Mining giant Rio Tinto said Monday it had approved the restart of the US$473 million Zulti South project in South Africa, six years after halting development due to community unrest.
The project is operated by Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), which is 74-percent owned by Rio Tinto. RBM extracts mineral-rich sands in the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, producing zircon, rutile, ilmenite and titanium feedstocks used in products ranging from paint and sunscreen to ceramics and electronics.
Rio Tinto suspended work on Zulti South in 2020 amid escalating security concerns and tensions with local communities near its operations. The restart follows what the company described as improved security conditions and stronger community partnerships.
“The decision to proceed also reflects improved security conditions and strengthened community partnerships,” RBM managing director Werner Duvenhage said in a statement.
Zulti South is considered critical to extending the life of RBM’s operations to 2050, as ore reserves at the existing Zulti North deposit decline. Without the new project, production levels at the Richards Bay operation were expected to fall over time.
The company said China Harbour Engineering Company had been appointed as engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the development.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026, with initial commercial production targeted for the fourth quarter of 2028.
RBM is one of the world’s major producers of mineral sands, which are processed into titanium dioxide feedstock and zircon. Titanium dioxide is widely used as a pigment for its brightness and opacity, while zircon is used in ceramics and foundry applications.
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South Africa is among the leading global producers of mineral sands, and the Richards Bay operation is a key contributor to exports and employment in KwaZulu-Natal.
The restart signals renewed investment momentum in South Africa’s mining sector, which has faced operational disruptions in recent years due to infrastructure constraints, power shortages and community-related disputes.
Rio Tinto said the project would be developed within its existing infrastructure footprint, limiting additional environmental disturbance.
The company did not provide updated production capacity figures for Zulti South but previously said the development would help stabilise output from the Richards Bay complex over the long term.
Mining companies operating in South Africa often face complex social and regulatory environments, particularly in areas where communities expect greater economic participation and development benefits from large-scale projects.
Industry analysts say sustained engagement with host communities has become central to project viability, particularly after several mining operations across the country were disrupted in recent years by protests and security incidents.
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Rio Tinto’s decision to restart Zulti South underscores its long-term commitment to the Richards Bay operation and to mineral sands production in South Africa, despite past challenges.
The Anglo-Australian group remains one of the world’s largest diversified miners, with operations spanning iron ore, copper, aluminium and critical minerals across multiple continents.
