The 2025 Investment and Mining Conference opens in Middelburg this week, with R50 billion in pledges on the table.
Mpumalanga hosts the two-day summit on 2–3 October, bringing together investors, mining houses and policymakers to debate jobs, investment, and the shift to cleaner energy.
R50 BILLION INVESTMENT PLEDGES ON THE TABLE
Organisers expect commitments across mining, renewable energy, gas, and agriculture. The event positions Mpumalanga as a test case for balancing traditional mining with new investment opportunities.
Premier Mandla Ndlovu said the gathering should highlight projects that drive growth and create jobs. He added the province must unlock “new frontiers of economic growth” that benefit future generations.
MPUMALANGA MINING JOBS UNDER PRESSURE
Mpumalanga’s 260 mines employ 86% of South Africa’s coal workforce, powering the national grid while facing pressure from the global pivot to renewables. Illegal mining also continues to threaten the sector’s stability nationwide.
The Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency, with GreenCape and international partners, is supporting projects to safeguard jobs. The focus is ensuring benefits reach workers and communities, not only companies.
Coal towns like Komati already feel the strain of closures. An R8.6 billion World Bank project aims to convert old power sites into renewable hubs, but many residents say they have yet to see direct gains. The summit offers a platform to confront these challenges directly.
MEGA DRIVES PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is coordinating the conference. It aims to reposition the province as a globally competitive investment hub.
MEGA is engaging government, industry leaders, and investors to secure partnerships that extend beyond the summit. The conference tests whether Mpumalanga can remain a mining powerhouse while adapting to the global energy shift and protecting coal-dependent communities.
