Mintek CEO Spotlights Enabling Technologies as Demand Drivers for Critical Minerals at G20 Critical Minerals Chapter Stakeholder Engagement
Mintek CEO Dr Molefi Motuku highlighted digital technologies, energy storage, e-mobility, and advanced manufacturing as demand drivers for critical minerals during the G20 Critical Minerals Chapter held recently in Sandton.
Dr Motuku was speaking in a panel discussion titled “Transformation in the Downstream Value Chain” alongside the leaders of Sylvania Platinum, GMM Group, Samancor, Jupiter Mines, and Valterra Platinum which operates in the mining, metallurgy, and processing value chain.
The event, which highlighted the national critical minerals strategy developed by Mintek, provided a platform to spark important discussions ahead of the G20 Summit which South Africa prepares to unveil its G20 Critical Minerals Chapter.
Dr Motuku emphasised the need for targeted exploration of “minerals with moderate criticality" such as lithium, cobalt, and graphite. He said that these minerals are categorised according to their limited reserves. He further acknowledged that targeted exploration could move them to a high criticality status, a move which is already being addressed in the implementation phase of the strategy.
Speaking on beneficiation, Dr Motuku stressed the importance of value addition and beneficiation at source to optimise economic impact. He said, “A key theme of the strategy is beneficiation by maximising the value of minerals within the country. This includes processing, smelting, refining, and enabling industries to thrive locally”.
Dr Motuku highlighted significant opportunities in the production of "precursor materials," where base minerals could be converted into components for energy storage and battery production. “We are talking of commodities such as manganese, lithium, nickel, where you make manganese sulphate and lithium nickel sulphate,” he said. He acknowledged an increasing number of industry players entering this space, the potential for local value chains is expanding.
He said that an in-depth study conducted on energy storage identified lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries as strategic areas where South Africa could gain a competitive edge.
He said, “Although, participation in precursor material production is complex, the study recommends attracting assembly operations locally, which could later evolve into fully integrated production chains.”
Dr Motuku also spoke about untapped opportunities in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, suggesting broader energy-focused mineral collaboration across the SADC region. “All the minerals needed for energy storage can be sourced regionally which calls for local and cross-border partnerships,” he said.
Commenting on coal as one of the critical minerals, Dr Motuku said that coal needs to be reimagined not just as an energy source, but as a reservoir of critical minerals. He said, “Countries like India and the USA are already revisiting coal and related byproducts, such as fly ash, as sources of rare earth elements.”
He said that Mintek has already characterised coal fly ash samples in collaboration with Eskom, highlighting valuable elements such as vanadium, gallium, germanium, titanium, silica, and alumina.
Motuku concluded by highlighting that South Africa’s critical minerals strategy is centred on advancing exploration, enhancing domestic processing capabilities, and redefining traditional resource approaches, with a strong emphasis on fostering regional partnerships.