The International Manganese Institute (IMnI) held its Annual Conference on June 18-21, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
It was a great success, in terms of content (11 presentations by top-end speakers, visit of the 3 plants in Sarawak, discussions on Mn and steel, networking opportunities) and attendance with over 190 international delegates of the manganese community from 32 countries.
Pedro Larrea is Chief Executive Officer of Ferroglobe since December 23, 2015, when the company was created as a result of the merger of Grupo FerroAtlántica and Globe Specialty Metals.
Pedro Larrea was Executive Chairman of Grupo FerroAtlántica since December 2012. He joined Grupo FerroAtlántica as CEO in 2011.
Before joining Grupo FerroAtlántica, Pedro Larrea developed most of his professional career in the energy sector.
For thirteen years (1996-2009), he worked in Endesa, the biggest power company in Spain and Latin America, where he reached the position of Chairman and CEO of Endesa Latinoamérica, with total revenues above 8 bn€ and EBITDA above 3 bn€. In Endesa he also held positions related to raw materials management, long term planning, risk management and M&A. He served in the Board of Directors of Enersis (2007-2009) and Endesa Chile (1999-2002 and 2006-2007), both public Chilean companies listed in NYSE.
Pedro Larrea has also worked in management consulting firms like PwC (20102011), where he lead the energy sector practice in the Spanish office, and McKinsey & Company, in Spain, Latin America and the USA (1989-1995).
Mining Engineer (MSc equivalent) from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Graduated With Honors.
Andrew Staples - As Director for The Economist Corporate Network in South-east Asia, Andrew provides members with insight and analysis on a range of topics related to ASEAN and the broader East Asian economy. He regularly chairs and moderates major Economist events, delivers custom briefings to senior executives (including Fortune 500 C-suite) and public figures (including heads of states) in his areas of expertise which include international political economy, foreign direct investment, corporate strategy and comparative management, and regularly appears in the international media (BBC, CNN, Channel NewsAsia, Al Jazeera).
Andrew was previously Director for The Economist Corporate Network in North Asia covering Japan and South Korea. Prior to joining The Economist Group, Andrew was an associate professor of international business at business schools and leading universities in the UK (University of Sheffield) and Japan (Keio University, Doshisha Business School and Globis University Graduate School of Management).
Andrew has published widely in his areas of expertise and his major publications include Responses to Regionalism in East Asia: Japanese Production Networks in the Automotive Sector published as part of the Palgrave Macmillan Asian Business Series and chapters in edited volumes including Asian Inward and Outward FDI: New Challenges in the Global Economy and popular textbooks including Asian Business and Management. He was also a Senior Editor for the internationally peer reviewed journal Asian Business and Management.
Andrew has an MSc in East Asian Business and a PhD in International Political Economy from the University of Sheffield, U.K., and was a Ministry of Education research scholar at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo (2001-2003).
Ahmad Khairuddin Bin Abdul Rahim is currently the Executive Director, Manufacturing Development (Resource) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), a Government agency that drives investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. His portfolio covers three (3) industries namely Chemical and Advanced Materials, Food Technology and Sustainable Resources and Life Sciences and Medical Technology.
He holds a Masters Degree in International Business and started his career with MIDA in 1991. Since joining MIDA, he had served in several divisions in MIDA from Resource-Based Industries Division, Planning, Research and International Cooperation Division, Industry Support Division, Manufacturing Related Services Division, Logistics and Regional Operations Division, Deputy Director of MIDA London, Director of MIDA Sydney, Director of Clean Technology and Environment Management Division and Executive Director of Investment Promotion. He was also involved in various projects on industrial development, such as the formulation of the Third Industrial Master Plan, Green Technology Master Plan and the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) and a Secretariat to the Malaysian Logistics Council. Currently, he is a member to the Industry Advisory Panel (IAP) for three (3) high potential growth industries namely Chemical & Advanced Materials, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals; among the prominent subsectors in Eleventh Malaysia Plan.
Giovanni Bruni, VP Asia, McKinsey Energy Insights, manages our Asia operations, based in our Singapore office. His expertise is focused on offshore & marine oilfield services, global gas & LNG, and South East Asia energy markets.
Before joining McKinsey & Company, Giovanni worked as an investment banking analyst for energy and industrials at Goldman Sachs. In his 10-year tenure at McKinsey, he conducted over 50 engagements, serving international clients across the energy sector value chain on strategy, transactions, and operations. Giovanni has been with Energy Insights since 2013, contributing to our OFSE due diligence capability and helping establish our Asia Pacific presence.
Giovanni holds a degree in Corporate Finance from Bocconi University and an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.
