Hillside Aluminium, owned by South32, marked 30 years of production at a gala event.
The event was attended by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, and Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau, as well as local and provincial leaders, and many of Hillside's past and present employees.
Three decades on, Hillside Aluminium remains South Africa's only primary aluminium smelter, with an annual production of 720,000 kt.
From 2015 to 2024, Hillside contributed approximately R35 billion (around USD 2.1 billion) to South Africa's GDP.
Today, it supports an estimated 29,000 jobs across the wider economy, and its community programmes have reached more than five million people in the past five years.
Before the dinner, President Ramaphosa joined South32 CEO Graham Kerr and Chief Operating Officer for Southern Africa Noel Pillay for a guided tour of the smelter.
At the dinner, President Ramaphosa said: “I congratulate South32 on reaching this milestone.
“Your longevity is a story of South Africans choosing excellence, shift after shift, year after year.”
The full version of his speech is available via the video below.
In addition, Mr Kerr acknowledged the Hillside team, saying they were at the heart of everything it has achieved.
Looking ahead, South32 is working with Eskom on a long-term energy solution that supports Hillside's competitiveness and South Africa's decarbonisation goals.
It is also investing in Hillside's core equipment and long-term operational reliability through Project Syphon and is continuing to invest in the growth of South Africa's downstream aluminium industry.
