South Africa’s Infrastructure-Driven Mining Growth Gains Investor Confidence

By Bradley Riviera 

South Africa’s mining sector is gaining renewed investor confidence thanks to a coordinated infrastructure investment strategy unveiled at African Mining Week 2025. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), and African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) announced a joint initiative to fund mining-linked infrastructure projects.

The plan includes:

• Upgrading rail and port facilities for bulk mineral exports
• Building renewable energy plants to power remote mining operations
• Developing industrial parks for mineral beneficiation

IDC CEO Tshokolo Nkoane emphasized, “Mining must be more than extraction—it must be a catalyst for industrial growth.”

South Africa’s platinum, manganese, and iron ore sectors are expected to benefit most. The country is also exploring green hydrogen production using platinum group metals, which could open new export markets in Europe and Asia.

The Minerals Council South Africa has called for faster reforms to the Mining Charter and improved coordination between national and provincial authorities to sustain momentum.