Sekoko Resources wants to extend its reach from exploration and development to supporting South Africa’s energy independence by harnessing the resources it can recover with emerging power generation technology. Jayne Alverca reports.

WS Atkins, the UK-based engineering consultancy, has revealed that a pick-up in construction activity in the Middle East contributed to its strong fourth quarter results.

In a trading statement yesterday, the company said that it now anticipates results for the year ending 31 March 2011 to be ahead of current market expectations.

The company said: “The Group's operations in the Middle East have benefited from increasing activity in the second half of the year, together with further recovery of client payments against which we had previously provided.”

DTE Energy has announced the sites for three wind farms in Michigan’s Thumb, a $225 million investment towards the expansion of its renewable energy resources.

The Minden, Sigel and McKinley wind farms – which together will generate approximately 110 MW of electricity – will be sited on nearly 15,000 acres in Bloomfield, Sigel and McKinley townships in Huron County, and Minden and Delaware townships in Sanilac County.

Aquarius Platinum has announced the acquisition of platinum group metal (PGM) mineral rights through its purchase of South Africa-based Afarak Platinum.

Under the terms of the deal, worth $109.7 million, Aquarius will hold a 74 per cent interest in Afarak. The remaining 26 per cent is held by empowerment company Watervale, which is controlled by Savannah Resources, a major shareholder in Aquarius.

General Motors today announced a $100 million investment in tooling and equipment to make automotive components at its GM Components Holdings Rochester Operations plant in New York state.

"This investment in our manufacturing operations will enable us to produce a new generation of fuel-efficient small block car and truck engines," said Cathy Clegg, GM vice president of Labor Relations.

South African agricultural investment group Zeder has reported increased earnings for the year ending 28 February 2011.

The company announced that recurring headline earnings increased by 27.2 per cent to R264.7 million.

Stellenbosch-based Zeder is a long-term investor in the agriculture, food and beverage sectors. The current value of its portfolio is R2.5 billion, of which Kaap Agri and Capevin Holdings represent 78 per cent.

Toyota has announced plans to reduce production in its North American plants as a result of part shortages from Japan, where production has been hit by the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.

The company said production would be suspended at its North American vehicle plants on April 15, 18, 21 and 25 (although the Georgetown, Kentucky plant will continue to assemble vehicles on April 21st). Most of the company’s North American engine and component plants will follow the same schedule.

Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Development Company will boost its spending to around 60 billion dirhams this year, according to a report by Bloomberg News.

Bloomberg reported that the state-owned investor, which holds stakes in companies such as the Carlyle Group and General Electric, will make substantial investments during the period 2011 to 2015 in Advanced Technology Investment Co., Mubadala GE Capital, Masdar, real estate and oil & gas, as well as a number of public-private partnership projects.

As part of a $600 million investment, GE is planning to build the largest solar panel manufacturing plant in the United States, after a breakthrough in technology.

Yesterday, GE announced that its CdTe (cadmium telluride) thin film solar panel has achieved 12.8 percent efficiency, as measured by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)—the highest-ever reported efficiency for a thin film solar panel. A one-percent increase in panel efficiency equals around a 10 percent decrease in system cost.