Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is widely used as a pigment in applications including paints and coatings, plastics, cosmetics, food processing and medical products.

Despite the high demand, manufacturers in South Africa and across the wider region are almost entirely reliant on imported TiO₂ and related processed titanium products.

This new project by Nyanza aims to shift this model by processing Africa’s titanium resources locally rather than exporting raw minerals.

Within the financing package, the AfDB’s US$75 million includes US$25 million drawn from the Africa Growing Together Fund, a co-financing initiative with the People’s Bank of China (PBoC).

The funds will support the development, construction and operation of a TiO₂ pigment plant with an annual capacity of 80,000 tonnes, together with required infrastructure at the RBIDZ site.

This financing forms part of a larger syndicated package led by the Africa Finance Corporation and the African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) as mandated lead arrangers and book­runners.

In a statement, the AfDB’s Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Solomon Quaynor, described the investment as a turning point:

“Through supporting Nyanza’s investment in infrastructure and local beneficiation of natural resources, we are shifting Africa away from being a low-value raw-material exporter to becoming a globally recognised manufacturer adding value on the continent.”

For its part, Nyanza’s President & CEO, Donovan Chimhandamba, said the AfDB approval marks a major milestone—not only for the company, but for Africa’s industrial future.

He emphasised the importance of shifting the continent’s reliance on raw exports to finished products made locally, thereby reclaiming value, creating jobs and driving inclusive industrial growth, especially benefiting youth, women and entrepreneurs.

The project is ambitious in scale – according to available project documents, Nyanza’s TiO₂ plant — situated on a 67-hectare site in RBIDZ — is estimated to produce 80,000 t per annum, covering roughly half of Africa’s anticipated capacity in this segment and just over 1% of the global market.

During construction, the project is expected to create more than 3,000 jobs, with some 850 permanent positions once fully operational.

By localising production of TiO₂ pigment—currently almost entirely imported in South Africa—this initiative is expected to reduce import reliance, bolster the domestic supply chain for paints, plastics, cosmetics and other industries, and reposition South Africa (and the continent) within the global titanium value-chain.