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 Africa government official opens the inaugural conference with the government’s vision for 2025 and beyond.
Session Chair: John Howland, Senior Vice President of OPIS & Global Head of McCloskey, McCloskey by OPIS
Rudi Dicks, Head of Presidency’s Project Management Office
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: John Howland, Senior Vice President, McCloskey by OPIS
Michael Power, Strategist and Consultant, Ninety One
South Africa’s steel industry is well positioned to benefit from the global energy transition and the industrialization of sub-Saharan Africa. In this session, South Africa’s government and industry leaders provide insights on how the industry will thrive with the growing opportunities at home.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Rudi Dicks, Head of Presidency’s Project Management Office
Gaurav Nagpal, Chief Marketing Officer, ArcelorMittal South Africa
Vuslat Bayoglu, Chief Executive Officer, Menar
Hugo Pienaar, Chief Economist, Minerals Council
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, panelists provide their outlooks for steel and ferroalloys in 2025 and give their thoughts about the market conditions behind their forecasts.
Session Chair: James Stevenson, Executive Director & Research Lead, McCloskey by OPIS
Siddharth Bothra, Chief Executive Officer, IQ Minerals & Metals
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 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
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: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey
Jason Brewer, Chief Executive Officer, Marula Mining
Additional Speaker TBD
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 executive will help unravel this for South Africa’s steel and ferroalloys industries.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Eskom (Senior Leadership – TBC)
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: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Road Freight Association
James Holley, Chief Executive Officer, Traxtion
Bonginkosi Manaso, Chief Commercial Officer, Transnet Freight Rail
In this session, we spotlight the increasing number of iron ore projects in Africa and what this means for the global market.
Session Chair: James Stevenson, Executive Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Melinda Moore, Vice President Innovation & Commercial Development, HPX Mines
Tiisetso Nkosi, Research & Analysis Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Industry leaders provide their global outlooks for metallurgical coal, anthracite and coke.
Session Chair: Ranjana Gupta von Wendland, Steel Raw Materials Associate Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Anand Mohan Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Andean Anthracite
Walter Hislop, Managing Director, Walter Hislop Anderson
Byron Falla, Chief Future Officer, Conexus Minerals
Global outlooks for manganese ore, chrome and ferroalloys industries.
Session Chair: Randy Fabi, Africa Editor, McCloskey by OPIS
Peter Major, Director, Modern Corporate Solutions
Tiisetso Nkosi, Research & Analysis Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Tanya Atalay, Senior Market Analyst, ICDA
Session Chair: James Stevenson, Executive Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Andrew Gilder, Director, Climate Legal
The world’s energy transition is opening up new markets for manganese, chromium, vanadium and ferroalloys. But with these new opportunities, come plenty of challenges and uncertainty. In this session, executives on the front line provide their insight on what’s next for the industry.
Session Chair: James Stevenson, Executive Director, McCloskey by OPIS
Franck Wandji, Group Marketing Executive, ArcelorMittal South Africa
Andrew Gilder, Director, Climate Legal