All systems go for Fairbreeze mine

HEAVY mineral producer Tronox got the final nod to start full construction on its controversial Fairbreeze mine south of Mtunzini.

The US-based company received its last required environmental permit, a water use license, to start construction on its dune mining operation..

‘Granting of the water use license marks a major milestone for Tronox,’ said Tronox Mineral Sands President Trevor Arran.

‘It means we can commence building the required operational infrastructure to have Fairbreeze up and running in 2015.’

After a two-year clash with several conservation groups, including the Mtunzini Conservancy and Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), Arran re-iterated Tronox’s promise to respect the mine’s surrounding natural environment as well as neighbours Mtunzini and the Umlalazi Nature Reserve.

‘As we enter this next phase, we remain steadfast in our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, and look forward to our continued role as an active and responsible citizen in the local community,’ said Arran.

Titanium ore, zircon and other minerals mined at Fairbreeze will replace ore from the Tronox KZN Sands Hillendale mine that will cease production at the end of this year.

Arran noted that Tronox has sufficient inventory to continue running its KZN processing and smelting operations at capacity during the gap between the end of mining at Hillendale and the Fairbreeze start-up.

The company projects that the mine will create more than 1 000 permanent and contractor positions and generate an additional 1 000 indirect jobs.

Tronox anticipates spending approximately R530-million on services and products, more than half of which will go to black economic empowerment (BEE) companies.

New infrastructure at Fairbreeze, such as a new electric power substation and water pipeline, is also expected to benefit the region.