Frank ZHONG is the Chief Representative of the World Steel Association's office in Beijing. His main focus includes the outlook of the global steel industry as well as steelmaking raw materials market. He has been in charge of a variety of studies on steel demand, steelmaking capacity, raw materials outlook, monitoring the development of emerging economies in particular China and India. He used to be the Secretary to the association's Raw Materials Committee for six years.
As the Chief Representative of the association's office in Beijing, Mr. Zhong is also working on the communications between the Chinese steel industry and the rest of the world.
Frank Zhong obtained his Bachelor Degree in Iron & Steel Metallurgy from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and an MBA degree from the Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Prior to the World Steel Association, Mr. Zhong had four years career experience with China's leading steel producer Baosteel Group, two years with the China Iron & Steel Association's information center, and three years with the Australian mining company Rio Tinto.
Kevin Fowkes, Managing Consultant, AlloyConsult. Kevin Fowkes has 20 years' experience working as an economist and consultant in the ferroalloy industry.
From 2007 to 2009, Kevin Fowkes was a business development manager in the metals division of Privat Group. Before that he was the senior market analyst for the Norwegian ferroalloy group Elkem, and a consultant for Hatch Beddows and CRU International. Since 2009, Kevin has run AlloyConsult, his own company, which provides bespoke consulting services to the ferroalloy industry.
Kevin Fowkes is a graduate of the London School of Economics.
Hamish Bohannan – Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Manganese Corporation Ltd.
Hamish holds an Honours Degree in Mining Engineering from the Royal School of Mines UK and a MBA from Deakin University. He has extensive corporate and operational experience in public companies within Australia and overseas in the capacity of Managing Director or CEO. Hamish has built a career developing exciting projects around the world and has a reputation for high standards in community liaison, environmental excellence and developing a safety culture.
Gulf (ASX. GMC) is focused on the near-term development of its low-cost, ferromanganese smelting facility in Kupang, Indonesia. Gulf's strategy includes the purchasing of high grade Indonesian manganese ores at smelter gate, processing of these ores at the Kupang Smelting Hub and the exporting of a premium (circa 78%) ferromanganese alloy to growing, high-demand global markets.
Patrick Sacco, Group Marketing Director, joined the Assore group in 2003 after completing a master's degree at the University of Colorado (USA). He was appointed a director of Ore & Metal, the selling and marketing agent for all the group's products, in 2007, and as from 1 March 2016, has been appointed as its Managing Director. Pat was appointed as a director of Assmang in 2008, and is on the board of Oresteel Investments Proprietary Limited, the ultimate holding company of Assore. On 1 July 2015, he was appointed as a director of the International Manganese Institute (IMnI), and as Vice Chairman from July 2016.
Meg Postle, a founding Director of Risk & Policy Analysts Ltd (RPA), is a natural resource economist and policy analyst with over thirty years' experience in economics based consultancy. Her work has ranged from the preparation of project level cost-benefit analyses for organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, to undertaking impact assessments and evaluations of major reforms in European policy (for example, on the adoption of the REACH Regulation). She is currently leading a range of studies for various industry organisations aimed at either demonstrating the economic value of a specific chemical or metal to society, or at justifying the continued use of a chemical/metal or compound based on a comparison of the benefits to society from its continued use against potential health and environmental risks.
She is also carrying out major studies for the European Commission, examining the impacts of the potential introduction of binding occupational exposure limit values into EU legislation. Meg has also been involved in a series of studies for the European Commission which fed into its critical raw materials policy. Clients other than the IMnI include the International Lead Association, the International Aerospace Environment Working Group, Titanium dioxide manufacturers, the Coal Tars Chemicals Consortium, the OECD, the European Commission and European Chemicals Agency, as well as a range of individual companies.
Aloys d'Harambure is the Executive Director of the International Manganese Institute, the Paris-based organisation representing the global manganese industry. Aloys joined the IMnI in 2014, as Market Research Manager, focusing on analysing the supply and demand fundamentals of the manganese business. He is a graduate from Montreal business school HEC, where he specialised in market intelligence. Prior to joining the IMnI, he was Business Analyst at the International Chromium Development Association (ICDA). Aloys is a regular speaker at metal and mineral industry events, and other conferences worldwide.
Dr. Cline joined the International Manganese Institute (IMnI) in September 2017. He received his PhD from the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg in Germany and has over 17 years of academic research experience in neurodegenerative diseases and affective disorders. He brings to the IMnI and the Mn industry extensive understanding of the possible neurological risk of Mn and the ability to engage challenges using sound science. Dr. Cline strives to meet all issues relating to Health, Safety and the Environment and regulations facing the Mn industry.
