The International Zinc Association (IZA) is marking five years of sustained growth, outreach, and technical leadership in promoting the critical role of zinc in corrosion protection, agriculture and human health. Despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic challenges, IZA Africa has expanded its training programmes, industry engagement, and research partnerships to ensure zinc remains central to engineering and construction practices in the region.

Over the past five years, IZA Africa has delivered a comprehensive series of technical webinars to the engineering profession, covering galvanizing, zinc thermal spray and zinc rich coatings. In May 2024, the organisation held in-person seminars in Cape Town and Durban, training 30 civil engineers on zinc’s role in protecting steel from corrosion. Hundreds more have benefited from frequent technical briefings distributed across Southern Africa.

At the forefront of professional practice

“For five years, we have worked continuously to keep zinc at the forefront of professional practice,” comments Simon Norton, Director of IZA Africa. “Our training, publications, and technical support have helped engineers, galvanizers, and industry stakeholders better understand the value of zinc across corrosion protection, crop health and human wellbeing.”

IZA Africa has also maintained strong visibility through its annual public relations and social media campaigns on Facebook and LinkedIn. These campaigns highlight the diverse applications of zinc in medicine, fertilisers, corrosion prevention, and coatings. The organisation has published two major technical guides, ‘Essentials of Galvanizing’ in 2020 and the ‘Expert Guide to Galvanizing’ released in May 2024.

IZA Africa has also created a zinc library on the Kenya Engineer website. To date, hundreds of users have downloaded material, thus spreading the message that zinc is key to the corrosion protection of steel, adds Norton.

Industry outreach a major focus

Industry outreach has been a major focus. In 2024, Norton represented IZA Africa at Electra Mining Africa in Johannesburg and at the International Conference on Concrete Repair, Rehabilitation and Retrofitting (ICCRRR24) in Cape Town, where he distributed over 400 specialist publications to engineers. At the latter, IZA Africa presented a technical paper on galvanised rebar, which has now been made publicly accessible via the conference website.

In addition to these activities, IZA Africa began visiting hot dip galvanizers across the country in 2024 to provide technical guidance and support. The organisation also played a central role in securing funding in 2021 for a university-led research project exploring a new low-energy, green zinc refining process using locally mined zinc ore.

Long-term sustainability and innovation

“These initiatives reflect our commitment to long-term sustainability and innovation,” says Norton. “Zinc is a remarkable element whose electronic structure brings numerous benefits to industry, agriculture, and human health. Ensuring that engineers and decision-makers understand these advantages is essential for Southern Africa’s infrastructure resilience.”

Looking ahead, IZA Africa remains optimistic. “Our outlook for 2026 is cautiously optimistic,” highlights Norton. “Although industry and commerce in Southern Africa have been constrained by poor political leadership in recent years, our technical support and engagement with the engineering profession have ensured that zinc remains firmly embedded in construction and corrosion protection practices.”

However, Norton warns that the South African construction industry has contracted by 2% in real terms in 2025 but is expected to start a growth cycle of 3.5 % per annum from 2026 to 2028. Zinc is heavily used for hot dip galvanizing of construction steel and rebar and for continuously galvanized roof sheeting.

“Whatever happens in the construction sector impacts zinc usage severely,” notes Norton. “I hope the promised regrowth of the local construction and infrastructure sectors will lead to renewed uptake of refined zinc.”

IZA Africa will continue expanding its technical presentations, research promotion and support for galvanizers, zinc-rich paint suppliers, and zinc thermal sprayers, while promoting the essential role of zinc in the region’s sustainable development.