Construction work on the US$870 million first phase of a plant to beneficiate ilmenite has begun in earnest in KwaZulu-Natal.

According to a report in Mining Weekly, the foundation piling work for the Nyanza Light Metals plant in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone is under way. Phase one of the plant, which will process ilmenite from heavy mineral sands into titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment, is targeting production from 2029.

TiO₂ pigment is used in industrial coatings, architectural paints, paper and plastics.

Phase 2 involves a U$750-million downstream expansion project producing battery materials and advanced chemicals such as lithium iron phosphate, zirconium oxychloride and fumed silica.

Fully integrated with Phase 1, Phase 2 will use process by-products.

Afreximbank and the Africa Finance Corporation are financing the first phase, and Nyanza reportedly has firm offtake agreements in place. The second phase is at the bankable feasibility study stage, which is expected to be complete in 2028.

7 July 2026
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