Could grid development roll-out boost struggling metals sector?

The growth of renewable power in South Africa’s energy mix, and infrastructure development programmes, such as the State-owned Eskom Transmission Development Plan (TDP) 2024 to 2034, will help to provide demand for steel components from the country’s industries, several steel industry experts say. In the study titled Price Benchmarking on Steel Towers in South Africa, published in September, local industrial ecosystem development organisation the Localisation Support Fund (LSF) showed that locally produced steel can be competitive with imports from China and Türkiye, but requires stable and predictable demand, says LSF CEO Irshaad Kathrada.