Business

Nissan South Africa has entered into a groundbreaking partnership with South Africa’s Environmental Affairs Department, involving a pilot project to serve as forerunner to the launch later this year of the Nissan Leaf, the first mass-produced electric vehicle.

In terms of the partnership, four Nissan Leaf test cars will be made available to the ministry for their use and testing in the initial phase of the project, which will be run over three years.

Nissan SA has also installed the charging infrastructure for these vehicles. Read more about SA goverment partners Nissan in electric car pilot

While initial responses to Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s 2013/14 budget speech on Tuesday has been largely positive, analysts yesterday questioned whether government’s ‘generous’ budget may not in fact hold grim consequences for the country’s citizens.

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila on Tuesday announced she was raising the threshold for individual income tax to a salary of N$50 000 a year - effectively giving everyone in the formal sector a salary hike. Read more about ‘Generous’ State budget may discourage savings

Namibia Dairies yesterday announced further cuts to its milk production quota, following government’s slamming of the door on any further Infant Industry Protection (IIP) for the sector. Read more about Local milk reserves run dry

Private healthcare will be available to domestic workers throughout South Africa at a cost of R170 to the employer, according to a report released yesterday. Read more about SA domestics to get private healthcare

Global financial groups battled on Monday to control the lucrative future of “mobile money”, which will enable people to use a smartphone to go shopping instead of cash and credit cards. Read more about Firms battle for slice of ‘mobile money’

Agriculture, Water and Forestry Minister John Mutorwa last week gave his blessing to a pilot initiative between fluorite miner Okorusu and the Namibian Agronomic Board, which will see phosphate extracts from leftover mine tailings processed as crop fertiliser.

The project, the two organisations say, was initiated at a time when phosphate fertiliser prices became highly inflated, and called for an alternative. Read more about Mine adds value to fertiliser

British energy giant BP has already resolved thousands of lawsuits linked to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill out of court, including a record US$4,5 billion (N$40,1 billion) plea deal with the US government, in which the company pleaded guilty to criminal charges. It has also paid US$7,8 billion (N$69,4 billion) in settlements to people and businesses affected by the spill. Read more about Billion Dollar BP oil spill trial begins

The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) yesterday announced its total loan approvals for 2012 amounted to N$518,4 million. Read more about DBN approves N$91 million in loans

After consultation with the Ministry of Education in the Karas Region recently around the need for improved facilities and resources dedicated to the field of science, the Namdeb Foundation and Anglo-American Namibian Foundation last weekend gave N$800 000 toward this cause.

The foundations, which both form the social responsibility arms of the respective locally-active mining companies, are jointly responsible for a new science project started in the region - entitled the !Khawagas Science Project. Read more about MINERS INVEST IN KARAS SCIENCE INITIATIVE

Team Namibia last week announced two new appointees to its board of directors. The not-for-profit organisation has appointed FNB Namibia Head of Strategic Marketing and Communication, Dixon Norval, as vicechairperson, as well as Namib Mills Marketing Manager Megan Zondagh (pictured).

Zondagh fills the position left vacant by the departure last year of Margareth Gustavo. Norval has been involved with the organisation since its inception 10 years ago. Read more about APPOINTED