Attracting foreign investment remains critical for SA: Mantashe

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe says attracting foreign investment remains critical for the country.

Mantashe was visiting Orion Minerals in Prieska in Northern Cape that is expected to start copper production in two years’ time.

The mine needs R7 billion in funding before production can start.

“Orion is important to because it reflects the interest of foreign direct investment. It is an Australian company that is very interested in producing copper here and we want to encourage them to do that and it is important for South Africans to always appreciate to attract an investor. It is quite a huge effort and it is very important for society and to have investment in their society.”

Video | Orion Minerals’ Prieska mine to start production in two years: Mantashe

It is pleasing to be back at the Prieska Copper Zinc Mine in the Northern Cape. Having been operational between the 1970s & 1990s, we are buoyed by the phased development strategy that Orion Minerals has put in place to bring the mine back to operations pic.twitter.com/BSIZLNEEWZ

— Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) May 30, 2025