Fairbreeze Minerals mine officially opened

AFTER 25 years in the making, the Fairbreeze Mine was finally opened by minerals mining giant Tronox on Tuesday, to the esteemed approval of a host of dignitaries in attendance.

The event welcomed KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu, KZN first lady and uThungulu District Mayor Thembeka Mchunu, Tronox CEO Tom Casey and Chief Director of Mineral Regulation at the Department of Mineral Resources, Rebone Nkambule who all congratulated the company on the R3.3-billion operation.

Tronox will mine titanium dioxide at Fairbreeze, south of Mtunzini, over the next 20 to 25 years to replace ore from Tronox KZN Sands Hillendale Mine, which was depleted three years ago.

The raw minerals are used to produce white titanium dioxide pigment found in products such as coatings and plastics.

Casey said despite many moments over the past two decades when markets were too weak to push the development forward, the global group persisted believing in the long-term value of its KZN operations.

‘We will continue to contribute and we are planning further expansion worth R1.5-billion, taking our investment here to about R5-billion.

‘This will not only create more jobs, but add to skills development in this area.’

Premier Mchunu thanked Tronox for the 1000 jobs created during construction as well as the estimated 1000 indirect and direct jobs that will be created for the local community in coming months.

‘For every one employee, an average of six family members is supported.

‘Words cannot express our appreciation for your decision to invest in this mine.

‘Last year, we were all concerned following losses of about 23 000 jobs in the mining industry.

‘We feared about the loss of household incomes for many families especially those living in rural areas whose breadwinners were in the mining sector.

‘It is for these reasons that as the provincial government we have always supported all efforts aimed at establishing the Fairbreeze Mine.

‘As government, we believe that Fairbreeze Mine is an integral part of our provincial industrial development strategy, which enjoins us to increase the level of mineral beneficiation as a means of increasing employment and adding more value to our natural resources before export.

‘This process will eventually help move us from being a Third World exporter of primary commodities to a First World exporter of manufactured products.

‘As we celebrate the skill and the labour which accomplished this feat, we should see its completion as one of the things that will strengthen the manufacturing industry in the province and ultimately ensure that we overtake Gauteng in terms of contribution towards the national manufacturing sector.’