The 9th International PGMs Conference, hosted by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) from October 26–29, 2025, at Sun City, South Africa, served as a vital forum for stakeholders to explore the rapidly evolving Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) industry.

Image: Group Photo taken at the 9th International PGMs Conference, Sun City, South Africa

VBKOM’s Business Development Specialist, Lebohang Sekhokoane, attended the event and noted that beneficiation and mineral processing dominated much of the discussion, highlighting a clear shift towards value addition and operational excellence within the sector.

Image: VBKOM's Estelle Classen (left) and Lebohang Sekhokoane (right)

A Rally in Precious Metals and a New Price Floor

The prevailing sentiment at the conference pointed to a strong rally in the PGMs market. Experts generally agreed that the industry is undergoing a notable upturn in prices -particularly for platinum, supporting a new price floor for platinum.

The recent surge in PGM prices, especially platinum, is driven by several interconnected market dynamics. A key factor is market momentum, where the rapid rise in gold prices is pulling other precious metals upward, reflecting a broader reassessment of relative value across the sector. This effect is compounded by sympathy buying, as palladium, rhodium, and other PGMs benefit from the upturn.

Supply dynamics also play a critical role. The market is expected to remain in a short-term deficit, influenced by specific disruptions such as the Amandelbult mine flood and Impala’s furnace maintenance earlier in 2025.

While this deficit-driven scenario will not persist indefinitely, as miners are expected to ramp up production to leverage higher prices, the current environment represents a critical window for strategic operational focus and targeted investment.

The Integrated Ideology of ESG, Digitalization, Innovation and Technology

Image: Model vehicle

The conference underscored that the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework has become inseparable from technology and innovation.

Environmentally, discussions focused strongly on decarbonisation and the energy transition, particularly on reducing the overall carbon footprint across the entire PGMs value chain to align with global clean energy efforts and the role that the PGMs industry particularly has to play.

Socially, attention centred on the importance of social license and community integration. Experts called for a “different mindset” that recognises host communities not merely as beneficiaries of employment, but as strategic partners to be genuinely integrated into the PGM mining value chain.

Finally, this drive toward modernization brings to the fore a critical human capital challenge: digitisation and people. Delegates questioned whether workforce upskilling is keeping pace with the rapid technological shift. Ensuring grassroots buy-in and sustained investment in people was identified as essential to achieving a digital transformation that is both effective and inclusive.

Image: 9th PGMs Conference, 2025

Operational Agility and Future Applications

On the second day of the conference, breakout sessions focused on Pyrometallurgy, Mineral Processing, and Mining. Lebohang attended the Mining Technical Sessions, which explored themes of operational efficiency, data integrity, and future-oriented applications of PGMs.

The technical discussions throughout the conference strongly emphasized a collective drive toward value addition, evident in the clear metallurgical dominance across the agenda. Deep dives into smelting, processing, and downstream beneficiation reflected a growing focus on maximizing value beyond primary extraction.

This technical emphasis was complemented by a broader evolution in operational strategy, as the sector moves away from conventional practices toward a landscape that demands operational flexibility and cost discipline to effectively respond to frequent market shifts.

To enable this agility, the power of data and technology emerged as a central theme. Delegates highlighted the critical importance of data integrity, noting that poor-quality data, particularly in areas such as orebody knowledge can directly lead to project delays and budget overruns. Conversely, successful digital integration in maintenance management and spare parts optimization was shown to yield tangible financial benefits through reduced downtime and improved planning and utilisation.

Looking Forward

The 9^th International PGMs Conference offered a clear blueprint for the future of the Platinum Group Metals sector: one characterized by strategic integration and proactive adaptation. As the industry navigates an unprecedented period of high prices, driven by a tight supply and broader precious metals momentum, it is simultaneously embracing a transformative new ethos. By unifying the imperative for value addition (through advanced metallurgy), the adoption of operational agility (powered by better data and digital tools), and a deep commitment to the integrated ideology of ESG, the PGMs sector is strategically positioning itself to not only maximize the current market window but also secure its role as a critical enabler of the global energy transition and a sustainable economic future.

As the PGM industry stands at the intersection of rising market confidence, technological transformation, and a renewed focus on sustainability, collaboration across the value chain has never been more vital. The insights shared at the 9th International PGM Conference reaffirm that the sector’s future will be defined not only by its ability to innovate, but also by its commitment to responsible growth, inclusive partnerships, and operational excellence. For stakeholders - from miners and refiners to policymakers and investors - the opportunity lies in translating these conversations into action: driving beneficiation, advancing digital integration, and ensuring that people remain at the centre of progress. The new era of PGMs has begun, and its success will depend on how effectively we align strategy, sustainability, and shared value creation.