Name of the Project
Titanium beneficiation project.

Location
The project is located at the Richards Bay industrial development zone, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The KwaZulu-Natal government has allocated 65 ha for the plant.

Project Owner/s
Nyanza Light Metals, in partnership with the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ).

Project Description
The project entails the construction of a titanium beneficiation facility for the manufacturing of titanium pigment.

The plant will produce titanium dioxide pigment from titaniferous slag and acid from Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium, with conventional ilmenite and rutile.

Construction will be in two phases.

Phase 1 involves the construction of a pilot and demonstration plant.

Phase 2 entails the construction of a full plant.

The plant will use 320 000 t/y of sulphuric acid, 36 000 t/y of ammonium sulphate, 380 000 t/y of lime and 250 000 t/y of feed material to produce the titanium dioxide.

The project will produce about 50 000 t/y of titanium dioxide pigment, which it will sell locally and export to the rest of Africa and the Middle East.

Potential Job Creation
More than 800 jobs are expected to be created during construction of the plant, while 300 direct permanent jobs will be filled during operation.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The project involves an investment of R4.5-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Phase 1 is expected to be implemented between June 2020 and June 2021, Covid-19 permitting.

Phase 2 is expected to be implemented between November 2021 and December 2023.

Latest Developments
KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube has confirmed that the RBIDZ will forge ahead with construction of a titanium dioxide plant as soon as the Covid-19 lockdown has reached Level 1.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

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