Asia Minerals Limited (AML) is an international corporation with subsidiaries spread across the globe in Asia, Africa, Europe, CIS and North America. We were founded in Hong Kong since 1993. We specialize in all Manganese related business from Ores to Ferroalloys, Metals and Chemicals. We are committed to Manganese and devoted to provide all kinds of solutions to our customers for their needs of Manganese. We strive for providing excellent products and services to all our customers, as well as maintaining the long term partnership with all our stakeholders in a respectful manner and "Win-Win" attitude.
service. Autlán is focused on fulfilling the manganese needs from the steel industry as well as the specialized manganese requirements from the dry battery, ceramic and micro nutrient producers. The company owns three mining units and three ferroalloy plants. Recently, Autlán has successfully entered into the energy sector with its own hydro electrical power station.
Ferroglobe is the global leader in the silicon metal industry and one of the largest producers of a wide variety of metal alloys (silicon-based and manganese-based alloys) and other metallic products, which are critical ingredients in many industrial and consumer products. Beyond metal-related industries, Ferroglobe is also involved in hydro-electrical power generation and mining, both of which are related to its core activities and which produce synergies that benefit the company.
Ferroglobe is listed on the NASDAQ and headquartered in London. It has a market capitalisation of $2.8bn, a turnover of $1.5bn (FYE 2016) and over 4,000 employees worldwide. It is a truly international company, with industrial facilities in Spain, United States, France, Canada, South Africa, Argentina, Venezuela, Poland, Mauritania and China. Ferroglobe has a broad global customer base covering the following industries: chemical (silicones), aluminium and steel manufacturers, producers of photovoltaic solar cells and computer chips, the auto industry, ductile iron foundries, concrete and building material producers.
OM Holdings Limited with its subsidiaries, is an integrated commodity player engaged in the business of mining, smelting, trading, and marketing of ores and ferroalloys. With an established history of 23 years in the industry, the Group is listed on the ASX and captures value across the entire value chain through operations in Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Africa. The Group's flagship smelter complex in Sarawak commenced production in 2014, marking a successful foray into the production of silicon based products.
Today, the Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of manganese ores and ferroalloys, and seeks to supply new customized products for the specialty steel and chemical industries. Through its global trading network, the Group distributes products from its Asia-Pacific base to customers around the world.
Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn. Bhd. was established on 2nd December 2010 as the first large-scale manganese alloys and ferrosilicon plant in Malaysia. During the ground-breaking ceremony of the factory site, the Chief Minister of Sarawak The Right Honourable Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud proposed the name "PERTAMA" for the company, being the first of its kind in Malaysia. "PERTAMA" meaning "FIRST" in the Malaysian language, was eventually adopted by the company as its new name.
To manufacture high quality Ferroalloy Products primarily for the steel industry, utilizing the unique advantages for Pertama FA, including our cost structure, our location, our raw material sources(s) and our knowledge to deliver sustainable "triple-bottom-line" growth, i.e. balanced between Financial, Social and Environmental performance ("Profit, People & Planet").
An international corporation with subsidiaries spread across the globe in Asia, Africa, Europe, CIS and North America. AML was founded in Hong Kong since 1993. AML specialize in all Manganese related business from Ores to Ferroalloys, Metals and Chemicals and strive for providing excellent products and services to all our customers, as well as maintaining the long term partnership with all our stakeholders in a respectful manner and "Win-Win" attitude.
In 2013 AML's affiliated company "Kudumane Manganese Resources PTY" commenced its mining operation and currently producing 1.5mln mt of Manganese ore per annum.
In 2016 AML started Ferro Silicon production at its Malaysian ferroalloy plant and emerging now also in global Silicon market.
The largest MANGANESE smelter in Japan under Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Group.
Assore is a mining holding company engaged principally in ventures involving base minerals and metals. The company was incorporated in 1950 and its shares are listed on the JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) under "Assore" in the general mining sector.
The group's principal investment is a 50% interest in Assmang Proprietary Limited (Assmang) which it controls jointly with African Rainbow Minerals Limited (ARM). The group, through its various joint-venture entities and subsidiary companies, is involved in the mining of iron, manganese and chrome ores together with other industrial minerals and the production of manganese alloys. The group is also responsible for marketing all products produced by the Assore and Assmang groups, the bulk of which is exported and the remainder either used in the group's beneficiation processes or sold locally.
Sakura is an innovative and committed company that will, through excellence, create high quality products to become a company of choice, resulting in wealth and success for our stakeholders, whilst maintaining a high level of safety.
Sakura will strive for excellence in all aspects of what we do. We will act with honesty, integrity, respect the values of others, accept responsibility and be accountable for our actions.
We recognise the diversity of communities and the importance of building strong relationships with those around us. Through active participation we will provide tangible benefits and positive outcomes to these communities.
At Sakura, we will embrace new ideas, technology and innovation and take a leadership role in setting industry standards. We will strive for continuous improvement, setting new benchmarks to establish and maintain a strong reputation as an industry leader.
