BUILDING A REGIONAL JUST STEEL TRANSITION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA: FROM VISION TO IMPLEMENTATION
14 NOV // 10:00–11:00 // South African Pavilion
BACKGROUND
Southern Africa has significant potential to develop a competitive, regionally integrated green iron and steel value chain that supports industrial resilience, energy security, economic self-reliance and decent employment. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia bring complementary assets, including iron ore and steelmaking capacity, abundant renewable-energy resources, emerging green iron production, regional infrastructure and an interconnected power market. Yet these opportunities remain insufficiently coordinated, while existing industries face competitiveness pressures, carbon-related trade risks, barriers to accessing technology and finance, and the social and economic consequences of industrial decline.
Building on the SADC Just Energy Transition Framework, this event will explore how a regional “corridor of cooperation” can move Southern Africa from potential to implementation. The discussion will consider the policy, investment, trade, infrastructure, energy, technology, skills and social partnerships needed to develop an integrated and just regional steel transition. Leveraging lessons and insights from other contexts and geographies, this session will explore how regional cooperation, implementation partnerships and clean trade policies can protect existing livelihoods, create new jobs and downstream industrial opportunities and mobilise investment. Importantly, the discussion will consider how these levers can advance a transition that delivers shared economic, social and environmental value across Southern Africa.
PANEL DISCUSSION
The panel discussion brings together diverse experts from across the globe working across industry decarbonisation, finance, trade and economic policy.
Moderator —
Leanne Govindsamy (Brief framing and context setting, guiding the discussion)
Panellists —
Kudakwashe Manjonjo (Power Shift Africa) — The Southern African iron and steel context and reflections on the key risks and opportunities.
Bianca Garvin (Mission Possible Partnership) — Southern Africa is making the world’s first green iron and leading a technological race to the top. Implications for steel decarbonisation globally.
Yann Louvel (Reclaim Finance) — Finance risks associated with metallurgical coal for steel. Implications for the steel sector and transformation of the Southern African Iron and Steel Sector.
Marta Torres Gunfaus (IDDRI) — Signals from the Global South - how Brazil’s green iron and trade opportunities are shaping green iron and clean trade policies for the Global South, including for Southern Africa.
Mike Williams (Center for American Progress) — Southern African green iron and steel makers are reliant on long term off-taking agreements in order to secure requisite finance and investment. In this context, what clean trade policy tools and options can advance climate and trade objectives, while protecting and capturing value for Global South countries?