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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


Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau
dtic exceeds investment target by 44%, talks up vast economic potential
24th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

During his budget vote address on June 23, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau noted that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) and its entities attracted... 


Exxaro CEO Ben Magara.
Exxaro displays major wind, solar achievement without shrinking coal
22nd June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Impressive renewable-energy advances were graphically displayed by coal major Exxaro during its Capital Day on Monday, June 22. The first was a wind turbine involving 600 m3 of concrete in a 25 m... 


Photo of Martin Creamer
On-The-Air (12/06/2026)
12th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Martin Creamer talks about Manganese Metal Company, rare earths in the Northern Cape and Junior mining opportunities. 


Photo of Martin Creamer
MMC, rare earths, Jr mining opportunities make headlines
12th June 2026

Mining Weekly Editor Martin Creamer discusses the completion of Manganese Metal Company’s new plant in Mpumalanga; the rare earths project in the Northern Cape that was highlighted on day two of... 


Operations at a South African manganese mine
PGMs, manganese, chrome drive South Africa's April mining output up 8.2% y/y
11th June 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

South Africa's mining production increased by 8.2% year-on-year in April, with the largest positive contributions made by platinum group metals (PGMs), manganese ore and chromium ore and the... 


Battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) plant in Mbombela.
South Africa’s battery materials supply status surges ahead with new MMC plant
11th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

South Africa’s supply status in the rapidly evolving and increasingly geopolitically fragmented battery materials market has taken a major leap forward with the completion of the construction by... 


Mintek mineral processing executive manager Dr Lawrence Bbosa
Forward-looking critical minerals strategy must drive African beneficiation
5th June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

South Africa’s Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy must become a practical roadmap for beneficiation, industrialisation and regional development, State-owned mineral research organisation Mintek... 


ECA Southern Africa regional director Eunice Kamwendo
UN ECA launches large-scale project to strengthen SADC critical minerals value chains
3rd June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has launched a €15-million regional project to strengthen environmentally and socially responsible critical minerals value chains across the Southern... 


Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau speaks at the launch of the EU investment roadshow
EU aims to use investor roadshow to convert €12bn pledge into South African projects
1st June 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The EU, which announced a €12-billion investment package for South Africa in October, is undertaking investment roadshows in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban this week as part of efforts to... 


The image depicts a ADT in a coal field
Rail allocation to enhance diversified miner’s access to market
29th May 2026 By: Lynne Davies

In advocating for reindustrialisation in South Africa and the creation of new jobs, diversified mining group Menar is expanding its portfolio of operations with the February 2026 addition of a... 


Representatives form the train operating companies hold up rail access certificates at a ceremony addressed by various Transnet executives, including CEO Michelle Phillips (seated in green).
Eleven private train operators gear up for mainline entry after concluding access agreements
29th May 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The 11 private train operating companies (TOCs), which were last year allocated slots on South Africa’s mainline rail network, have now officially concluded rail access agreements with the Transnet... 


Giyani's demo plant in Johannesburg
Giyani announces positive DFS results for Botswana manganese project
28th May 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

TSX-V-listed Giyani Metals has reported positive definitive feasibility study (DFS) results for its 100%-owned K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana. Giyani notes that highlights from... 


The Grande Côte mineral sands operation
Eramet appoints CFO, partially restarts Senegal mineral sands processing after Feb fire
27th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Diversified metals miner Eramet has appointed Simon Henochsberg to succeed Abel Martins as group CFO and has announced the partial restart of mineral sands processing at its Grande Côte operation,... 


Mintek mineral processing executive manager Dr Lawrence Bbosa
Forward-looking critical minerals strategy must drive African beneficiation
21st May 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

South Africa’s Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy must become a practical roadmap for beneficiation, industrialisation and regional development, State-owned mineral research organisation Mintek... 


Menar Ports & Rail moves ahead with strategic Transnet partnership
Menar Ports & Rail moves ahead with strategic Transnet partnership
15th May 2026

Menar Ports & Rail (MPR) intends to invest in the critical resources needed to ensure it utilises its rail allocation through the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) initiative to add value... 


An image of Grant Mitchell
Junior mining, exploration critical to industry longevity
15th May 2026 By: Trent Roebeck

The junior mining and exploration sectors in South Africa provide a way forward to expand the country’s critical minerals discovery and producing capability, with various funding programmes to... 


An image of Fred Arendse
Further investment needed to lift sector
15th May 2026 By: Trent Roebeck

Because junior mining companies are the principal drivers of mineral exploration in South Africa, junior mining lobby association the Junior Mining Council (JMC) is calling for increased investment... 


Mining production up by 2.5% y/y, mineral sales rise by 30.2% y/y in March
Mining production up by 2.5% y/y, mineral sales rise by 30.2% y/y in March
14th May 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reports that the country’s mining production increased by 2.5% year-on-year in March, with platinum group metals (PGMs), gold and manganese ore having made the... 


The Chvaletice project site
Study estimates robust returns from Czech manganese project
14th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

A preliminary economic assessment (PEA) of the development of TSX-V-listed Euro Manganese's Chvaletice project, in the Czech Republic, demonstrates the resilience of the project and the potential... 


Representatives form the train operating companies hold up rail access certificates at a ceremony addressed by various Transnet executives, including CEO Michelle Phillips (seated in green).
Eleven private train operators gear up for mainline entry after concluding access agreements
13th May 2026 By: Terence Creamer

The 11 private train operating companies (TOCs), which were last year allocated slots on South Africa’s mainline rail network, have now officially concluded rail access agreements with the Transnet... 


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