Zambezia exports 372,000 tons of ilmenite

Maputo, 16 Oct (AIM) – The district of Pebane, in the central province of Zambezia, exported just over 372,000 tons of ilmenite (iron titanium oxide) between 2020 and 2022, as a result of the growth in the mining of titanium-bearing heavy mineral sands.

Ilmenite is used in the manufacture of pigments. Titanium dioxide pigment has a high opacity and bright whiteness and is used in paints, paper and plastics.

In the same period, the main destination for this resource was the Chinese market, which became the largest buyer.

These figures were achieved through the implementation of the Tazetta Resources project, which has been exploiting ilmenite and zircon in Quichanga since March 2019.

According to the Maputo daily “Notícias”, in 2020 the export of ilmenite reached 102,900 tonnes, rising to 138,100 tonnes in 2021, and 132,000 thousand tons in 2022.

“The results pointed to the production of 367,735 tonnes of ilmenite and 32,255 tonnes of zircon in the three years analyzed”, claimed the report, adding that the implementation of this project is also expected to contribute to the development of Pebane.

The company exploiting the heavy sands, Tazetta Resources, is Russian owned, and the result of an investment of US$16 million. The reserves are expected to last for 15 years.
(AIM)