Name of the Project 
Titanium beneficiation complex. 

Location 
The Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) Phase 1F, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 

Project Owner/s 
Titanium dioxide pigment manufacturer Nyanza Light Metals, in partnership with the RBIDZ. Arkein Industrial Holdings is the founding shareholder of Nyanza, with 70%, while DBF Capital holds the remaining 30%. 

Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, the Industrial Development Corporation, and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition are co-development partners. 

Project Description
The project entails the construction of a titanium beneficiation facility for the manufacturing of titanium dioxide pigment, a sulphuric acid plant with an 8 MW co-generation power plant and other utility plants. 

The project will produce about 80 000 t/y of titanium dioxide pigment at peak production, of which 15% will be sold locally, and the balance of up to 85% exported. 

The project will be built in phases. 

Phase 1 involves the construction of a product testing and development centre, which will be able to produce 700 t/y of titanium dioxide pigment mainly for customer and market development activities. 

Phase 2 entails the construction of the main plant. The plant will use 300 000 t/y of sulphuric acid and 200 000 t/y of sulphate ilmenite to produce 80 000 t/y of the titanium dioxide pigment, targeting mainly the paints, industrial coatings and plastics manufacturing markets. 

Potential Job Creation 
During construction, the project will create more than 3 000 jobs. A further 850 permanent jobs will be created once the project is operational. 

Already commissioned is a R200-million product testing and development centre that will be used to train more than 200 young graduates, operators and artisans who will eventually be transferred to the main plant. 

Capital Expenditure 
Capital expenditure, excluding financing and working capital costs, is estimated at $550-million (R9.5-billion). Peak funding is estimated at $860-million.

Enterprise value is estimated at $1.1-billion (R19-billion). 

Planned Start/End Date 
Plant erection is scheduled to start later in 2025, with first production from 2027.

Latest Developments 
Nyanza has reported that site clearing, levelling and geotechnical studies have started and piling, along with other bulk earthworks, are expected to continue into 2025.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
East China Engineering Science and Technology (engineering, procurement and construction). 

Contact Details for Project Information 
Nyanza Light Metals, tel +27 11 684 1286 or email info@nyanzametals.com.