Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele says Cabinet has considered and approved a comprehensive package of measures to address damage to public infrastructure and the economy by restricting the trade of waste scrap and semi processed metals.
\nThe Minister hosted a briefing in Pretoria on Friday following this week\u2019s Cabinet meeting.
\nHe said the meeting considered the policy measures to restrict trade in scrap metal to limit damage to public infrastructure and the economy.
\nThis follows the gazetting on 5 August 2022 for public comment of the \u201cDraft Policy Proposals on Measures to Restrict and Regulate Trade in Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals Waste, Scrap and Semi-Finished Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metal Products to Limit Damage to Infrastructure and the Economy\u201d by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition; and consideration of the extensive public comments received.
\n\u201cDetails of the measures to be implemented will now be processed for publication in the Government Gazette by the relevant Ministries and a detailed media release containing details of the measures will be released by GCIS as soon as the necessary legal work has been finalised,\u201d said the Minister.
\nSouth Africa will also engage with the SADC, African Union and the Southern African Customs Union to ensure a coordinated approach to fight this crime collectively as a region.
\nMeanwhile, the Minister said Infrastructure South Africa, in partnership with GIZ, a German development agency, will host its third Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) in Cape Town, from 28 to 30 November 2022.
\n\u201cThis year\u2019s symposium will focus on green hydrogen as an important growth sector in the country\u2019s investment strategy.
\n\u201cThe symposium will bring together decision-makers, financial institutions, academics and international authorities. The event will afford the country the opportunity to showcase some of the large and low-cost world-class green hydrogen production hubs,\u201d said Gungubele.
\nThe demand for green hydrogen-based products such as ammonia and synthetic jet fuels is rising.
\nThe Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) in South Africa has been researching green hydrogen with a focus on green mobility and the use of platinum group metals.
\n\u201cCabinet approved the Hydrogen Society Roadmap earlier this year. The roadmap is one of government\u2019s strategies and policy direction aimed at bringing together a variety of public and private stakeholders and institutions around a common vision on how to use and deploy hydrogen and hydrogen-related technologies, as part of the country\u2019s economic development and greening objectives,\u201d he said.
\nIn South Africa, hydrogen is extensively used in the chemical and fuel-refining sectors, but it is currently produced mainly from non-renewable sources such as coal and natural gas.<\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"