The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $75 million to finance Nyanza Light Metals Pty Ltd, a South Africa-based company developing Africa’s first large-scale titanium dioxide pigment manufacturing plant.
The project aims to boost industrialisation, promote import substitution, and strengthen Africa’s position in the global titanium value chain.
According to AfDB, the financing will support the construction and operation of an 80,000-tonne-per-year titanium dioxide pigment plant within the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) in KwaZulu-Natal.
The facility will process local and regional titanium ores into high-value pigment used in paints, coatings, food, cosmetics, and medical products.
The investment seeks to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported titanium dioxide, while driving sustainable industrial growth and regional value addition.
The funding package also includes $25 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), a co-financing partnership between AfDB and the People’s Bank of China.
What AfDB and Nyanza are saying
AfDB’s Vice President, Solomon Quaynor, said the investment shows the Bank’s commitment to shifting Africa’s economic structure from raw material exports to local value creation.
He emphasized that the initiative will help build an inclusive industrial economy and generate employment across the continent.
“By supporting Nyanza, we are changing Africa’s old paradigm of exporting raw materials while importing finished goods,” Quaynor said. “This project will help build an industrial economy that creates inclusive opportunities for millions.”
Nyanza CEO, Donovan Chimhandamba, described the approval as a pivotal achievement for Africa’s industrial future, noting that AfDB’s involvement goes beyond financing.
“AfDB brings credibility, partnership, and long-term commitment. For decades, Africa has exported raw minerals and imported finished products at a premium. With AfDB’s support, we’re reclaiming that value locally,” he said.
Chimhandamba added that the initiative will empower youth, women, and entrepreneurs, while building a world-class beneficiation complex to serve both domestic and international markets.
Broader impact on South Africa
South Africa currently imports nearly all its titanium dioxide needs despite being rich in titanium mineral resources.
According to the AfDB, the Nyanza project represents Africa’s first major effort to produce titanium dioxide pigment locally, a move aimed at cutting reliance on costly imports.
It is also expected to strengthen regional supply chains and position the continent as a competitive player in global titanium processing.
When completed, the Nyanza facility could serve as a blueprint for how mineral processing within Africa can boost industrial capacity and enhance economic self-sufficiency.
