WHY MTE’ S 2026 SHOWS MATTER
By Sharon Mdaka
MTE EXHIBITIONS •
According to the investment platform, Energy Capital & Power, the continent is seeing an increase in exploration activities, mainly in Ghana, Namibia and South Africa. Positioning African countries at the forefront of the global mining supply chain, driving a surge in new mineral projects to meet global demand.
As a result, South Africa is actively looking to dominate its global presence in platinum group metals, chrome and manganese, while reviving the gold and iron ore sectors. In 2025, the country awarded 358 new prospecting rights and 32 mining rights, signalling renewed intent to unlock mineral resources supporting long-term production growth.
Following the commitment by the government of R2-billion to revitalising junior mining activity, broader ambitions to mobilise R2-trillion in investment into the critical minerals sector point to a long-term strategy aimed at unlocking an estimated R40-trillion in untapped iron ore resources.
With this in mind, Mining and Technical Exhibitions( MTE) will be returning to one of the key mining regions in July, bringing its travelling exhibitions and expertise of suppliers to South Africa’ s home for iron ore, manganese, platinum and chrome operations.
Starting the month of July, the MTE Hotazel Mining and Industrial Exhibition will take place on 7 July 2026 at the Hotazel Rec Club, followed by the Kathu show on 9 July 2026 at Hoërskool Kathu. Wrapping up the month, MTE will touch down in Lydenburg( Mashishing), focusing on the Booysendal employees on 28 July 2026, and Steelpoort, where the exhibition will be hosted on 30 July 2026 at Winterveld Rec Club. Each event runs from 13:00 to 17:00, offering suppliers and mine professionals direct engagement on the ground.
These shows come at a critical time for the manganese sector, where South Africa continues to dominate globally. Based on the Minerals Council South Africa Facts and Figures 2025 Pocketbook, South Africa is home to approximately 70 % of the world’ s known manganese resources and remains the leading producer, accounting for approximately 40 % of global exports.
While steel production is reported to account for roughly 90 % of global manganese demand, the second largest application is in aluminium manufacturing. As a result, manganese remains in demand in the global market. It is also increasingly being used in electric vehicle battery technologies, particularly in lithium-ion chemistries, where it can improve capacity and performance. It is also being used with other battery chemistries, underscoring its growing significance in energy storage solutions.
Based on production trends, the output for 2025 was expected to reach approximately 20.3 million tonnes, an increase compared to 2024. 24 million tonnes of manganese ore was exported in the first 11 months of 2025, with an estimated 26.2 million tonnes shipped to the Asian market, setting a new record.
While production was projected to increase to 63.9 million tonnes in 2025 for iron ore, growing by 1.7 %, the sector remains closely linked to Asian demand – particularly China’ s steel production – which continues to influence pricing and export flows. Logistics
constraints continue to pose a challenge for this sector; however, the approval of private train operating companies to access Transnet’ s network is considered a shift towards unlocking rail capacity. This move is expected to add significant freight volumes and bring about new investment, which could have a positive turning point for bulk commodity exports.
The PGM sector is showing recovery signs. Production is expected to strengthen in South Africa and Zimbabwe and the market is anticipated to move into surplus this year. This shift is likely to support the return of previously delayed expansion projects and renewed capital investment.
The minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, recently announced that the government will be implementing a comprehensive electricity tariff framework to assist with the stabilisation and revitalisation of the ferrochrome industry.
The government is set to develop sustainable solutions to provide relief for the severely impacted ferrochrome industries. Part of the solution includes a reduction in power costs for ferrochrome producers, notably proposed tariffs of around 62 cents per kilowatthour for major smelters such as Samancor Chrome and the Glencore- Merafe venture, down from an interim tariff of 87.74 cents per kilowatt-hour approved by the energy regulator in January 2026.
This strategy is aimed at stabilising operations, preventing loss of employment and attracting smelters back into production.
With the industry anticipating growth for the 2026 mining calendar, the high-impact expos will serve as a strategic platform for suppliers and mining operations to share ideas and explore the latest innovations within the mining sector. MTE continues to create face-to-face networking opportunities, where mining professionals get to witness the innovative showcases from suppliers specifically curated for each stop.
For suppliers, the shows provide direct access to decision-makers operating in some of the country’ s most resource-rich regions. For mining companies, they offer exposure to technologies and solutions aimed at addressing real challenges, from productivity and processing efficiency to logistics and sustainability.
As South Africa positions itself to unlock new mineral potential while addressing longstanding bottlenecks, platforms that enable practical engagement between industry stakeholders become increasingly valuable. MTE’ s presence in Hotazel, Kathu and Steelpoort reflects not only where mining activity is concentrated, but where the next phase of growth and optimisation will be shaped. •
References:
1. https:// www. africanmining. co. za / 2026 / 03 / 23 / africa-seeing-growth-innew-mining-projects /
2. https:// www. mineralscouncil. org. za / component / jdownloads /? task = download. send & id = 2611 & catid = 17 & m = 0 3. https:// www. statssa. gov. za / publications / P2041 / P2041January2026. pdf 4. https:// www. sanews. gov. za / south-africa / electricity-tariff-frameworkrevive-ferrochrome-sector
www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • June 2026 • 21