Month: October 2025

BusinessEnergy

Eskom Returns to Profitability After 8 Years But Faces Ongoing Operational Challenges

South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom has returned to profitability with R23.9-billion pre-tax profit for 2025, marking its first positive financial result since 2017. While reduced loadshedding and operational improvements drove the turnaround, escalating municipal debt and audit qualifications persist as major concerns for the electricity provider’s sustainability.

South Africa’s state-owned enterprise Eskom has achieved a remarkable financial turnaround, reporting R23.9-billion profit before tax for the 2025 financial year – its first profitable result in eight years. Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso welcomed the positive development in her weekly newsletter, noting that the improved performance offers significant benefits for both the power utility and the broader South Africa economy.

Operational Improvements Drive Eskom’s Financial Recovery

by Nathan Cole
BusinessSustainability

SKF Achieves Top CDP Climate Ratings, Demonstrating Value Chain Leadership

SKF has secured top ‘A’ ratings in both CDP’s Supplier Engagement Assessment and Climate categories, ranking among the top 2% of companies globally. The recognition highlights SKF’s comprehensive approach to decarbonization across its entire value chain and supplier network.

SKF has demonstrated exceptional climate leadership by achieving dual ‘A’ ratings from CDP in both the Supplier Engagement Assessment and Climate categories for 2024. This prestigious recognition places the bearing and lubrication systems manufacturer among the elite 2% of companies worldwide for environmental transparency and action. The company’s performance underscores its commitment to driving meaningful climate progress throughout its operations and value chain, according to recent analysis of corporate sustainability performance.

SKF’s Comprehensive Climate Strategy Excellence

by Elisa Romero
Anomalies and Alternative ScienceInnovation

Young Innovators Win Major Prizes at Eskom Expo International Science Fair 2025

The 2025 Eskom Expo International Science Fair celebrated exceptional young scientists from multiple countries. Top winners received cash prizes up to R100,000 for innovative projects in mathematics, food preservation, and sustainable agriculture.

Young scientific innovators earned massive recognition and substantial cash prizes at the recently concluded 2025 Eskom Expo International Science Fair, with top winners demonstrating exceptional research capabilities in fields ranging from advanced mathematics to sustainable agriculture. The international competition, organized by Eskom, brought together brilliant young minds from seven countries to showcase groundbreaking projects addressing real-world challenges.

International Recognition for Young Scientists

by Nathan Cole
Assistive TechnologyEnergy

Bloom Energy $5 Billion Brookfield Partnership AI Data Centers Fuel Cell Technology

Bloom Energy has secured a $5 billion partnership with Brookfield to deploy its Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology in AI data centers worldwide. The collaboration addresses the massive power requirements of AI factories that traditional grids cannot support. This marks Brookfield’s first investment under its dedicated AI Infrastructure strategy.

In a landmark move for AI infrastructure development, Bloom Energy has signed a $5 billion partnership with global investment firm Brookfield to deploy fuel cell technology at AI data centers worldwide. This massive investment will support the implementation of Bloom’s Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems specifically designed to meet the extraordinary power demands of artificial intelligence computing facilities.

Addressing AI Factory Power Demands

by Elisa Romero
Economy and TradingInternational Business and Trade

China Stock Market Rally Faces Test as U.S. Trade Tensions Flare

China’s stock market rebound shows strain as U.S.-China trade tensions revive fears of tit-for-tat measures. The CSI 300 and Hang Seng face pressure after recent rallies as geopolitical risks escalate.

China’s stock market rally faces a critical test as renewed U.S.-China trade tensions threaten to unravel months of investor optimism and substantial gains. The flare-up in trade rhetoric comes at a precarious moment for Chinese equities, which had recently reached multi-year highs on expectations of government stimulus and foreign capital inflows.

Market Rally Shows Signs of Strain

by Nathan Cole