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Manganese

Manganese is a hard, brittle, silvery-grey metallic element that is essential to iron and steel production and serves as a key alloying agent in metallurgy. It is the twelfth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and is never found as a free metal in nature, occurring instead in minerals such as pyrolusite, rhodochrosite and braunite. The metal is primarily extracted through mining of manganese ores, which are then processed into ferromanganese and silicomanganese alloys used in steelmaking to improve strength, toughness and resistance to wear. Approximately 90% of global manganese production is consumed by the steel industry, where it acts as a deoxidiser and desulphuriser, whilst the remaining 10% finds applications in batteries, fertilisers, pigments and chemical compounds. South Africa, Australia, Gabon and China are among the world's leading producers, with South Africa's Kalahari manganese field in the Northern Cape representing one of the largest known reserves. The element is also gaining strategic importance in the battery minerals sector, particularly for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, where manganese-rich cathode chemistries offer cost and safety advantages. Manganese dioxide is a critical component in alkaline batteries and is being explored for use in next-generation energy storage systems. The metal is typically graded by manganese content, with high-grade ores containing more than 44% manganese being preferred for metallurgical applications. Demand for manganese is closely tied to global steel production trends, infrastructure development and the energy transition, making it a commodity of enduring industrial and economic significance.

Manganese News


ARM founder and chairperson Patrice Motsepe.
ARM’s Motsepe emphasises importance of honesty, integrity, governance, meritocracy
4th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The founder and chairperson of diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) on Friday, September emphasised the importance of companies behaving in a manner that reflects integrity,... 


An image of Exxaro CEO Ben Magara
Exxaro to sell Moranbah South project to Stanmore
4th September 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Mining and renewable-energy company Exxaro Resources has agreed to dispose of its 100% interest in the Moranbah South project, in Australia, to Stanmore Resources for $105-million, once Exxaro... 


ARM CEO Phillip Tobias.
ARM headline earnings up 19%, dividend declared
4th September 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The headline earnings of diversified mining company African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) increased by 19% to R3 201-million in the financial year ended June 30 on mainly higher dollar platinum group... 


The Manganese Metal Company
Nersa approves discounted Eskom tariff for Manganese Metal Company
4th September 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed the approval of a two-year Negotiated Pricing Agreement (NPA) between Eskom and Mpumalanga-based Manganese Metal Company (MMC).... 


An image of the Tshipi manganese mine
Jupiter highlights strong full-year performance at Tshipi
28th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

ASX-listed Jupiter Mines says the Tshipi manganese mine, in South Africa, delivered another strong performance in the financial year ended June 30, with production and sales of 3.5-million tonnes,... 


a dusk image of the Khwelamet manganese alloy smelter complex in Meyerton, Gauteng
Phased revival of manganese smelter under way
28th August 2026 By: Halima Frost

The phased revival of the Khwelamet manganese alloy smelter complex in Meyerton, Gauteng, started in January 2026, with the site rehabilitation and refurbishment preparatory work, says mining... 


An image of the Hillside smelter
Base metals underpin South32’s strong full-year performance
27th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Australia-headquartered diversified miner South32’s group underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased by 28% year-on-year to $2.5-billion for the... 


South32's Hermosa base metals mine in Arizona
Australia's South32 annual profit jumps 55%, extends shareholder-returns programme
27th August 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's South32 on Thursday posted a 55% rise in annual profit, largely in line with market expectations, and extended its shareholder-returns programme, sending its shares to a more than... 


Minerals-Led Industrialisation: South Africa’s Make-or-Break Moment
26th August 2026

By: Thabo Moloto - founder and CEO of Rootz Investments South Africa holds the richest chrome endowment on Earth, yet we cannot keep our own furnaces lit. Two decades of shipping raw ore overseas... 


Exxaro media roundtable.
Exxaro driving modernisation, reviewing what mine of future could look like
26th August 2026 By: Martin Creamer

South Africa’s Exxaro Resources is reviewing what the mine of the future could look like amid a modernisation drive, Exxaro CEO Ben Magara pointed out in response to Mining Weekly during a media... 


Construction materials
Afrimat braces for tough interim results as external shocks weigh on diversified portfolio
25th August 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Diversified mining and construction materials group Afrimat says its performance for the six months to June 30 will reflect the pressure it has been under as a combination of weaker commodity... 


Astec completes delivery, commissioning of advanced ship loading system at Lüderitz port
Astec completes delivery, commissioning of advanced ship loading system at Lüderitz port
25th August 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Multinational original equipment manufacturer group Astec Industries has successfully completed the delivery, assembly and commissioning of a new bulk materials handling and ship loading system at... 


The Gamsberg project
Aveng returns to operating profit, appoints new CEO as focus remains on restoring fundamentals
24th August 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

JSE-listed Aveng has reported revenue of A$2.3-billion, or R26.4-billion, for the year ended June 30, which was 12.4% lower than the prior year, reflecting the anticipated softening of... 


Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelting
British firm offers to restart mothballed Australian manganese smelter
24th August 2026 By: Reuters

Natrium Redox Technologies, a green technology startup based in Britain, said on Monday it had made a firm proposal to the Tasmanian government to acquire and restart Australia's only manganese... 


Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (21/08/2026)
21st August 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Martin Creamer talks about a R100-billion green hydrogen-ammonia project; renewable energy and manganese mining and gold from old mine dumps. 


Exxaro CEO Ben Magara.
Exxaro wants energy, future metals to be more than half of group earnings by 2030
20th August 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Exxaro wants its growing energy and future-facing metals businesses to account for more than half of group earnings by 2030. “This is the business we are building for tomorrow,” Exxaro CEO Ben... 


Exxaro CEO Ben Magara.
Exxaro lifts revenue, continues to scale renewable-energy business
20th August 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Despite heightened geopolitical tensions, increasing inflationary pressures and broader macroeconomic headwinds, South African resources group Exxaro delivered a strong first-half performance,... 


The Manganese Metal Company
Nersa approves discounted Eskom tariff for Manganese Metal Company
19th August 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has confirmed the approval of a two-year Negotiated Pricing Agreement (NPA) between Eskom and Mpumalanga-based Manganese Metal Company (MMC).... 


Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe
Mantashe, Mahlobo conduct on-site inspection of Samancor tailings facility following sidewall collapse
18th August 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe and Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo have conducted a joint oversight visit to ferrochrome and manganese producer... 


UN ECA executive secretary Claver Gatete
SADC can be a testing ground for turning African minerals into development – UN ECA
14th August 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Demand for critical energy transition minerals, including cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese, nickel, platinum group metals (PGMs) and rare earth elements, could more than triple by 2030... 


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pqt: 0.121s - ct: 0.172s - 275pq - 2rq
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