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A comparative analysis of financial guarantee instruments for mine closure in relation to the interests of medium-sized mines
No full textIn this dissertation I comparatively analyse the various financial guarantee instruments for mine closure in relation to the interests of medium sized mines. I do this not to compare each instrument against each another but rather in order to ascertain which instruments are more beneficial to medium sized mine companies when included in a state legislation or a contract. Mine closure is clearly a certainty for all mines, however acquiring sufficient funding in order for holistic closure to occur has always been problematic. Thus the use of financial guarantee instrument may mitigate such concern and streamlining the choice will lead to attaining the holistic mine closure objectives. In chapter 1 I trace the history of mine closure as concept which has developed since the 1870s and I illustrate how the concept of mine closure has taken into consideration technical, social and environmental aspects. I do so in order to reinforce not only the scope of mine closure but to further emphasise the progression of the concept. Finally, I establish the current concept of mine closure, representing a meticulous concept comprising of far more than the traditional physical closure. Arising from this meticulous notion I discuss in chapter 2 the need for funding mine closure as the foremost concern regarding mine closure. I highlight the key justifications for the necessity for funding, I discuss the likely sources of such funding and I argue with whom the responsibility of funding falls onto. As the substantive core of this paper, in chapters 3 and 4 I introduce the most commonly opted for financial guarantee instruments and the most significant interests of medium sized mines regarding the financing of mine closure respectively. I deliberate concisely on each of the following instruments, namely: letter of credit; surety bond; cash trust fund; insurance scheme and self-guarantee and I discuss very briefly the most significant interests, namely: profitability, liquidity, accessibility, corruption and tax implications. Finally in chapter 5 I analyse and compare the discussed financial guarantee instruments for mine closure against the interests of medium sized mines in order to establish which are the most beneficial to the medium sized mine company in the completion of holistic mine closure.National Research Foundatio
An investigation of the link between the typical geometry errors and the Van Hiele levels of geometric thought of grade 9 learners
No full textSouth African learners perform poorly in the geometry sections of both national and international assessments. Numerous assessment reports mention multiple errors that keep re-occurring and play a big role in the learners’ poor performance. For this research, the link between the grade 9 learners Van Hiele levels of thought and the typical errors that they made were investigated. In this mixed method study, 194 grade 9 learners in two schools in Port Elizabeth, South Africa were tested using a Van Hiele based test. A test was set up containing multiple-choice and open-ended questions and was used to determine firstly, the predominant level of geometric reasoning of the learners and secondly, to determine their typical errors. Semi-structured interviews were held with six learners to gain more insight into some of the typical errors uncovered in the tests. The quantitative data revealed that the learners’ predominant levels of geometric thought were low. Furthermore, the qualitative data revealed typical error patterns concerning angles and sides, parallel lines, hierarchy of quadrilaterals and incorrect reasons in the proofs. The quantitative and qualitative data was merged to determine if the errors could be linked to the Van Hiele levels. From the findings, it was concluded that most of their typical errors could be linked to the Van Hiele levels of the learners.National Research Foundatio
Managing Research: Quo Vadis
No full textThe Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA) Directorate hosted its 8th annual Research Administrators Workshop (RAW) from 9 to 11 October 2017 in the Western Cape. The workshop aimed to bring together key stakeholders from universities and science councils across South Africa, including international delegates, to share experiences and best practices in research administration and management
Using social media for better communication with stakeholders
No full textThe Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA) Directorate hosted its 8th annual Research Administrators Workshop (RAW) from 9 to 11 October 2017 in the Western Cape. The workshop aimed to bring together key stakeholders from universities and science councils across South Africa, including international delegates, to share experiences and best practices in research administration and management
2017 DA Regional Workshops - Feedback
No full textThe Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA) Directorate hosted its 8th annual Research Administrators Workshop (RAW) from 9 to 11 October 2017 in the Western Cape. The workshop aimed to bring together key stakeholders from universities and science councils across South Africa, including international delegates, to share experiences and best practices in research administration and management
Research Data Management Infrastructure: Open Data Transition Roadmap
No full textThe Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA) Directorate hosted its 8th annual Research Administrators Workshop (RAW) from 9 to 11 October 2017 in the Western Cape. The workshop aimed to bring together key stakeholders from universities and science councils across South Africa, including international delegates, to share experiences and best practices in research administration and management
NRF, Research & Finance offices working together
No full textThe Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA) Directorate hosted its 8th annual Research Administrators Workshop (RAW) from 9 to 11 October 2017 in the Western Cape. The workshop aimed to bring together key stakeholders from universities and science councils across South Africa, including international delegates, to share experiences and best practices in research administration and management
Exploring the perceptions of PGCE students regarding the potential utility of blogging for teaching and learning
No full textNational Research Foundatio
Performance modelling, validation and operational feasibility of a parabolic trough power plant.
No full textCurrently, the most developed commercial Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)
technology in operation is the parabolic trough power plant (PTPP) technology.
This is due to more than thirty years of experience, competitive cost and high performance (Pool and Coggin, 2013). PTPP's lead the CSP market
along with the central receiver (CR) technology. A study related to operational strategy is necessary and highly beneficial to increase production output
and/or reduce costs. The objective of this thesis is to simulate a PTPP by making use of data supplied from a power plant currently in operation. The simulation program developed can be used as a tool for the power plant operators.
It provides performance based output results that are then evaluated and interpreted in order to achieve a more desirable/optimal electricity generation.
This is however, dependant on the day-to-day conditions, limitations and how the operator chooses to run the plant on any specific day. The data used in the simulation is obtained from the PTPP located in Southern Spain,
namely; Andasol 3. Performance modelling of plant operation and operational feasibility is made possible by using high resolution data in the form of direct
normal irradiance (DNI), energy transfer (thermal-to-electrical energy) and other power plant parameters. A validated simulation model ensures a foundation for power plant operational strategy analysis. This encourages a larger energy production, while also reducing the amount of gas used during start-up.National Research Foundatio