From heavy industry to clean growth

Chapter notes | Scroll to the areas that interest you

Chapter 1: What Resources will Future Economies Require? (00:00–11:30)

• Katie outlines the scenarios shaping Anglo American’s strategy - supporting the global transition through premium iron ore, decarbonisation partnerships, and low-carbon fertiliser innovation.
• She describes “future-smart” mines that integrate automation and circular models, from green-steel collaborations to natural fertilisers that improve soil health and reduce emissions - illustrating the wider push toward more responsible mining.

Chapter 2: Innovation, collaboration, and scale (11:30–23:00)

• The discussion turns to the speed of industrial innovation. Katie highlights advances such as renewable joint ventures in South Africa and carbon-storing nickel by-products in Brazil.
• Both guests note that scaling these breakthroughs requires new financing models, stronger links between innovation and operations, and more adaptive permitting systems.
• Progress depends on cross-sector partnerships and on local champions who drive deployment and persistence on the ground.

Chapter 3: More mining, less extraction (23:00–27:30)

• Faustine reframes the narrative: while the world will need more mining, total extraction will decline as fossil fuel use drops.
• She argues that success depends on policy certainty and long-term demand signals, enabling companies to invest confidently in clean technologies like green steel and hydrogen.
• Collaboration across value chains - from miners to manufacturers - is vital to create viable markets for sustainable materials.

Chapter 4: Leadership and the just transition (27:30–36:30)

• Both speakers stress that industrial transformation must also be socially just. Katie points to South Africa’s Just Transition framework as an emerging example of collaboration between government, business and communities.
• On leadership, she calls for bold, adaptive leaders able to navigate uncertainty, learn from failure, and bridge commercial and sustainability goals.
• Faustine adds: “True leadership is not just about navigating what’s coming - it’s about shaping what’s coming.”

Focus and its related content is for informational purposes only. The opinions featured on the site are not to be considered as the opinions of Investec and do not constitute financial or other advice. The information presented is subject to completion, revision, verification and amendment.