Sakura is a greenfields project which consist of two 81MVA furnaces that will manufacture high carbon ferro-manganese (HCFeMn) and silico manganese (SiMn). Each furnace is designed to produce HCFeMn or SiMn giving the plant flexibility. A furnace can produce approximately 107,000 tons of HCFeMn per annum or approximately 67,000 tons of SiMn per annum. Alloy production is an energy intensive process and Sakura has been established in Sarawak due largely to the availability of green hydro-electrical power.
Sakura is committed to conserving resources, reducing waste and minimizing adverse effects on the environment. The plant has been designed specifically to lower its impacts on the surrounding area, by incorporating a number of environmental considerations into its production process.
Raw materials are largely stored under roof, so reducing potential dust pollution. A briquetting plant facilitates the recycling of under- size raw materials, undersize product and by-products resulting from the production process.
Furnace off gas is cleaned before release and energy is even extracted from the gas for on-site usage. Water recycling is employed in line with the plant's zero effluent policy. All of these actions demonstrate Sakura's dedication to resource optimization.
United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK) is a Manganese mine operating on the Kalahari Manganese Field in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality (the old Kuruman District), in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
The Kalahari Manganese Field is regarded as the largest manganese ore deposit globally. The field extends continuously in a north-western direction, for a distance of 34km, from Mamatwan Mine in the south to the Wessels and Black Rock Mines in the north.
On 17 May 2005, a Prospecting Right was issued to UMK for a total area of 15,200ha and this was followed up with the issuing of a new Order Mining Right, dated 10 March 2008. At the time UMK identified a total manganese resource and reserve of 282 million and 41.3 million tonnes respectively, the results then of a total of 361 boreholes drilled.
production capability initially planned allowed for a saleable product of 1.873 million tons per annum. The final design was subjected to "value engineering" throughout and as a result the commissioned capacity exceeded initial expectations with an annual throughput of 3.5 million tons having been previously achieved. UMK currently employs one hundred and forty three full time staff and over 800 contractors.
Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining (Pty) Ltd operates the open pit manganese mine, called Tshipi Borwa Mine, in the Kalahari Manganese Field (KMF) located in the Northern Cape. Tshipi é Ntle means "beautiful steel" in the local Tswana language. Waste development and infrastructure construction commenced in 2011 and the first ore was exported in 2012. The Tshipi Borwa mine is a modern low cost manganese black economic empowered producer that has been setting the benchmark for how mines should be constructed, managed and operated in the New South Africa.
Tshipi represents a unique combination of the perfect mix of black economic empowerment, financial and strategic shareholders, a world class manganese deposit, a state of the art processing facility, a world class private siding and rapid load-out station, best of breed financial and corporate governance systems and a dynamic management team that has driven this world class project into production and built a premium asset that currently occupies the position of the largest exporter of manganese ore from South Africa.
 OM Holdings, a leading manganese ore and metal producer and marketer, listed on the ASX and led by NT Low.
It is this breadth of relevant commercial, financial and technical wisdom that the Tshipi team has harnessed to allow it to bring the Tshipi Borwa Mine into production only 20 months after the board approved its development.
Tshipi has a world class manganese deposit and is one of South Africa's four largest open-pit medium grade semi-carbonate manganese ore producers. Tshipi's ore body, which is contiguous to that of South32's Mamatwan mine, has a total resource in excess of 400 million tonnes of manganese. Tshipi's deposit is very homogenous when compared to that of both its new and existing competitors, making it easy to mine and produce a consistent grade.
Tshipi owns the state of the art primary crushing plant, secondary crushing and screening plant and stockpile management system. This facility has been designed with the specific objective of minimising the double-handling of material and to be both water and energy efficient.
Tshipi's private rail siding was constructed in record time and has been in use since October 2012 – the loop siding is approximately 8km long and is currently the only siding in the manganese industry that can accommodate a 208 rail wagon train, which creates a significant logistical advance for Tshipi. Tshipi's rapid load-out station, which was imported from the United States of America, is the fastest rapid load-out station for manganese in the country – capable of loading a 6 552 tonne train in less than 4 hours. Accordingly, Tshipi is a clear industry front runner in its utilisation of supply chain technology.
Tshipi acknowledges that operational efficiency is achieved through implementing the best of breed financial control and information technology systems and has, together with its information and communication technology partners, procured and implemented best of breed information management systems. Furthermore, the board and management team are fully committed to the corporate governance principles set out in the King III Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa and have adopted a fit for purpose board charter which regulates its board and committee practices and executive accountability.
Lastly, and most importantly, Tshipi has managed to attract a group of experienced managers who are all experts in their respective fields to navigate the business from the historic project development to current operational phase.