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Manganese & Chrome news
Every manganese & chrome story we've published, newest first.
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- 27 August 2026
Manganese & ChromeKalagadi Manganese faces business rescue after top court rejects its appeal
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed Kalagadi Manganese's challenge to the IDC's authority to place the Northern Cape miner into business rescue, ending a long legal battle over its debts.
Roy Mulenga·27 August 2026·2 min read
Merafe profit more than doubles despite ferrochrome output falling 75%
Eramet and Gabon agree roadmap to process manganese ore at home
Eramet and the Gabonese government have signed a memorandum of understanding setting out an industrial roadmap to process up to 700,000 tonnes of manganese ore a year in Gabon by 2031, ahead of a planned export ban.
Court lets prosecutors permanently seize seven chrome-laden trucks
South Africa's Asset Forfeiture Unit has permanently seized seven trucks found loaded with chrome ore after a North West High Court order, stemming from a 2025 raid on an illegal mining operation at Marulakop.
South Africa's last manganese smelter goes dark in eMalahleni
Transalloys, South Africa's only remaining manganese alloy smelter, stopped all furnace operations on 1 July 2026 after being excluded from the emergency electricity tariff that rescued ferrochrome producers.
Glencore-Merafe to restart Boshoek and Wonderkop ferrochrome smelters
The Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture will restart its Boshoek and Wonderkop ferrochrome smelters after finalising the detailed terms of a 62c/kWh electricity agreement with Eskom.
South Africa moves to tax chrome ore exports and require ITAC permits
South Africa's government has proposed a 25% export tax on raw chrome ore and new permitting requirements, aiming to revive a ferrochrome smelting industry that has shrunk from 66 furnaces to just 11.
Nersa throws South Africa's ferrochrome smelters a 62c/kWh lifeline
South Africa's energy regulator Nersa has approved a concessionary 62c/kWh electricity tariff for ten ferrochrome smelters run by Samancor and Glencore-Merafe, a 75% discount to Eskom's standard rate.
Giyani's K.Hill study backs $535m battery-grade manganese mine in Botswana
Giyani Metals' definitive feasibility study for the K.Hill project puts initial capital at $535m and after-tax NPV at $481.5m, positioning Botswana to host its first manganese mine and a battery-materials supply chain.
Hawks win R4.5m asset forfeiture over illegal Limpopo chrome mining
The Limpopo High Court granted a R4.5m forfeiture order against vehicles linked to suspected illegal chrome mining in the Sekhukhune district, after Hawks investigators seized trucks used to move stolen ore.
Merafe ferrochrome output collapses 95% as idled smelters bite
Ferrochrome production from the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture fell 95% year on year in the first quarter of 2026 to 13,000 tonnes, as the Boshoek and Wonderkop smelters remained idled over electricity costs.
Tharisa fires first underground blast in shift to deep mining
Tharisa set off its first underground blast at the Apollo portal on 31 March 2026, beginning a transition from open-pit to underground mining that the company says will extend its mine's life by decades.
Samancor issues Section 189 notice covering 2,403 chrome smelter jobs
Samancor Chrome issued a Section 189 retrenchment notice in March 2026 covering the majority of its 2,403 smelter and corporate employees, blaming unsustainable electricity costs across six South African smelters.
China's chrome ore imports from South Africa hit record 12.5-million tonnes
Chinese buyers imported a record 12.5-million tonnes of South African chrome ore across 2025, up 23.8% year on year, as South Africa's total chrome ore exports rose 15.7% to 23.77-million tonnes.
Tharisa lifts FY2026 targets for both PGMs and chrome
Tharisa has guided FY2026 production of 145,000 to 165,000 ounces of platinum group metals and up to 1.65-million tonnes of chrome concentrate, building on a strong fourth quarter at its South African mine.