- CEO
- Nompumelelo Dessederia Zikalala
- Full Time Employees
- 11,878
- Sector
- Basic Materials
- Industry
- Steel
- Address
- Building 2B Centurion South Africa 0157
- IPO Date
- Jan 30, 2008
- Business
- Kumba Iron Ore Limited Kumba Iron Ore Ltd (KIROY), a subsidiary of Anglo American plc, is a leading South African supplier of high-quality iron ore to the global steel industry, primarily through the exploration, extraction, beneficiation, marketing, sale, and shipping of premium lump and fines products with iron content averaging around 64% Fe from its flagship open-pit mines in the Northern Cape Province. The company operates the world-class Sishen mine near Kathu, featuring one of the largest jig plants globally and reserves supporting a 19-year life of mine, and the Kolomela mine near Postmasburg with a 25-year lifespan; it previously managed the Thabazimbi mine in Limpopo until deemed uneconomical in 2015. Kumba holds a 74% stake in Sishen Iron Ore Company (SIOC), with the remainder owned by Exxaro Resources, an employee share scheme, and a community trust, enabling production of approximately 35-37 million tonnes per annum aligned to prevailing rail and port logistics capacity, with sales directed mainly to China (about 51%), Europe/Middle East/Americas, and Japan/South Korea/Taiwan markets via the Iron Ore Export Channel to Saldanha Bay. Founded in 2006 through the restructuring and listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange of predecessor Kumba Resources, the company is headquartered in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa. In recent strategic developments, Kumba reconfigured its operations in December 2023 to a lower production profile of 35-37 million tonnes for 2024-2026 due to persistent Transnet rail and port constraints, targeting C1 unit costs of US$38-40 per wet metric tonne through R2.5-3.0 billion in cost savings, workforce adjustments impacting around 490 jobs, and vendor reviews; this included slowing Q4 2023 production by 26% quarter-on-quarter and placing Kolomela's dense media separation plant on care and maintenance. Key projects advancing include the near-complete Kapstevel South pit at Kolomela, set for first ore production in 2024 with rephased waste mining reduced by 10 million tonnes; a 67 MW solar PV plant at Sishen under construction since H2 2023 for handover in H2 2024 to cut scope 2 emissions toward 30% reduction by 2030; an 11 MW renewable wheeling contract at Kolomela; and a review of the ultra-high dense media separation (UHDMS) technology to optimize mine plans, lower stripping ratios, boost product quality, and extend asset life amid decarbonization efforts supporting green steel with over 30% of customers by volume. Operationally, Q3 2025 saw stable output at 9.2 million tonnes despite Sishen maintenance, bolstered by 12% higher rail takings and a Mutual Cooperation Agreement with Transnet for urgent maintenance, while sales grew 3% year-on-year from logistics gains; the company also enhanced fleet with eight Ubuntu LNG dual-fuel ships for 30% CO2 savings on Asia routes and maintained water-positive status supplying over 200,000 people.