The Titanium Centre of Competence (TiCoC), hosted by the CSIR and funded by the Department of Science and Technology, is developing a suite of complementary technologies to help South Africa add value to its vast resources of titanium. Key to this program is the development and commercialization of a novel process for producing the primary titanium metal. The estabishment of a small-scale Titanium Pilot Plant on the CSIR campus is an important milestone in this process.

The Titanium Pilot Plant is unique in that it will be able to produce titanium powder at a much lower cost than present imports, making this light metal an economically viable option from which many industries can be created and sustained. South Africa’s entire titanium beneficiation strategy depends largely on the success of this pilot plant and its further commercialization.

The launch of the CSIR Titanium Pilot Plant not only unleashes a new era for South African titanium, but also strategically positions South Africa as a key player in the international titanium arena, undoubtedly stimulating further development of various economic sectors with long-term advantages that go into 2020 and beyond.