Neal John Froneman

CEO Sibanye-Stillwater

BSc Mech Eng (Ind Opt), University of the Witwatersrand; BCompt, University of South Africa; PrEng

Neal Froneman was appointed executive director and CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater on 1 January 2013. Over the past ten years he has led the transformation of Sibanye-Stillwater from a 1.5Moz South Africa-based gold miner into a leading diversified metals producer with an international operating footprint. The company now ranks as the world’s top primary producer of PGM metals with a leading position in the PGM recycling industry. Under Neal’s leadership, Sibanye-Stillwater has now started building an international portfolio of battery metal operations along with growing involvement in the circular economy and tailings reprocessing businesses. Neal’s career spans nearly 40 years during which time he worked at Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields), Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) and JCI Limited. In April 2003, Neal was appointed CEO of Aflease Gold Limited (Aflease Gold), which, through a series of reverse take-overs, became Gold One International Limited (Gold One) in May 2009. He was primarily responsible for the creation of Uranium One Incorporated (Uranium One) from the Aflease Gold uranium assets. During this period, he was CEO of Aflease Gold and Uranium One until his resignation from Uranium One in February 2008. He held the CEO position at Gold One until his appointment at Sibanye-Stillwater. Since 2021, he has been appointed as a member of the Wits Foundation Board of Governors. He also serves on the councils of international mining bodies including the ICMM and the World Gold Council.

2024 Agenda Sessions

DISRUPTIVE DISCUSSION - Why gold is and is not a critical mineral

Why gold is and is not a critical mineral

As investors and policy makers focus on stimulating production of critical minerals, won’t gold inevitably suffer?
If gold isn’t a key component of clean energy tech/infrastructure, does it have any role to play in decarbonising African economies?
Given gold's pivotal role in many developing economies, particularly in Africa, how might a shift in policy and investment (prioritising critical minerals) impact local stakeholders and development and growth opportunities?
Do we need to consider wider concepts of ‘criticality’ – in considering the ‘purpose’ of ‘’value’ the gold mining industry – e.g. in stimulating growth/development opportunities?

Wednesday 07 February 13:45 - 14:30 Disruptors Stage

Disruptive Discussions

Add to calendar 02/07/2024 13:45 02/07/2024 14:30 DISRUPTIVE DISCUSSION - Why gold is and is not a critical mineral

Why gold is and is not a critical mineral

As investors and policy makers focus on stimulating production of critical minerals, won’t gold inevitably suffer?
If gold isn’t a key component of clean energy tech/infrastructure, does it have any role to play in decarbonising African economies?
Given gold's pivotal role in many developing economies, particularly in Africa, how might a shift in policy and investment (prioritising critical minerals) impact local stakeholders and development and growth opportunities?
Do we need to consider wider concepts of ‘criticality’ – in considering the ‘purpose’ of ‘’value’ the gold mining industry – e.g. in stimulating growth/development opportunities?

Disruptors Stage Africa/Johannesburg

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