Steel & Ferroalloys Conference
Janaury 27 – 29, 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa
Steel & Ferroalloys Conference
Janaury 27 – 29, 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa
A new dawn is breaking for South Africa with closer collaboration between a new coalition government and the country’s steel and mining industries. A top South African government official opens the inaugural conference with the government’s vision for 2025 and beyond.
Session Chair: John Howland, Senior Vice President, McCloskey by OPIS
Rudi Dicks, Head of Presidency’s Project Management Office
ArcelorMittal South Africa’s CMO provides the company’s outlooks for the global and domestic steel markets, as well as an update on its steel business and future plans.
Featured Speaker: Gaurav Nagpal, Chief Marketing Officer, ArcelorMittal South Africa
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
With its recent purchase of Metalloys, Menar is looking to revive South Africa’s ferroalloys industry. Hear from Menar’s managing director about the challenges and opportunities he sees in South Africa.
Featured Speaker: Vuslat Bayoglu, Managing Director, Menar
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Mining is becoming more complex as producers navigate through a maze of uncertainties, ranging from the energy transition and rising ESG concerns, to limited funding and an ever changing political and regulatory landscape. In this session, hear from industry leaders on how manganese miners are winning in an unpredictable environment.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Thembelani Gantsho, Chief Executive Officer, Kudumane Manganese Resources
Clifford Hallatt, Chief Operating Officer, Menar
South Africa is the world’s largest chrome producer and top exporter, making it an attractive destination for investors. But transport and power issues, mixed with regulatory headaches and corruption are keeping South Africa from reaching its full potential. In this session, industry experts discuss whether South Africa’s chrome mines are a good investment in 2025.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Peter Major, Director, Modern Corporate Solution
Hugo Pienaar, Chief Economist, Minerals Council
From climate change and water insecurity to elections and AI, geo-economic risks are the big unknown for businesses – a potential black swan that could alter an industry’s future for better or worse. A leading strategist provides his outlook on this year’s main risks for 2025 and their potential impact on Africa’s mining industry.
Session Chair: James Stevenson, Executive Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Michael Power, Strategist and Consultant, Kaskazi Consulting
Global steel demand looks to be turning a corner after two years of weaker steel output, with India playing a greater role in the industry’s future growth. In this session, the head of McCloskey’s research division provides the latest global steel outlook.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
James Stevenson, Executive Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Session Chair: Rohan Baid, Associate Director Ferroalloys, McCloskey by OPIS
Henk Bouwer, Executive Technology Development, African Rainbow Minerals
Siddharth Bothra, Chief Executive Officer, IQ Minerals & Metals
In this session, we spotlight the increasing number of iron ore projects in Africa and what this means for the global market.
Session Chair: Tiisetso Nkosi, Research & Analysis Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Melinda Moore, Vice President Innovation & Commercial Development, Ivanhoe Atlantic
Financing will be key for Africa to develop the infrastructure, technology and capacity to produce and export the continent’s critical minerals. In this session, one of Africa’s leading finance institutions explains the availability of funds and how to access them.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Thabiso Sekano, Head of Mining and Metals, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC)
As a key producer of manganese, chrome, vanadium and other critical minerals, Africa plays an essential role in the battery storage revolution. What are the opportunities and challenges for Africa? How can governments promote local beneficiation to ensure countries climb the value chain?
Session Chair: Hlengiwe Motaung, Senior South Africa Reporter, McCloskey by OPIS
Jason Brewer, Chief Executive Officer, Marula Mining
Tanisha Schultz, Senior Analyst, Project Blue
With the power crisis seemingly over, South Africa is moving forward with the restructuring of Eskom into three operating units and inviting third parties to participate. What do these changes mean for future energy supplies and costs? A top Eskom official will help unravel this for South Africa’s steel and ferroalloys industries.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Agnes Mlambo, General Manager, Distribution Head Office, Eskom
Mbulelo Yedwa, General Manager, Eskom Distribution for the Cape Coastal Cluster
South Africa’s rail corridors are showing signs of major improvement, a welcome relief to exporters who over the years have had to cut production or turn to road haulage to get their supplies to overseas customers. At the same time, several major rail projects are in development that could further Africa’s importance in the world’s steel supply chain. Top transport officials and experts discuss what the industry can expect on the roads, the rails, and at the ports.
Session Chair: Hlengiwe Motaung, Senior South Africa Reporter, McCloskey
Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Road Freight Association
James Holley, Chief Executive Officer, Traxtion
Bonginkosi Mabaso, Chief Commercial Officer, Transnet Freight Rail
Kenneth Williams, Executive, Site Operations, Makoya Group
Session Chair: Ranjana Gupta von Wendland, Steel Raw Materials Associate Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Anand Mohan Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Andean Anthracite
Walter Anderson, Managing Director, Walter Hislop Anderson
Byron Falla, Chief Future Officer, Conexus Minerals
The world’s energy transition is opening up new markets for manganese, chromium, vanadium and ferroalloys. But it is also creating new challenges, as governments implement new regulations and trade restrictions, such as EU’s CBAM, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. How will the industry navigate through all these changes?
Session Chair: James Stevenson, Executive Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Franck Wandji, Group Executive: Commercial, Africa, ArcelorMittal South Africa
Olivia Rumble, Director, Climate Legal