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Chokepoints
South Africa · asset class
Iron Ore Mines in South Africa
South Africa has 14 iron ore mines mapped on the OverWatts open energy atlas — the 11th-largest fleet of the 70 countries that hold any, and 1% of the world's mapped total. Of these, 12 operating and 2 under construction or proposed. The largest is Sishen Iron Sishen Mine.
The largest owner-operators are Afrimat Bulk Commodities Pty Ltd (4), Afrimat Ltd (4) and African Rainbow Minerals Ltd (2) — Afrimat Bulk Commodities Pty Ltd alone is named on 29% of them. Half of South Africa's iron ore mines in service predate 1968 (median commissioning year of the 9 with a known date), 1 came online in the past decade and the oldest still listed is ArcelorMittal Thabazimbi Mine, dating from 1931. 2 are in the pipeline, led by Afrimat Doornpan Mine, proposed. They account for 4% of every energy asset OverWatts maps in South Africa.
On the interactive map
Largest iron ore mines in South Africa
Who owns South Africa's iron ore mines
- Afrimat Bulk Commodities Pty Ltd4 29%
- Afrimat Ltd4 29%
- African Rainbow Minerals Ltd2 14%
- Assmang Pty Ltd2 14%
- Assore Ltd2 14%
- Exxaro Resources Ltd2 14%
- Kumba Iron Ore Ltd2 14%
- Sishen Iron Ore Company Pty Ltd2 14%
Counts an asset once per company named as its owner or operator; a joint venture counts for each partner.
When they were built
- 1930s1
- 1950s1
- 1960s3
- 2000s1
- 2010s3
Median commissioning year 1968 · oldest ArcelorMittal Thabazimbi Mine (1931) · newest Manganore Mine (2017) · 9 of 14 carry a start date
Under construction & proposed
- Afrimat Doornpan Mineproposed
- Jindal Africa Melmoth Mineproposed
How South Africa compares · iron ore mines by country
- 1. India248
- 8. Mongolia17
- 9. Ukraine16
- 10. Turkey15
- 11. South Africa14
- 12. Iran12
- 13. Canada11
- 14. Mexico11
Frequently asked
- How many iron ore mines are there in South Africa?
- OverWatts maps 14 iron ore mines in South Africa — 1% of the world's mapped total, the 11th-largest national fleet of the 70 countries with any.
- What is the largest iron ore mine in South Africa?
- Sishen Iron Sishen Mine, operated by Kumba Iron Ore Ltd, Exxaro Resources Ltd, small shareholder(s).
- Who owns the iron ore mines in South Africa?
- Afrimat Bulk Commodities Pty Ltd is named as owner or operator on the most — 4 of 14 (29%). Next are Afrimat Ltd (4), African Rainbow Minerals Ltd (2) and Assmang Pty Ltd (2).
- How old are South Africa's iron ore mines?
- The median commissioning year is 1968, across the 9 in service with a known start date. The oldest still listed is ArcelorMittal Thabazimbi Mine (1931); 1 came online in the past ten years.
- What new iron ore mines are being built in South Africa?
- 2 projects are under construction or proposed. The largest are Afrimat Doornpan Mine and Jindal Africa Melmoth Mine.