Recently, according to foreign media reports, South African Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe reported that discussions within the government and with manganese and chromium producers are underway to prevent a decline in domestic added value, with over half of South Africa's 59 chromium furnaces having been shut down in recent decades.

Mantashe, speaking at the negotiation meeting of the National Union of Metalworkers in South Africa, believes that the demand for ferroalloys produced from these two minerals is expected to increase, partly due to the support of green technologies such as batteries, as well as traditional industries such as construction. He believes that by improving South Africa's mineral processing capabilities, these resources can "drive inclusive economic growth, industrialization, and sustainable employment. However, we face a series of serious challenges that require coordinated action from all stakeholders.

Our ferroalloy industry used to have global competitiveness and was the pride of our economy, but now it faces countless challenges, among which the chromium industry has been hit the hardest. Currently, at least 30 out of 59 chromium furnaces in China have been maintained and serviced, and some have been completely shut down, resulting in unemployment, "Mantashe reported. The ministerial working group composed of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition, Electricity and Energy, Transport and Finance has held a meeting to urgently develop a revitalization plan for the smelting industry and ensure its long-term sustainability.

He said that the working group focuses on several areas, including reviewing electricity pricing models; Improving railway and port infrastructure; Encourage local mineral processing; And modernize legislative tools to empower the government to intervene when necessary. Some policies and incentive measures discussed with the industry include introducing export taxes to restrict the export of non beneficiation minerals and/or quotas to limit the amount of raw minerals that South Africa can export.

We will continue to engage with investors, including Chinese investors, to introduce mineral processing, technology, and industrial capacity into South Africa. We are actively seeking more balanced cooperation to support South Africa's industrialization goals