By Nuru Salim.
After 11 successful years of operations, Base Titanium has officially called it a day for the mining activities in Kenya, with the shipment of its final bulk vessel.
The last ship, Devbulk Sinem, departed on February 12, 2025, at around 12:30 pm, marking the end of a decade-long journey that began in 2012 when the company first started its operations in Kwale County.
As the ship hooted and set sail, a bittersweet sendoff marked the closing of a chapter in Kenya’s mining history, one that had a profound impact on the nation’s economy.
The final shipment, which carried 4,200 metric tonnes of rutile, is being sent to international markets, with the portion going to the U.S.A.
Rutile has been a key product for Base Titanium, with the company exporting the majority of its rutile to the U.S., Japan, and Korea, and zircon to Europe, Japan, China, and the U.S.
Base Titanium’s first mineral vessel, the African Eagle Cargo, made its maiden voyage on February 12, 2014.
Since then, the company has shipped a total of 171 vessels, transporting millions of tonnes of valuable minerals to international markets from the Kwale sand project.
The company averaged 15-18 shipments annually, making Base Titanium one of the largest and most influential mining operations in Kenya.
Over the years, Base Titanium became a dominant player in the country’s mining sector, accounting for 65% of Kenya’s total mineral output value, making it the largest tonnage export operation in the country.
The company’s contributions played a pivotal role in driving Kenya’s economic growth through mineral exports like ilmenite, rutile, and zircon.
Denham Vickers, General Manager for Operations at Base Titanium, reflected on the company’s successful journey, expressing pride in the team’s hard work and dedication over the years.
“Over the course of our operations, we have shipped a total of 5.2 million tonnes of minerals, which equates to about 186,000 truckloads. This includes 3.9 million tonnes of ilmenite, 804,000 tonnes of rutile, 295,000 tonnes of zircon, 93,000 tonnes of lagrate-zircon, and 124,000 tonnes of lagrate-rutile.”
He said that Base Titanium has come a long way since it began operations in Kenya, their final shipment being a testament to the team’s relentless commitment to their success.
“It’s been an emotional day for all of us. However, the reason for ending the operation is because we’ve mined all the available ore. By December 31st, all the ore had been extracted, and by January 4th, the processing of the last batch of ores was completed. This marks a conclusion to our mining phase, and we’re proud of everything we’ve achieved.” He said.
He said that Base Titanium leaves behind a lasting impact of skilled workforce development, the community investments and contributions to Kenya’s economy will continue to shape the future.
“We’ve set high standards in environmental management, worker safety, and community relations, all of which will resonate far beyond our departure,” Vickers added.
Elizabeth Kyallo, Port and Shipping Manager at the Likoni Base Port Facility also reflected on the company’s long-standing operations and the team’s success in ensuring smooth export operations.
“Since we began operations, around 80% of the minerals we mined were brought to our port facility, where they were shipped in bulk. Today, as we ship off our final consignment, the port facility is empty of minerals for the first time in over a decade. Our facility has been at the heart of our operations, and without the dedication and hard work of our employees, the community, and all our partners, we wouldn’t have made it this far.” She said,
Kyallo said that throughout the 11 years of operations, they have maintained the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency with less than a handful of incidents reported.
In addition to its contributions to Kenya’s economy, Base Titanium has been deeply involved in community development, particularly in Msambweni, Likoni and LungaLunga.
The company has provided sponsorships to local students, enabling many to pursue higher education and career opportunities.
Over the years, Base Titanium employed an average of 1,100 people annually, with 71% of the workforce coming from Kwale County and 98% of the employees being Kenyan nationals.
Base Titanium has also been a significant contributor to Kenya’s national economy, paying taxes and royalties throughout its operations.
In the 2023 financial year alone, the company paid over US$54.35 million (approximately Sh7 billion) in direct tax, royalties, VAT, and other statutory payments.
Looking ahead, Base Titanium holds five prospective licenses, which will allow the company to continue exploration in the country.
Although its mining operations have come to an end, the company’s port facility in Mombasa will remain under Base Titanium’s ownership, with the potential for future exploration projects in the region.
