Metals Consulting International Limited (MCI) is the parent company operating multiple specialised divisions serving the global metals and mining sector. Founded by Dr. Andrzej M. Kotas in 2003, MCI provides integrated expertise spanning feasibility studies, due diligence, and expert witness services through the following divisions:
Metals Consulting International - Our core management consulting business providing feasibility studies, due diligence, and strategic advisory services for metals and mining projects worldwide. Further information on these activities may be found on the 'products' and 'services' pages above.
Steelonthenet.com - Our steel industry intelligence portal, launched in 2001 and operated by MCI since 2003, offering industry news, price and cost data, capacity information, and market analysis. Click here to see our steel industry portal pages.
Steelexpertwitness.com - Expert witness and litigation support division for iron and steel sector disputes including cargo damage, product non-delivery, breach of contract, and quantum valuation matters. Click here to learn more about our steel expert witness support service.
Metalexpertwitness.com - Non-ferrous metals and mining litigation support division, particularly for metal ore-related legal matters. Experience includes aluminium, cobalt, copper, gold, lead, lithium, molybdenum, nickel, silver and zinc.
The MCI Group's history began in 2001 with the launch of Steelonthenet.com by Dr. Andrzej M. Kotas. In 2003, Metals Consulting International Limited was formally incorporated as the operating company for the group's expanding consulting services. SteelExpertWitness was established in 2017, MetalExpertWitness in 2020, and Saint Barbara (founded in 1992) joined our service portfolio in 2020. Most of our metals experts have 20-30 years of technical, operational or consulting experience.
MCI Group Timeline
2001
Steelonthenet.com launched
2003
MCI Limited incorporated
2017
SteelExpertWitness established
2020
MetalExpertWitness launched
International Mining & Steel Sector Experience
Our expertise lies in upstream matters (iron ore mining) as well as downstream (production of iron and steel including raw material preparation, melting, casting and rolling; and steel distribution). This steel sector experience includes carbon, alloy and specialty steels (e.g. stainless and engineering steel). We have expertise in non-ferrous metals (particularly aluminium, copper, lead, zinc, silver and gold).
Global Reach from UK Base
We are located near London, in the United Kingdom. Much of our consultancy work however is undertaken for clients in Europe (Western, Central and Eastern Europe), in the Americas, in the Middle East and in Africa.
Founded by Industry Expert
MCI was established in 2003 by Dr. Andrzej M. Kotas (PhD, MBA, FIMMM, FIC), who serves as Managing Director. With 25+ years of steel sector expertise, Dr. Kotas has advised governments on restructuring programs across multiple countries, provided expert witness testimony in major international arbitration cases, and delivered feasibility studies for billion-dollar investments. His work is cited in leading academic journals including Nature, by international bodies including the OECD and World Bank, and in government policy documents across Europe and beyond.
Independent Metal Industry Consultants
MCI is a privately-owned business. The Group is completely independent from any industry players. Our company is not tied in any way to any banks, commodities traders, metal manufacturers, raw material or plant and equipment suppliers.
Our independence means that we offer impartial advice that is free of ties or restrictions to all corporate clients.
"Dr Kotas made an outstanding contribution to these projects; working diligently as a foreign steel expert, with the successful outcome always in mind. Dr Kotas brought foreign perspective and much professional consulting experience to these assignments." Source: Senior Fellow
Success: Polish steel industry consulting assignments and National Steel Restructuring Programme
Gorham & Partners
Management Consultants, United Kingdom
"Andrzej managed a team of steel sector experts focused on the financial, market, technical and environmental aspects of the restructuring. This work, which was for the European Commission, involved Andrzej managing diligently and effectively." Source: Managing Director
Project: National Steel Industry Restructuring Study in the Republic of Croatia for the European Commission
RSM Ashvir
Consulting Advisers, Kenya
"RSM Ashvir Consulting Ltd is therefore pleased to recommend MCI as a competent firm of steel industry investment advisers. Andrzej Kotas and his consulting team delivered all necessary reports covering the agreed scope of work." Source: Executive Chairman
Project: Feasibility study for investment in a Greenfield Steel Mill in Kenya including market, technical and financial evaluations
MARV Capital
Investment Management, London
"I am therefore pleased to recommend MCI as a highly competent and professional team of steel industry consultants. The study assessed the market, technical and commercial aspects of the proposed investment, involving steelmaking, casting and rolling." Source: Managing Director
Project: Feasibility study for investment in a new steel plant at a greenfield site in Angola
15 Client Testimonials Available
Our consulting work has been recognized by government agencies (UK DFID, European Commission),
major banks (EBRD — current retained appointment, OYAK), global consulting firms (Hatch, Deloitte), and steel producers across 15+ countries.
UK Parliament (2021):BEIS Committee Evidence - Parliamentary report authored by MCI on the UK steel sector, delivering policy recommendations on government support, decarbonisation pathways, and industry viability. Our company expertise informs policy at the highest levels.
Journal of Cleaner Production (2021):"Economic evaluation of low-carbon steelmaking via coupling of electrolysis and direct reduction" - Jacobasch, E., Herz, G., Rix, C., Müller, N., Reichelt, E., Jahn, M., Michaelis, A. (2021). Vol. 328, Article 129502. Comprehensive techno-economic analysis of hydrogen-based steelmaking technologies and carbon direct avoidance strategies cites MCI for steelmaking labour cost calculations
GID-Iron and Steel Emission Database (2019):"Global multi-process iron and steel plants CO2 and air pollutant emissions database" - International collaborative database integrating global and regional iron and steel plant information. GISD incorporates data from the Metal Consulting International Limited (MCI) database created by James King, providing comprehensive emissions and production data for worldwide steel manufacturing facilities.
📰 Media Recognition & Industry Commentary
Vreme (2012):"The government bought US Steel for $1" - Serbian independent weekly's comprehensive analysis of the Serbian government's acquisition of US Steel's Smederevo operations. The article cites MCI steel production cost analysis and references steelonthenet.com data on regional steel pricing trends and production cost modeling for the European steel sector
Financial Times (2019):"British Steel faces uncertain future despite Scunthorpe rescue" - Prominent expert commentary by MCI Managing Director Andrzej Kotas on UK steel industry challenges, economic realities of domestic steelmaking, and strategic alternatives for the sector
The Sunday Times (2018):"Sanjeev Gupta: the steel tycoon who rose without trace" - Investigative feature by John Collingridge examining Sanjeev Gupta's rapid acquisition of struggling steel assets. The article quotes MCI director Andrzej Kotas commenting on Sanjeev Gupta's steel industry acquisition strategy."
