Mozal Aluminium Update

Summary by AI BETAClose X

South32 Limited announced that its Mozal Aluminium smelter in Mozambique will be placed on care and maintenance around March 15, 2026, due to the failure to secure a new electricity supply agreement beyond the current one expiring in March 2026. Despite ongoing negotiations with the Government of Mozambique, HCB, and Eskom, an agreement on an appropriate electricity price could not be reached, exacerbated by drought conditions affecting HCB's supply. The company anticipates one-off costs of approximately US$60 million for the transition to care and maintenance, with ongoing annual costs estimated at US$5 million. Mozal's FY26 production guidance remains unchanged at 240 kilotonnes for the period until March 2026.

Disclaimer*

South32 Limited
16 December 2025
 

A black and white logo AI-generated content may be incorrect.

 

 

 

16 December 2025

South32 Limited

(Incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth))

(ACN 093 732 597)

ASX / LSE / JSE Share Code: S32; ADR: SOUHY

ISIN: AU000000S320

south32.net

 

 

 

MOZAL ALUMINIUM UPDATE

South32 Limited (ASX / LSE / JSE: S32; ADR: SOUHY) (South32) provides the following update regarding Mozal Aluminium (Mozal).

We have continued to engage with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) and Eskom to seek sufficient and affordable electricity supply for Mozal beyond March 2026, when the current agreement expires.

Despite these efforts, a new electricity supply agreement has not been secured and Mozal will be placed on care and maintenance on or around 15 March 2026. Accordingly, raw materials required to sustain operations beyond March 2026 have not been procured.  

South32 Chief Executive Officer, Graham Kerr, said: "Throughout our engagements we emphasised that Mozal's ability to continue operating depended on securing sufficient electricity at a price which allows the smelter to remain internationally competitive.

"Unfortunately, the parties remained deadlocked on an appropriate electricity price, which was exacerbated by ongoing drought conditions affecting electricity supply from HCB. We must now turn our attention to safely placing the smelter on care and maintenance from March 2026.

"We understand today's announcement is difficult for our team at Mozal and we are focused on supporting them through this process. We also acknowledge the impact this will have on our suppliers, customers, communities and other stakeholders, and we are engaging with them as we transition from operations to care and maintenance in the coming months."

Mozal's FY26 production guidance for the period to March 2026 is unchanged at 240kt (South32 share).

One-off costs to place Mozal into care and maintenance, including employee separation costs and termination of contracting arrangements, are expected to be approximately US$60M (100% basis). Ongoing annual care and maintenance costs are expected to be approximately US$5M (100% basis).

The alumina supplied from our Worsley Alumina refinery to Mozal will be sold to third party customers. South32 has secured options with customers to sell this alumina at index-linked prices.

About Mozal Aluminium

Mozal Aluminium is located near Maputo, Mozambique. The smelter produces high-quality, primary aluminium for domestic and export markets. South32 holds 63.7% of Mozal, the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited holds 32.4%, and the Government of the Republic of Mozambique holds 3.9%.

 

About us

Our purpose is to make a difference by developing natural resources, improving people's lives now and for generations to come. We are trusted by our owners and partners to realise the potential of their resources. We produce minerals and metals critical to the world's energy transition from operations across the Americas, Australia and Southern Africa and we are discovering and responsibly developing our next generation of mines. We aspire to leave a positive legacy and build meaningful relationships with our partners and communities to create brighter futures together.

 

Investor Relations

Media Relations

Ben Baker
T          +61 8 9324 9363
M        +61 403 763 086
E         
Ben.Baker@south32.net

Jamie Macdonald
T          +61 8 9324 9000
M
        +61 408 925 140
E         
Jamie.Macdonald@south32.net

Further information on South32 can be found at www.south32.net.

Approved for release to the market by Graham Kerr, Chief Executive Officer
JSE Sponsor: The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited
16 December 2025

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
UK 100

Latest directors dealings