The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $75 million in funding to support South Africa-based Nyanza Light Metals in launching a major titanium-processing plant. The investment is part of the Bank’s broader industrial development agenda aimed at strengthening Africa’s mineral value chains.
The facility will produce ultra-pure titanium dioxide pigment, a critical industrial input used in paint, plastics, inks, and pharmaceuticals. South Africa, which possesses abundant titanium reserves, currently exports most raw minerals without value-addition. The project aims to reverse this trend by promoting advanced processing on the continent.
Once operational, the plant is expected to create over 800 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly through supply-chain activities. The project will also support local research partnerships, skills development initiatives, and supplier-integration systems with small African businesses.