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In the three months to September 30, production at South Africa's Hillside Aluminium in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, increased by 1% to 181 000 t amid the smelter continuing to test maximum technical capacity.
Moreover, production guidance for the 2026 financial year (FY26) remains unchanged at 720 000 t, Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed diversified mining company South32 reported on Tuesday, October 21.
South32's saleable production of manganese decreased by 7% to 551 000 wet metric tons (wmt) in the September quarter, owing to underground development activity at the Wessels manganese mine in South Africa's Northern Cape.
FY26 South Africa Manganese production guidance remains unchanged at 2 000 000 wmt, with planned maintenance scheduled in the current quarter.
Among the overall production highlights was a 33% uplift in manganese volumes. Of $117-million received from equity accounted investments in the three months to September 30, $36-million was from the manganese business, which is expected to add to cash generation in the December quarter.
Meanwhile, saleable production of aluminium by Mozal Aluminium in Mozambique increased by 3% to 93 000 t in the September 2025 quarter. The Mozal smelter operated near its maximum technical capacity, prior to the decision in August 2025 to stop pot relining owing to the uncertainty of future electricity supply beyond March 2026. FY26 production guidance also remains unchanged at 240 000 t, based on operations continuing to March 2026, when the current electricity supply agreement expires.
To secure electricity for Mozal, South32 is engaging with the Mozambique government, Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa, and South Africa's Eskom but it is still uncertain whether Mozal will secure electricity supply beyond March.
"Without the required electricity supply, we expect that Mozal will be placed on care and maintenance at the end of the current agreement," South32 stated in a release to Mining Weekly.
In August, South32 published its second climate change action plan, which includes the positioning of the portfolio for the energy transition, operational emissions reduction, and the strengthening physical climate resilience.
Net cash declined by $59-million to $64-million in the September 2025 quarter.
"Our financial position remains strong as we continued our investment in growth at Hermosa, supported by $117-million in net distributions from our Sierra Gorda and manganese equity accounted investments during the quarter," South32 CEO Graham Kerr stated.
Sierra Gorda is an opencast copper mine in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile. Its payable copper equivalent production increased by 12% on higher planned copper grades and an increase in molybdenum volumes. Net distributions of $81-million were received from Sierra Gorda in the quarter.
"Looking ahead, we remain focused on maintaining our operating momentum and capitalising on strengthening market conditions in base metals," Kerr added.

South Africa’s Hillside aluminium production holds steady as smelter tests capacity

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