By Agnetta Okwemba
Base Titanium Limited, a leading mining company in Kenya, has marked the end of an era with its final bulk shipment of minerals to the United States.
After 11 years of operations, the Australian-owned firm has officially ceased mining activities in Kwale County, having exhausted its mineral reserves.
The last shipment, dispatched on Wednesday, carried 4,200 tonnes of rutile, a titanium dioxide mineral used in paints, ceramics, and electronics.
The departure of the MV Devbulk Sinem vessel from the Likoni Ferry Channel port was met with mixed emotions from Base Titanium staff, who gathered to bid farewell to the 171st and final shipment in the company’s history.
Since commencing operations in 2014, Base Titanium has been a cornerstone of Kenya’s mining sector, extracting and exporting three key minerals: zircon, rutile, and ilmenite.
Over the past decade, the company shipped a total of 5.2 million tonnes of minerals—equivalent to 186,000 truckloads—to markets in the US, Japan, Korea, and China.
Ilmenite accounted for the majority of exports at 3.9 million tonnes, followed by rutile (804,000 tonnes) and zircon (295,000 tonnes).
Denham Vickers, Base Titanium’s Operations General Manager, described the closure as both a proud achievement and a poignant moment.
“We completed mining by December 31 and finished processing the last batch of ore by January 4,” he said.
“It’s a feeling of happiness tinged with sadness. This has been the most rewarding, exciting, and satisfying operation of my 45-year career in mining.”
Vickers highlighted the collaborative efforts of the company’s staff, the local community, and the Kenyan government, which supported the project from its inception.
“This is the first time I’ve been part of an operation from start to finish,” he added.
Elizabeth Kyallo, the Port and Shipping Manager, noted that the company’s port, once bustling with activity, now stands empty for the first time in over a decade.
“It’s swept clean,” she said, noting the symbolic significance of the final shipment.
While most of the minerals have been shipped, a small quantity of ilmenite and rutile remains stored at the port, with container shipments scheduled for completion next month.
Base Titanium’s departure leaves behind a legacy of significant economic contributions.
The company invested billions in infrastructure, created thousands of jobs, and supported community development projects in Kwale County.
Despite holding five active exploration licenses—one in Ramisi Kwale, two in Lamu, and two outstanding for broader exploration—Vickers cautioned that the discovery of new viable mineral deposits is uncertain.
“In a thousand fields, you might only find one that supports a viable mining operation,” he said.
As Base Titanium closes this chapter, its impact on Kenya’s mining industry remains undeniable.
The company’s success has demonstrated the potential of Kenya’s mineral resources, but the search for new deposits will determine whether the sector can sustain its momentum.
For now, the industry bids farewell to one of its most successful and transformative operations.
