VOTE FOR EXCELLENCE
The Chrome Awards 2026 recognize the visionaries and innovators shaping the future of the industry. Cast your vote across six prestigious categories and honor the achievements that drive our community forward.
Corporate & Social Responsibilty
Achievement
Corporate and social responsibility award
Recognising projects that uplift communities, expand access to education and opportunity, and create lasting social impact around chrome operations.
CPD Academy
We aim to set the benchmark for future training of commercial drivers in South Africa, thus Commercial Professional Driver Academy (CPD Academy)
Katawa Primary school Education and water access project
Development and installation of a complete water system, replacing reliance on a borehole 800 metres away. The new system includes a solar pump, reservoir, and distribution network with five service points, supplying both the school and its field & orchard.
Ga-Mapodile Water Project
The project has significantly improved health, hygiene, dignity and overall quality of life in a region characterised by high temperatures and prolonged periods of drought and water scarcity.
The impact of this initiative extends beyond infrastructure. It has restored hope, reduced household costs and strengthened community resilience by providing one of the most fundamental necessities of life.
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Retief Primary school sports development project
Piet Retief Primary School (Laerskool Piet Retief) actively promotes sports development through localized programs, corporate sponsorships, and competitive events like their annual mini-sports days and athletics
Gijima Training Academy
Recognising the importance of creating sustainable opportunities for local communities, Bidvest Protea Coin, through its accredited training centre, Gijima, implemented a comprehensive learner development programme consisting of a 3-month theoretical and practical intervention aimed at training and placing local community members within the mining security environment.
Kutullo Electrification Project
The project aims to supply grid power to 1,200 households in the rural Steelpoort and Kutullo village areas, situated within the Ga-Malekane region of the Limpopo Province, South Africa
Agricultural farm Initiative
Tharisa Minerals supports local community agricultural projects near its mining operations in Marikana, South Africa, focusing on combating hunger and poverty.
NPO Titali Foundation
Chromtech's community investment is built on a simple belief: when communities have access to education, technology, essential infrastructure and opportunities for personal growth, they are better equipped to build stronger, more resilient futures. Through partnerships with local communities, every project contributes to creating lasting opportunities for children, young people and the generations that will follow.
Environmental Award
Recognizing operational leaders who prioritize zero-harm cultures and set global benchmarks for health, safety, and risk mitigation strategies in mining.
The Underground Trackless Mobile Machinery (TMM) Workshop at South Shaft was developed to address a long-standing operational and environmental challenge associated with servicing underground mining equipment from a surface workshop. Historically, machines such as drill rigs, bolters, LHDs and utility vehicles travelled long distances, often exceeding 2.5 km, to reach surface maintenance facilities. This resulted in excessive diesel consumption, increased greenhouse gas emissions, equipment overheating, tyre and component wear, traffic congestion, and reduced production availability.
Modernising underground maintenance project.
Aloe Translocation and conservation project
Aloe translocation and conservation projects in the South African Karoo are crucial scientific interventions designed to combat severe habitat loss. These efforts actively address the devastation caused by climate-induced multi-year droughts, agricultural expansion, and a massive surge in illegal succulent poaching
This pioneering project represents a significant advancement in sustainable mining, renewable energy integration, chrome beneficiation and applied industrial innovation. At its core is the planned demonstration deployment of an IronChromium Redox Flow Battery, developed through collaboration across the Tharisa value chain.
Battery Energy Storage System
Sterkstroom River alien invasive plant eradication Project
The Sterkstroom River alien invasive plant (AIP) eradication project is a local environmental management and rehabilitation initiative led by Tharisa to clear invasive vegetation, restore natural river ecosystems, and support local employment
Modernising underground maintenance project.
Battery Energy Storage System Redox Flow Battery
Safety Excellence Award
Recognizing operational leaders who prioritize zero-harm cultures and set global benchmarks for health, safety, and risk mitigation strategies in mining.
Dwarsrivier Chrome Mine is proud to submit its achievement of 10M fatality-free shifts, reached on 10 February 2026, in recognition of its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and wellbeing of employees and contractors. This milestone reflects years of disciplined operational execution, consistent leadership, robust risk management and a deeply embedded culture of Zero Harm – Becoming Better.
The Karo Project is a flagship platinum group metals development on Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke in Mashonaland West Province, approximately 80 km south-west of Harare and 35 km south-east of Chegutu. As a large-scale, open-pit operation, it forms an important part of Tharisa’s regional growth and diversification strategy.
Tharisa Minerals (Tharisa) is proudly nominated for the Chrome Dinner Award for Outstanding Safety
Performance for its open-pit Level 9 Collision Avoidance implementation. This landmark safety
initiative transformed a regulatory requirement into a connected, human-centric platform for zero
harm, operational discipline, productivity and people development.
At the heart of this achievement lies the performance of our Chrome Mining Division, comprising Helena, Thorncliffe, Magareng, Kroondal, Rietvlei and UG2 Operations, which has operated without a recordable
fatality since October 2020. Maintaining a fatality-free performance over this period required unwavering leadership commitment, continuous learning, disciplined execution of work, and a relentless focus on critical risk management across both underground and surface
mining activities.
Three years LTI-Free is more than a milestone. It is compelling evidence of an operation that has aligned leadership, discipline and collective responsibility around one shared purpose: ensuring that every person goes home safely every day while the business continues to perform with excellence.
At Eastern Chrome Mines’ (ECM) Tweefontein section, safety is more than a target; it is a promise honoured every day. It is a promise to colleagues, families and communities that every person matters and deserves to return home safely. Through unwavering commitment, disciplined execution and a culture where accountability, vigilance and care are embedded in every activity, the operation has turned the aspiration of Zero Harm into a lived reality.
