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Experts Urge South Africa to Process Minerals Locally to Boost Economy...

09 Oct, 2025 08:01 158 min read

Mining experts are urging South Africa to assert greater control over its mineral wealth to boost the domestic economy and create jobs, rather than continuing to export raw materials. A key issue is that foreign-owned companies export minerals like coal and iron ore for processing abroad, depriving the nation of potential value and industries, such as a domestic steel sector. Critics argue the country should emulate economic models like Japan or South Korea that prioritize local production and consumption. However, a significant obstacle is a domestic shortage of the necessary mining expertise, entrepreneurial capacity, and capital to develop these industries independently. The central challenge is balancing the need for foreign investment with the strategic goal of capturing more value from its resources within its own borders.... More