• Rio Tinto will restart the $463 million Zulti South project to extend RBM’s life through 2050.

• The project was suspended in 2020 after community violence and will now resume amid improved security conditions.

• The restart comes as mineral sands prices weaken and Rio Tinto reviews its iron and titanium division.

On March 2, Anglo-Australian mining group Rio Tinto announced the restart of the Zulti South project, aimed at extending the life of the Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) mineral sands complex in South Africa, which is rich in zircon, rutile, and ilmenite. Suspended since January 2020, the $463 million development is expected to resume in the first quarter of this year, with commercial production targeted for the fourth quarter of 2028.

RBM’s operations are currently concentrated on the Zulti North deposit, which includes a mineral separation plant and a smelter. With production capacity in that area expected to gradually decline, Rio Tinto had already announced in 2019 the launch of the Zulti South project. The objective is to secure the complex’s supply of mineral sands through 2050 and ensure continued production of titanium dioxide (TiO₂), used in paints, plastics, and other construction materials.

The implementation of the project was disrupted by community violence, leading Rio Tinto to suspend it. Six years later, its restart has now been formally approved, in a context marked by improved security conditions and strengthened partnerships with local communities. China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has been selected as the main contractor for the construction work, which is expected to last 30 months.

“Lifting the suspension on Zulti South means securing the future of RBM. This project is not about expansion; it represents our commitment to sustaining jobs and continuing to make a meaningful contribution to the province, the country, and the host communities,” said Werner Duvenhage, managing director of RBM.

Presented as South Africa’s largest producer of mineral sands, RBM is also a key mining player in the local economy. In 2024, Rio Tinto reported an economic contribution of 7 billion rand (about $434 million), along with 72 million rand (nearly $4 million) invested in community projects, in addition to the jobs supported at the local level.

A Restart in a Pressured Market

While Rio Tinto’s decision to move ahead with Zulti South ends a long period of uncertainty, it comes at a time when the mineral sands market is under pressure. Due to excess supply, zircon and ilmenite prices remained on a downward trend in 2025. This situation has already weighed on the performance of some producers, including French mining group Eramet, whose revenue from operations in Senegal declined by 23% over the past financial year.

Beyond current market conditions, this development also takes place amid restructuring within Rio Tinto’s portfolio. Last August, the group announced that it had placed its iron and titanium division, including Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), under strategic review. The scope of that review remains unclear, creating uncertainty about its potential implications for the future of RBM and, more broadly, for the Zulti South project.

Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) is a joint venture owned 74% by Rio Tinto and 24% by Blue Horizon, a consortium bringing together investors and host communities around the mine. The remaining stake is held by an employee benefit trust.

Aurel Sèdjro Houenou