Base Resources forecasts higher ilmenite and rutile output from Kenya

Australian mining company Base Resources expects ilmenite output from its Kenyan titanium mine to rise by up to five percent and rutile by up to 11 percent in the financial year to June 30, 2017, the company said on Friday.

Ilmenite is mined for titanium dioxide production and used as a base pigment in paint, paper and plastics, while rutile is used in refractory ceramics and as a pigment.

Base Resources said that ilmenite output will be between 450,000 and 480,000 tons, compared with 455,870 tons this financial year. Rutile production is expected to rise to between 88,000 and 95,000 tons, up from 85,654 tons.

The $305 million (Sh30.8 billion) Base Resources project is seen as integral to Kenyan plans to expand its relatively modest and undeveloped mining sector.

Base Titanium, Kenya’s first large-scale international mining project, shipped the first consignment of minerals in February 2014 after years of delays.

The mine is also expected to increase production of zircon by up to 27 percent to between 35,000 and 40,000 tons.