History
1906
Dr. E.T. Mellor described the presence of the mineral Apatite in the Palabora Igneous Complex.
1906
1940
| The eminent geologist, Dr. Hans Merensky, started mining vermiculite at Phalaborwa and his extensive prospecting activities proved the phosphate reserves to be truly vast. |
1940
1951
Foskor was founded with a £1 million loan from the IDC.
1951
1953
| Foskor plant in Phalaborwa comissioned. 50k tons of concentrate were produced in the first year. Current production 2 million tons per year. |
1953
1974
Tailings agreement with Palabora Mining Company (PMC) providing 10 million tons of ore resulting in an extra 1 million tons of rock concentrate per year.
1974
1976
| PMC tailings floatation plant commissioned in Phalaborwa. |
1976
1976
| A phosphoric acid and two sulphuric acid plants were commissioned by Triomf Kunsmis in Richards Bay |
1976
1984
Triomf became Indian Ocean Fertiliser (IOF)
1984
1984
The granulation plant was commissioned in Richards Bay
1984
1987
| Foskor became a 30% shareholder in Indian Ocean Fertilizers (IOF) in Richards Bay. (IOF was established in 1976 as Triomf Kunsmis by Louis Luyt). |
1987
1987
| Started exporting MAP to Australia and Brazil. |
1987
1993
| First shipment of phosphoric acid was dispatched to India from Richards Bay after the lifting of sanctions during September 1993. (Contract signed with MFC). |
1993
1994
| Foskor raised its IOF shareholding to 50% |
1994
1997
Foskor became a 100% shareholder of IOF.
1997
1999
| Extension 8 beneficiation plant was commissioned in Phalaborwa. It increased the plant throughput by 4.4 million tons per year. The plant has the capacity to increase the output of rock concentrate by 500k tons per year. |
1999
2000
| The Phalaborwa and Richards Bay plant were integrated into one Group consisting of two operating divisions - Mining and Acid. |
2000
2001
IOF became Foskor Richards Bay
2001
2002
| Richards Bay doubled its acid production capacity by commissioning 2nd plant. |
2002
2002
| Commissioned Turbo Generator in Richards Bay with capacity of 27 MW. |
2002
2002
| Foskor started exporting MAP and DAP into SADC |
2002
2003
| Foskor acquired a 5% share in Godavari Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd India. |
2003
2004
| Foskor enters into a Business Assistance Agreement with Coromandel Fertilizers Limited from India who then obtained a 2.5% shareholding in Foskor. |
2004
2005
| IDC loan to Foskor increased from R544 million to R1.4 billion |
2005
2008
| Coromandel increased their shareholding in Foskor to 14% and SUN India obtained a 1% shareholding in Foskor. |
2008
2008
| Phalaborwa's hauling capacity increased to 26 million tons per year with the addition of 4 new 180-ton haul trucks. |
2008
2009
| Mining from a new open cast mine in the Southern Pyroxenite ore body in Phalaborwa started and a new tolling agreement with PMC was signed to utilise spare milling capacity to supply milled pyroxenite ore to the Foskor plant. |
2009
2009
| Foskor returns an historical high net profit of R2.6 billion, largely driven by record international market prices for P205, high efficiency and production levels at both the mining and acid divisions. |
2009
2009
| Foskor repaid the IDC loan of R1.4 billion and declared a dividend of R1.3bn. |
2009
2010
| Foskor successfully concluded the BEE transaction with Manyoro consortium (15%), employees trust (6%) and communities trusts (5%). |
2010
2010
| Foskor accredited for training in Metallurgy, fitting and turning and mineral excavation. |
2010
2010
| IDC approved a R1 billion facility which was used mainly to finance the Pyroxenite Expansion Project II (PEP II) at the mine in Phalaborwa. |
2010
2011
| The R 1.2 billion PEP II completed, resulting in an increase in throughput of Extension 8 of 240 000 tons per year and North Pit Pushback to provide more throughput to the rest of the plant. |
2011
2012
| The export corridor between Phalaborwa and Maputo was opened. |
2012
2013
Commenced with a feasibility study on a possible JV with General Nice from China to put up a plant in Phalaborwa to beneficiate 1 million tons of Magnetite per year.
2013
2014
| IDC approved a R700 million facility for north pit expansion, D-stream floatation, tank replacements and 4th Belt Filter. |
2014