Best Service Provider
Recognising operations that put safety first, protecting their people, contractors and communities every single day.
One nomination described the discipline within 4PL Fleet’s operations as “a benchmark”, while another regarded the business as “probably the most customer centric company in the industry.”
Bidvest Protea Coin is nominated for the Best Service Provider Award in recognition of its exceptional security services and continuous support to chrome mining operations across the North-West Province.
During the past 12 months, Bidvest Protea Coin has demonstrated a proactive and highly effective approach in combating illegal mining, a challenge that continues to threaten the sustainability and profitability of the chrome mining industry.
Is an established warehouse, freight management, and logistics establishment based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Operating on international standards, the company works as a primary hub linking road, rail, and sea shipping corridors
Tharisa Minerals proudly nominates Engen Petroleum for the Service Provider
Collaboration and Recognition Award in recognition of a partnership that has delivered
meaningful social impact at Marikana North High School. The collaboration combines
two complementary interventions
Through a commitment to reliable service delivery, operational excellence and the safe and efficient movement of product, Reinhardt Transport continues to support the day-to-day demands of an industry that depends on its logistics partners to keep moving.
"Avalon Shipbroking was nominated in recognition of Vincent Abendanon’s exceptional reliability, professionalism, industry expertise and unwavering dedication to the chrome industry."
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Over and above our extensive investment in and use of the latest technologies, the core focus of CIGroup is to cultivate long lasting relationships with our clients and to become their service providers of choice!
Operates as an integrated chrome producer, commodity sourcing firm, and pit-to-port logistics manager based in South Africa. The firm focuses on identifying, acquiring, and developing premium mineral assets to bridge the gap between regional extraction and international bulk trade
"One nominator specifically credited Makoya with playing a huge role in achieving their rail requirements to Maputo, noting that Makoya’s siding is consistently maintained and that the team truly push to get things done."
An internationally recognized, privately held freight forwarding, custom supply chain, and ships agency firm headquartered in South Africa. Founded in 1998, the company leverages over a century of collective shipping experience to coordinate multi-modal logistics across Africa and global markets.
Connect Logistics is a progressive, innovative Supply Chain Services company with a flexible client-centric approach. We offer a complete, optimized package so that your supply chain operations are simplified, and your business becomes more robust and efficient.
As a valued service provider to Tharisa, ENAEX has demonstrated that supplier partnerships can extend beyond operational delivery to create meaningful and lasting community value. At Retief Primary School, this commitment was brought to life on 26 February 2025 when ENAEX, in partnership with Tharisa, officially unveiled newly upgraded sanitation facilities that transformed an essential part of the school environment and improved the daily learning experience for learners and educators.
MG Freight cc clearing & forwarding
Recognised by their clients and industry peers for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty, MG Freight brings a hands-on, committed approach to every relationship. Their service is defined not simply by getting the job done, but by the personal attention, flexibility and determination they bring to supporting their clients.
Best Contribution
Honouring the individuals whose personal leadership, dedication and influence have made an exceptional contribution to the chrome industry and its communities
Marietjie Beyers & Stacey Randall-Malatji
Arxo Logistics’ Best Contribution Award nomination recognises a contribution that extends beyond a single community initiative. It reflects a practical, partnership-driven and compassionate approach to community upliftment, environmental improvement and people-centred leadership.
Arxo Logistics
Troy Williamson
Bidvest Protea Coin
"Troy Williamson, Regional Manager for Bidvest Protea Coin North-West Province, was nominated for his exceptional contribution to protecting and supporting the chrome mining industry, particularly in combating illegal mining while also supporting surrounding communities."
Kenneth Willaims
Makoya Supply Chain Holdings
"Kenneth received multiple nominations, and his motivations are particularly detailed. The central theme is his contribution to transforming chrome logistics, strengthening rail utilisation and helping keep South African chrome exports moving during major logistical disruption."
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Stefan Swanepoel and Willem den Heijer
Samancor Chrome
It is with great pride and full conviction that we nominate Stefan Swanepoel and Willem den Heijer for special recognition in the Best Contribution category at the Chrome Dinner Awards 2026. Their exceptional and sustained contribution to the Eskom tariff relief negotiations on behalf of Samancor Chrome reflects remarkable dedication, technical expertise and steadfast negotiating resolve. Together, they helped secure an outcome that sets a new benchmark for the ferrochrome industry.
Sam Krynauw
Chrome Traders
Sam Krynauw is a South African businessman who serves as the Managing & Marketing Director of Chrome Traders (Pty) Ltd. Based in Pretoria, Gauteng, he specializes in the international sourcing, production, and trading of chrome ore.
Lifetime Achievement
Honouring industry leaders whose lifetime of vision, innovation and dedication has shaped the chrome sector and set new standards for excellence.
Derick Reinhardt 1959 - 2026
Reinhardt Group
The transport and logistics industry has lost more than a leader; it has lost a man whose dedication, vision, and contribution helped move people, businesses, and communities forward. In times like these, we are reminded that behind every successful company are individuals whose hard work, sacrifice, and leadership leave a lasting impact on countless lives. Derick's legacy will continue to live on through the people he inspired, the relationships he built, and the foundation he helped create
Amanda Magro
Glencore Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Amanda Magro (South Africa): Chief Operating Officer - Chrome Smelting at Glencore Alloys. She is a highly regarded mining executive based in Rustenburg with over 35 years of dedicated service in metallurgy, factory operations, and mining management.