The $2.2 billion aluminium smelter at Coega in the Eastern Cape was "just one of many options" available to Alcan

POWER utility Eskom's longstanding vision of harnessing the hydroelectric potential of the Congo River moved a step closer this week with the pending signing of the intergovernmental memorandum of understanding.

Government says it is pulling out all the stops to secure SA's largest single foreign direct investment to date ahead of a meeting with representatives from Alcan and Pechiney in Gauteng today.

Capetonians may have the chance to opt for "green" electricity within a year, although they will have to pay a premium for the product, says city

The National Electricity Regulator (NER) yesterday approved an average price increase of 2,5% for Eskom with effect from January 2004, the lowest tariff hike in four years.

Rural settlements and farms would pay 4 percent more on average over and above Eskom's annual tariff increases for 2004, the national electricity utility said yesterday.

SA's trade with Africa, particularly exports, has surged dramatically in the post-isolation years, with average annual export growth greater than with traditional trading partners.

Power parastatal Eskom said yesterday that it intended to take a 12,5% stake in the planned aluminium smelter to be built at Coega by French company Pechiney.

Pretoria - Government buildings, starting with the Union Buildings in Pretoria and parliament in Cape Town, are to be made more energy efficient.

Johannesburg-The e3.39 billion (R28.6 billion) hostile bid for Pechiney, the world's fourth-biggest aluminium maker, by Alcan, the global number two player, could have serious implications for Coega, the flagship industrial development zone 20km northeast of Port Elizabeth.