By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa makes money at $2 500/t on the high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate it produces in this way, whereas the feasibility studies of the other new, non-Chinese suppliers, or future hopefuls, are calling for far higher $3 500/t to $5 000/t price viability levels, the Mintek@90 conference heard on Monday.
Opened by Mintek chairperson Dr Thibedi Ramontja, with introductory remarks by Mintek CEO Dr Molefi Motuku and the keynote address by Minister Samson Gwede Mantashe, new opportunities in critical minerals, metallurgy, unlocking resources, advanced materials, emerging technologies, environmental social and governance are setting the scene for emerging new opportunities in South African minerals and metallurgy.
This is a momentous conference because we are not only celebrating the 90th anniversary of Mintek, but we have come together as stakeholders to reflect on the entity’s contribution to South Africa’s development throughout the years of its existence and shape its role for the next 90 years and beyond,” Mantashe said.
Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane urged that Mintek, together with other stakeholders, should be part of a network of centres of excellence that collaborate to enable the South African mining sector to achieve its true potential.
Mthenjane’s speech outlined strategic pathways for South Africa’s mining industry, focusing on mineral beneficiation, the hydrogen economy, and global competitiveness.
“I look ahead into a horizon where Mintek continues to lead and partner with key stakeholders to ensure that the country’s minerals drive growth and development as well as enhance social progress and prosperity for our nation, “he added.
A keynote speaker Rainbow Rare Earths CEO George Bennett outlined the major advances that are being made in the recovery of critical rare earth elements from phosphogypsum in South Africa’s Phalaborwa, industry speaker Bernard Swanepoel spelt out the latest advances at the Manganese Metal Company (MMC) in Mpumalanga that he chairs. Outlined was South Africa’s leadership role in the critical embodiment of manganese and the opportunity for this country to take up the reins of leadership in the battery grade version of the metal now being intensively eyed by battery electric vehicle manufacturers.
Manganese fines and ultra fines, which would otherwise would have been placed on a tailings storage facility, are used by MMC to make the world’s purest 99.9%-pure manganese, and currently about 20% to 30% of its sales are into the battery space, the Mintek audience was informed.
Importantly, MMC has begun building a 6 000 t high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate brownfield plant that will begin production in early in 2026.
“We make money at $2 500 per ton. You will read the feasibility studies calling for $2 500/t, $4 000/t and $5 000/t for battery grade manganese…our metal dissolves comfortably into what other people would just fantasize to achieve,” said Swanepoel.