Construction of new RBIDZ plant begins
THE construction of a R4.5-billion titanium dioxide manufacturing plant in Richards Bay is an opportunity for the country to transform from being an exporter of raw materials to an exporter of value-added products.
These are the sentiments of Chief Executive Officer of Nyanza Light
Metals, Donovan Chimhandamba, who joined various dignitaries in celebrating the first phase of the company's investment project in the Richards Bay Industrial Zone (RBIDZ) on Thursday.
The first phase of construction, which is a Technical Services Centre, is expected to be operational by end of this year.
'While South Africa produces
22 per cent of the world’s titanium primary raw minerals, South Africa imports 100 per cent of the value-added titanium products as there is no beneficiation capacity locally or on the continent,' said Chimhandamba. He added that the plant would beneficiate the titanium ores mined in South Africa to produce 80 000 tonnes per annum of titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment.
This product is widely used in the manufacturing of industrial coatings, paints, cosmetics, paper, plastics and other food ingredients.
'Nyanza's operation will employ more than 1 200 people through a construction period of 36 months and, once fully commissioned, will employ 550 permanent staff,' continued Chimhandamba. 'The first phase of construction, currently under way, will employ about 60 people to start with. Many of these jobs are earmarked for young graduates in learnership or internship programmes, and also skilled artisans retrenched in other closing industries.'
The event in Alton, Richards Bay was attended by KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) MEC, Ravi Pillay, who
hailed the investment as an important piece in the province’s economic recovery plan. However, he stressed the need to address challenges - such as corruption, crime, and the supply of energy and water - which could derail the attraction of
investment.
'We are scaling up our support to municipalities so that they can effectively address such issues,' said Pillay. 'These must be given priority as we embark on the path to economic recovery.'