South Africa’s Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), a Rio Tinto-BHP Billiton joint venture, intends to construct a large plant with operations expected to begin in 2016. The Zulti South mine south of Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, a province in the southeastern region of South Africa, will mine several heavy minerals including ilmenite, to create both titanium dioxide feedstock and pig iron. A pre-feasibility study is underway and if successful, the Zulti South mining operation will begin in 2016 and run for approximately 21 years. RBM is a major producer of titanium minerals, high-purity pig iron, rutile and zircon. In an effort to increase its output, RBM has also applied for prospecting rights for the north of Zulti South, referred to as the Zulti South Extension. The company exports 95% of approximately 2 million tns of minerals produced annually, with zircon and rutile divided and sold in their mineral form.
