South32, one of South Africa’s largest aluminium producers, increases investment in the region. Local businesses inKwaZulu-Natalare set to benefit as South32, one of South Africa’s largest aluminium producers, increases investment in the region. Speaking at the Aluminium Federation of South Africa (AFSA) conference, COO Noel Pillay said the company will fund new manufacturing projects, support Black-owned and women-led businesses, and expand local operations.
He said the company is “rolling out plans to facilitate more downstream beneficiation and keep South Africa on the map as a competitive centre for aluminium production and conversion.” South32 has already facilitated a BEE transaction over theBayside casthouse, transferring liquid metal from its Hillside smelter to local companies. Pillay said the move has been “a game changer,” allowing the company to deliver 110,000 tonnes annually to local processors Hulamin and Bingelela Alloys, with plans to increase this to 240,000 tonnes. “Currently, we are working hard on options to enable a local business to manufacture aluminium rod at the Bayside facility.
We are aiming to provide total funding of R200 million as support for this project,” Pillay said. “This is an essential product to help the country in addressing the electrical gridgrowth in line with Eskom’s plan for 14,000km grid expansion, a project with significant national value. value This will enable Eskom to procure the aluminium rod nationally and not have to import it from China or elsewhere.
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This is a priority for us, and we hope to provide an update on that work soon”. He added that “the company is working with local partners to develop a dross plant and a billet alloy plant”, “These projects are in line with DTIC’s priorities and will benefit the economy and provide jobs”.
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