Mozambican plant could offer competition to ArcelorMittal SA
Thématique :
mozambique,
sud afrique
By Carli Lourens, Business Report, April 15, 2008
South Africa may decide in September on the feasibility of helping to build a new steel plant to compete with the country's biggest steel maker, ArcelorMittal South Africa.
The government was considering "several initiatives", including a plant in Mozambique, to expand its manufacturing industry by making steel available at prices below those charged by ArcelorMittal SA, Mandisi Mpahlwa, the trade and industry minister, said yesterday.
ArcelorMittal SA is appealing a record R691.8 million fine imposed by antitrust regulators last September for "excessive pricing". The company will raise prices next month for a fourth consecutive month.
South Africa held talks with companies including Tata Steel over a plant to rival ArcelorMittal, the department said in September.
A mill in Mozambique, similar to the one investigated by Enron Corporation in 1997, was being studied by state mining research firm Mintek, together with the Mozambican government, Mpahlwa said in September.
Palabora Mining, the local copper producer owned jointly by Rio Tinto and Anglo American, said a year ago that it might develop a steel plant at the port of Maputo.
South Africa may decide in September on the feasibility of helping to build a new steel plant to compete with the country's biggest steel maker, ArcelorMittal South Africa.
The government was considering "several initiatives", including a plant in Mozambique, to expand its manufacturing industry by making steel available at prices below those charged by ArcelorMittal SA, Mandisi Mpahlwa, the trade and industry minister, said yesterday.
ArcelorMittal SA is appealing a record R691.8 million fine imposed by antitrust regulators last September for "excessive pricing". The company will raise prices next month for a fourth consecutive month.
South Africa held talks with companies including Tata Steel over a plant to rival ArcelorMittal, the department said in September.
A mill in Mozambique, similar to the one investigated by Enron Corporation in 1997, was being studied by state mining research firm Mintek, together with the Mozambican government, Mpahlwa said in September.
Palabora Mining, the local copper producer owned jointly by Rio Tinto and Anglo American, said a year ago that it might develop a steel plant at the port of Maputo.
