ArcelorMittal South Africa faces mounting pressure to close its long steel operations after reporting $31.2 million losses in the first half of 2025. Infrastructure failures including rail disruptions from cable theft doubled transportation costs to $19.8 million while power outages from state utility Eskom increased electricity-related losses by 64%. The company threatens to sell major assets including Saldanha Steel & Vereeniging Bar Mill if government rescue measures aren't implemented, potentially affecting over 3,500 jobs in South Africa's struggling manufacturing sector.