Opportunity - Issue 94
Quarterly journal for business and industry in South Africa Business unusual It has been estimated that the economy will take two to three years to recover from Covid-19 and the subsequent economic collapse. From now to there, the journey will indeed be business as unusual. My pledge, as the new editor of Opportunity magazine, is to provide cutting-edge content that guides our readers on how to rise above the current business trajectory and to circumvent the consequences that are now laid before them. In this issue, Mike Townshend from Foord Asset Management writes, in ‘The evolving politics of oil’ (page 8), that oil has caused wars, assassinations, man-made disasters, coups and still affects every person in the world today. On page 10, Rebecca Major from leading global law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, shares her insight on how to navigate African oil and M&A deals in these volatile times. Both of these writers will present more on these topics at Africa Oil Week. The transport services sector has been severely affected by the pandemic, but help is at hand. Digital transformation is set to disrupt the sector – technology has transformed the railway industry globally and implementing technological innovations could be a game-changer for rail transport in South Africa. Read more on page 17. Celebrating Women’s Month in August, Opportunity interviews the newly appointed CEO of Petroleum Agency South Africa, Dr Phindile Masangane (page 12), as well as founder and owner of Nemesis Accounting, Shani Naidoo (page 14). The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has a pivotal role to play in guiding the business of its 22 000 members. The Chamber believes that businesses should actively engage in the strategic and recovery implementation processes towards inclusive growth – read more in the CEO’s message on page 4. Let’s work together in building a resilient, risk-savvy and formidable nation. Alexis Knipe, Editor
Quarterly journal for business and industry in South Africa
Business unusual
It has been estimated that the economy will take two to three years to recover from Covid-19 and the subsequent economic collapse. From now to there, the journey will indeed be business as unusual. My pledge, as the new editor of Opportunity magazine, is to provide cutting-edge content that guides our readers on how to rise above the current business trajectory and to circumvent the consequences that are now laid before them.
In this issue, Mike Townshend from Foord Asset Management writes, in ‘The evolving politics of oil’ (page 8), that oil has caused wars, assassinations, man-made disasters, coups and still affects every person in the world today. On page 10, Rebecca Major from leading global law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills, shares her insight on how to navigate African oil and M&A deals in these volatile times. Both of these writers will present more on these topics at Africa Oil Week.
The transport services sector has been severely affected by the pandemic, but help is at hand. Digital transformation is set to disrupt the sector – technology has transformed the railway industry globally and implementing technological innovations could be a game-changer for rail transport in South Africa. Read more on page 17.
Celebrating Women’s Month in August, Opportunity interviews the newly appointed CEO of Petroleum Agency South Africa, Dr Phindile Masangane (page 12), as well as founder and owner of Nemesis Accounting, Shani Naidoo (page 14).
The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) has a pivotal role to play in guiding the business of its 22 000 members. The Chamber believes that businesses should actively engage in the strategic and recovery implementation processes towards inclusive growth – read more in the CEO’s message on page 4.
Let’s work together in building a resilient, risk-savvy and formidable nation.
Alexis Knipe, Editor
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TRANSPORT<br />
TECHNOLOGY:<br />
transforming<br />
railway<br />
transportation<br />
Railway transportation has a long history. Although the basic concept of low-friction<br />
wheels on rails remains the same, the implementation has undergone significant<br />
changes, buoyed by multiple technological interventions.<br />
Technological innovations are expanding the<br />
capabilities of railway systems and helping<br />
to achieve faster speeds, greater capacity and<br />
better safety to compete with other forms of<br />
transportation. Technology has transformed the<br />
way the industry works globally, fuelled by railway<br />
operators’ eagerness to reap benefits by making their<br />
operations more efficient, safe and profitable.<br />
Technology has the potential to impact five key dimensions<br />
of rail transportation (see figure below right).<br />
TRAIN OPERATIONS EFFECTIVENESS<br />
The effectiveness of train operations is best measured<br />
through asset reliability, utilisation, and employee productivity.<br />
Technology can help improve asset reliability<br />
through sensor-based condition monitoring and datadriven<br />
predictive maintenance. Decision support systems<br />
can play a strong role in enhancing asset utilisation and<br />
employee productivity.<br />
___ __<br />
BELOW<br />
Technology has the<br />
power to improve<br />
five dimensions of<br />
rail transportation.<br />
Source:<br />
Kearney analysis<br />
SAFETY ENHANCEMENT<br />
Technology can make train operations safer by detecting<br />
flaws in the tracks, remote monitoring the tracks,<br />
digitising and automating maintenance, and improving<br />
basic processes such as welding and grinding.<br />
Improvements in signalling and telecommunication,<br />
crash safety of rolling stock, and surveillance of human<br />
operations can reduce errors and lessen the impact<br />
of accidents.<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES<br />
Mechanised construction can enhance the speed for<br />
infrastructure upgrades (track laying and electrification)<br />
while improving cost-effectiveness.<br />
Organisation<br />
capability<br />
enhancement<br />
Passenger<br />
experience<br />
improvement<br />
Safety<br />
enhancement<br />
Technology<br />
in railways<br />
Train<br />
operations<br />
effectiveness<br />
Infrastructure<br />
upgrades<br />
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