Project Blue recently hosted its Critical Materials Conference: Ferroalloys 2025 in Sandton, Johannesburg, bringing together over 200 delegates from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Leaders from government, mining, finance, and technology gathered to address the future of ferroalloys and critical materials amid energy transition and supply chain realignment.

Johannesburg: A global mining powerhouse

Hosting the conference in South Africa’s mining hub for the second consecutive year underscored the country’s strategic role in global ferroalloys markets.

As the world’s largest producer of chrome ore, manganese ore, and primary vanadium, South Africa remains vital to steelmaking, renewable energy, and advanced technologies. Yet, challenges such as energy constraints, infrastructure bottlenecks, and evolving ESG requirements make these conversations more critical than ever.

Event Highlights

• Keynote Addresses: Senior government leaders, including Alvin Botes (Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation) and Nonceba Mhlauli (Deputy Minister in the Presidency), emphasised South Africa’s trade diplomacy and economic initiatives such as Operation Vulindlela and the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative.
  
• Site Visit: Delegates toured ChromTech’s Thaba Mine in Thabazimbi for insights into chrome and PGM operations.
  
• Insightful Sessions: Covered geopolitics and commodity outlook, global demand trends, logistics and shipping challenges, financing strategies, and technology-driven sustainability
  

Key Takeaways

• Energy security and logistics optimisation are essential for South Africa’s global competitiveness.
  
• Financing trends show growing appetite for green steel and low-carbon ferroalloys, with strong investor interest in ESG-aligned projects.
  
• Technology and digitalisation will drive cost reduction and emissions control.
  
• Analysts forecast steady growth in manganese and chromium demand, while vanadium’s role in energy storage expands.
  

Voices from the Conference

Dr Nils Backeberg, Founder & Director of Project Blue:

“Bringing the global ferroalloys community to Johannesburg reinforces South Africa’s central role in the energy transition. The conversations we’ve had here will shape strategies for years to come.”

Steven Seget, Founder & Director:

“The diversity of perspectives — from miners to financiers, from Africa to Asia — shows the truly global nature of these supply chains. Collaboration is the key to resilience and growth.”

Dr Jack Bedder, Founder & Director:

“Our mission is to provide clarity in complex markets. Our Critical Materials Conference: Ferroalloys 2025 delivered actionable insights that will help businesses and governments navigate uncertainty and seize opportunities in a fast-evolving landscape.”

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to ChromTech for hosting the Thaba Mine visit and to our partners and sponsors, including Makoya Group, Investec, BigMint, Bonisana, Creamer Media, FAPA, Global Africa Network, ICDA, IMnI, Mantengu, and MySteel. Their contributions were instrumental in driving conversations on market trends, supply chain resilience, and strategic growth for the global ferroalloys sector.

Watch the highlights video here: 

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