Manganese Metal Company
Mining Companies in Nelspruit

Manganese Metal Company (MMC) is the single largest producer of pure electrolytic manganese metal in the world. From the metal a range of products are manufactured and marketed, the majority being exported to customers around the world. MMC produces electrolytic manganese - the purest form of manganese - from ore mined in South Africa via a hydrometallurgical extraction process. The company has a production plant located in Nelspruit in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. All the products are manufactured using a selenium free process - thus minimum 99.9% Mn content.

We supply various quality grades of EMM to a niche market of over 120 established customers in 20 countries, through our unique global marketing network. Mn is added to improve mechanical properties (hardness) and corrosion resistance of aluminium alloys 3000-series, especially those used in the production of beverage can sheet alloy. Electrolytic Mn is required when producing welding fluxes with low C and P specifications. The low hydrogen content of MMC’s powders, together with the option to use stabilised powders, offer the producers of welding consumables a unique raw material. Various ferrous and non-ferrous speciality alloys with stringent purity controls are produced with MMC’s electrolytic Mn, due to the low levels of hydrogen, lead, bismuth and the absence of selenium. Used in the production of manganese acetate in the chemicals industry, cathode pre-cursor materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and also for copper alloys (manganese bronze) for ship propellers. In operation since 1974, we are the world’s only non-China based producer of high grade electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) and the world’s largest producer of 99.9% (selenium-free) EMM. Exporting around 95% of production, we have excellent relationships with our supply chain partners. Our systems, equipment, safe operating philosophy and excellent business practices provide our customers with peace of mind, first-class quality and reliable supply. MMC’s processing plant is aligned with the South African government’s objectives of beneficiation and empowerment. Our products are used in the top-end of the market, in the following industries: Aluminium. One of the key functions of manganese as an alloying element is to provide strength and hardness to various grades of steel, aluminium, welding consumables and certain non-ferrous alloys. By being a reliable supplier of consistent high purity and high quality manganese, MMC is creating strength on a daily basis. Fundamental to creating strength is the shared values we believe in and practice: Providing our customers with quality products on time. The colours in the new corporate identity represent black manganese ore as the input raw material, with purple representing the manganese sulphate solution during the purification process, and silver representing the deposit of Mn onto the cathode plates of electrowinning cells. Selenium is unique among trace elements in that toxicity can occur at concentrations only slightly higher that those required for normal metabolism. The selenium contamination of electrolytic manganese results in a product with a metal purity of 99.7% Mn, whereas selenium free manganese has a metal purity of 99.9% Mn. Elemental selenium is practically non-toxic and is considered to be an essential trace element; however, hydrogen selenide and other selenium compounds are extremely toxic, and resemble arsenic in their physiological reactions. Hydrogen selenide in a concentration of 1.5 ppm (parts per million) is intolerable to man, and exposure can result in irritation of the respiratory tract, skin or eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure has been reported to cause a metallic taste in the mouth, a garlic odour of the breath and sweat, bronchial and nasopharyngeal irritation, pallor, coated tongue, nervousness, depression, fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbances. The toxicity of selenium compounds will be a hazard in each of the following areas: If selenium technology were used in MMC’s hydrometallurgical production process, our employees will be exposed to the toxic effects of selenious acid. The employees of manganese consumers, mainly steel and aluminium manufacturers, could be exposed to the toxic effects of selenium compounds. The end user of a product containing selenium could be exposed to its toxic effect. For example flux cored welding wire is manufactured using electrolytic manganese powder and selenium contamination would have occurred if the manganese supplier used the selenium technology.