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, African Export-Import Bank, 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 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% will be 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. 

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

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 
Production from the main plant is set to ramp up from 2027. 

Latest Developments 
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved financing of $75-million for Nyanza Light Metals to support the development, construction and operation of the manufacturing plant.

The AfDB funding package includes $25-million from the Africa Growing Together Fund. This is a joint initiative of the AfDB and the People’s Bank of China. The AfDB package is part of a syndicated financing package that has been arranged by the Africa Finance Corporation and the African Export-Import Bank, acting as the initial mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners.

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.