South Africa, highlighting key developments in sectors such as electricity, mining, and transportation. Notable projects include the Gas Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, designed to secure 3 000 MW of new-generation capacity through land-based gas-fired power facilities, and the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which aims to procure 2 583 MW from various wind and solar projects. Additionally, significant investments are being made in the mining sector, with Menar's coal and anthracite projects set to boost coal production to 20-million tons a year by 2025. The report also covers major transportation infrastructure projects, such as the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road megabridge projects. The Mtentu bridge, part of this project, will become one of the world's longest main-span-balanced cantilever bridges and the highest bridge in Africa, with a 260 m main span and a height of more than 220 m above the river valley. These projects, among others detailed in the report, reflect substantial capital investments aimed at bolstering South Africa's infrastructure and energy sectors.

Global coal production reached 8.74-million tonnes in 2023, marking an all-time high. This despite growing rhetoric and a drive to phase out the use of fossil fuels for power generation globally. New retirement plans and coal phaseout commitments continued to be published in 2023; however, less coal capacity was retired in the year than any other single year in more than a decade. To meet the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 ˚C above preindustrial levels and reducing emissions, coal-fired power generation will need to be significantly lowered. In South Africa, State-owned power utility Eskom indicated in its latest Medium-Term System Adequacy Outlook, published in November 2023, that no coal-fired power plants would be shut down in the next five years, a departure from its prior plans to decommission 6 000 MW of coal capacity by the end of 2028. This decision is the result of a delay in progressing the construction of renewables projects in the country in recent years, which most tellingly bears out in the International Energy Agency’s observation that while advances in solar and wind power generation have made these technologies cheaper than coal-fired power in most parts of the world, coal mining will still be necessary to support the energy transition over many decades to come. Creamer Media’s ‘Coal 2024: Logistics logjam’ report considers coal’s current status globally, the trade thereof and the role it plays in world power demand. It looks at the main and smaller participants in South Africa’s coal sector, as well as the logistics challenges that the sector is facing in getting its coal to port.

Amid the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, Creamer Media’s ‘Just Energy Transition 2024: Investing in the future’ report underscores the urgent need for this shift to be fair and equitable, ensuring all stakeholders share in both costs and benefits. South Africa's heavy reliance on coal necessitates a commitment to lower emissions driven not only by international obligations but also by domestic concerns, including the looming threat of severe temperature increases. However, achieving this transition presents significant challenges. The report contextualises the Just Energy Transition in the context of South Africa's persistent electricity supply deficit, which has led to severe loadshedding in recent years, potentially impeding the move away from coal-fired electricity. Despite the government’s draft Integrated Resource Plan 2023 indicating a rapid increase in renewable energy deployment through public and private procurement, coal will continue to play a significant role in electricity generation. Delving into the intricacies of South Africa's electricity sector, the report highlights the pivotal role of independent power producers, renewable-energy programmes, and the necessity for restructuring and legislative changes. Additionally, it examines how the energy transition intersects with other sectors such as mobility and mining, emphasising the importance of employment and skills development in facilitating a just transition. The report offers valuable insights into the challenges, opportunities and potential benefits associated with a just energy transition.

There is a significant, virtually unparalleled opportunity and “appetite” for Africa’s minerals and metals. Consequently, Africa potentially stands to benefit considerably from this minerals windfall owing to its vast resources and reserves. Creamer Media’s ‘Africa Mining Projects in Progress 2024’ report covers almost 40 mining projects across Central, East, North, Southern and West Africa, all offering very compelling mining propositions given the demand for the minerals and metals required for the worldwide shift towards renewable energy, which is projected to increase threefold by 2040.

Green hydrogen is prominent on the global agenda for creating a cleaner, greener future. The element holds the potential to unlock a new epoch in energy. Unlike conventional fossil fuels, the combustion of hydrogen yields only water vapour and heat as by-products, positioning green hydrogen, produced using renewable energy, as a powerful player in the race to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The momentum behind the fuel is strong, and South Africa is very well positioned to produce it. However, it will need to reinforce its supply position in the next two to three years if it wants to be a global green hydrogen supplier that helps meet an exponentially growing demand outlook beyond 2030. It will thus need to shift the focus from mere discussions to the implementation of practical solutions. Creamer Media’s ‘Hydrogen 2024’ report considers the demand and supply of hydrogen, production technologies in the sector, and the investment therein. It also examines the trade of hydrogen, which is still in its infancy, and how African countries could be highly competitive in supplying green hydrogen for local and global consumption.

Creamer Media’s ‘Roads, Rail & Ports 2024’ report reflects upon the current state of South Africa’s roads, delving into the some of the issues that are plaguing the sector such as maintenance backlogs and funding. It also brings to light the challenges that the rail sector is facing with regard to freight and passenger rail, and the state of rail safety. Congestion and inefficiencies at South Africa’s ports are also examined.

Creamer Media’s ‘Iron-Ore 2023/24: Bracing for change’ report considers the current iron-ore market focusing on key developments globally in the sector, namely supply, demand, trade, pricing and decarbonisation. It also examines these topics in the context of South Africa's iron-ore market, with a particular emphasis on producers and some of the challenges they are facing in getting their product to port. Developments in the iron-ore sector on the rest of the African continent are also examined.

Anglo American sustainability head Stephen Bullock has emphasised that which a growing number of commentators have said of the modern South Africa economy, namely that it should invest in new demand segments for platinum group metals (PGMs), including the green hydrogen economy. African Critical Minerals CEO Dr Clarence Tshitereke has echoed this sentiment, highlighting the pivotal role of these metals in the broader energy transition. He advocates for the development of a strategy that will ensure South Africa boosts international cooperation in exploring for and mining PGMs. The push for decarbonisation is expected to significantly drive the demand for PGMs over the next three decades. Specifically, platinum, palladium, iridium, and ruthenium are anticipated to experience heightened demand owing to the increased adoption of green hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles. South Africa possesses the largest reserves of most of these metals. It will, therefore, be important for the country to deal with the challenges that hamper its growth. Creamer Media's 'Platinum Group Metals 2023: Crucial Element in the Energy Transition' report delves into significant sector developments. It offers an overview of the PGMs market, focusing on the prospects for growth in the global green hydrogen sector. The report specifically scrutinises South Africa, shedding light on the local mining sector's electricity woes, and recent mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, it details the performance of major and minor PGM players in the country.