Name of the Project
Zulti South project.

Location
Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Mineral sands producer Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), a joint venture between Rio Tinto (74%) and Blue Horizon, a consortium of investors and host communities, which owns 24%. The remaining shares are held in an employee trust.

Project Description
RBM currently operates within the Zulti North lease area, which includes a mineral separation plant and smelting facility. As the orebody at Zulti North declines, Zulti South is important to RBM, as it is expected to maintain a stable supply of zircon, rutile and ilmenite, and support titanium dioxide sales over the life-of-mine (LoM).

The investment aims to extend the mine's life to 2050 and ensure RBM's operational continuity.

The project will be completed in phases.

This first phase will support RBM’s supply of zircon and ilmenite. The second phase will follow as part of the long-term development strategy.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
R8.5-billion ($473-million).

Planned Start/End Date
Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of 2026 and will take 30 months to complete, with initial commercial production expected in the fourth quarter of 2028.

Latest Developments
Richards Bay Minerals and Voltalia announced on April 8, 2026, that the Bolobedu Solar Farm, in Limpopo, had reached commissioning, with the first megawatt-hours of electricity fed into South Africa’s national grid. The plant has total installed capacity of 148 MW and, once fully operational, is expected to reduce RBM’s greenhouse-gas emissions by at least 10%, or about 237 000 t/y.

The renewable power will be supplied to RBM’s KwaZulu-Natal operations through a wheeling arrangement through the Eskom transmission network. Rio Tinto has said the project marks a further step in RBM’s long-term sustainability plans as part of the recently approved Zulti South project. 

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
China Harbour Engineering Company (engineering, procurement and construction contractor).

Contact Details for Project Information
Rio Tinto South Africa corporate affairs, Londi Sibisi, cell +27 72 552 0050 or email Londi.sibisi@riotinto.com.
Richards Bay Minerals, Nelisiwe Masina, cell +27 60 546 5040 or email Nelisiwe.Masina@riotinto.com.