Menar Manganese Alloy Restart Signals Revival of South Africa’s Ferro-Alloy Industry

Menar

Menar plans furnace restart at Metalloys smelter

Menar will restart operations at the Metalloys manganese alloy smelter in South Africa within the next two to three years. The smelter, previously owned by Samancor and idle since 2020, was acquired by Khwelamet in June 2024. Khwelamet is jointly owned by Menar Capital and Ntiso Investment Holdings and expects to process on-site slag for early sales. As a result, the company plans to resume metal output within a year, with full furnace restarts to follow.

Menar selected the site due to its strong infrastructure links, including rail and power access. The smelter is directly connected to ore sources in the Northern Cape via dedicated railway lines.

Manganese market recovery expected to support beneficiation push

Menar believes manganese alloy prices will rebound as steel demand grows, supporting smelter restart economics. Prices dipped in 2023, but the company remains confident that medium-term demand will justify restarting production. “Prices are far from peak levels, but recovery will come with economic growth,” said Menar CEO Vuslat Bayoglu.

South Africa holds the world’s largest chrome and manganese reserves, yet domestic beneficiation remains underdeveloped. High power prices and poor grid reliability continue to pressure the country’s metals industry. For instance, Merafe Resources recently warned it may shut down most of its ferro-chrome capacity due to high costs.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Menar’s bold move to restart Metalloys could mark a turning point for South Africa’s stagnant ferro-alloys sector. With infrastructure already in place and long-term ore access secured, success will now hinge on electricity stability and pricing reform. As global steel demand returns, this restart could help re-anchor South Africa in the global manganese value chain.