Photo by: Creamer Media's Donna Slater
The Mbombela-based Manganese Metal Company’s manganese refinery, built in 1974 to beneficiate manganese minerals mined in South Africa’s Hotazel’s region, produces two high-grade (99.9% pure), selenium-free manganese products, including flakes (seen here) and powder. Manganese is a key mineral used in lithium-ion batteries, steel, specialty alloys and even aluminium beverage cans, among others. The refinery – the only one of its kind outside of China which produces the highest-quality of refined manganese globally – is eyeing significant expansion, with intentions to add a brownfields 5000 t/y plant to the existing28000 t/y electrolytic manganese metal plant, which will target demand stemming from the expanding global battery electric vehicle market. Photograph: Creamer Media Chief Photographer Donna Slater