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Cutting Edge Technology
South Africa’s relatively sophisticated research sector
is concentrated in Gauteng. The most important research institutes
include the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),
the Institute for Medical Research (SAIMR), the Bureau of Standards
(SABS), the Minerals Bureau, the Chamber of Mines, Mining Technology
(Mintek) and Statistics SA.Some of the technological breakthroughs
in SA include:
- South Africa's extensive resources of high-quality coal, coupled
with the scarcity of water, provided the incentives to develop
highly efficient coal-fired power stations with minimal water
requirements. Eskom (the national electricity utility) is one
of the top electricity generators and distributors in the world.
Eskom’s Matimba power station is the largest direct dry-cooled
coal-fired power station in the world.
- With almost no oil reserves, South Africa boasts the world's
most successful producer of liquid fuel from coal. Sasol, established
in the 1950s, possesses unique technology to produce both fuel
and chemical components from coal in a single process, and now
supplies half of South Africa's liquid fuel requirements, as well
as numerous other chemical products ranging from ethylene, propylene,
ammonia, phenols to sulphur, fertilisers and explosives.
- Iscor, the major steel producer introduced a major technological
breakthrough with the development of the Corex process which uses
coal instead of coke to produce molten iron. With some gold mines
exceeding a depth of 3000 metres below the surface, the South
African mining industry has become a world leader in developing
cost efficient deep-level mining technology for deep level and
high pressure operations.
- The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and
the Mining Technology parastatal (Mintek) have jointly pioneered
technological breakthroughs in underground processing, communication
and microwave technologies, hydraulic drilling equipment and X-ray
technology to name but a few innovations.
For more information visit
Mintek at www.mintek.co.za
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – www.csir.co.za
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