from NJABULOM MKHIZE in Durban
KwaZulu Natal Bureau
DURBAN, (CAJ News) – HEAVY construction has officially begun on the Nyanza Light Metals complex in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ), marking a significant milestone in South Africa’s drive to boost local mineral beneficiation and advanced manufacturing.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) said the project would strengthen the country’s industrial capacity, reduce dependence on imports and advance the objectives of the Special Economic Zone programme.
After 15 years of planning, the development has moved into the construction phase. Over the next 12 months, contractors will install more than 6,000 deep-foundation concrete piles across the 70-hectare site, with foundations extending up to 45 metres underground. The complex is expected to be fully commissioned by the end of 2029.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau described the project as a demonstration of South Africa’s ability to attract high-value foreign direct investment into large-scale industrial developments.
He said the Industrial Development Corporation’s partnership with the RBIDZ had helped secure support from leading pan-African development finance institutions, including the African Development Bank, Afreximbank and the Africa Finance Corporation, reflecting growing international confidence in the country’s industrial environment.
Tau said the project would make a significant contribution to the economy, creating more than 3,000 jobs during peak construction while developing specialised engineering skills.
Local small and medium-sized enterprises will also be integrated into the project’s operational, civil engineering and logistics supply chains, supporting regional economic growth.
Once operational, the facility will process locally sourced minerals into high-value titanium dioxide pigment, eliminating South Africa’s current reliance on imported supplies of the product.
The project is also expected to manufacture lithium iron phosphate and fumed silica using process by-products, supporting industries linked to renewable energy, electric vehicles and advanced technologies.
According to Tau, the investment represents a major step towards strengthening South Africa’s manufacturing capability, expanding local value addition and positioning the country as a competitive player in global green energy and technology supply chains.
– CAJ News