ROSSMIN: Building Growth from the Ground Up

South Africa’s industrial and agricultural progress relies heavily on a steady supply of limestone – the versatile mineral underpinning everything from construction to soil conditioning. In KwaZulu-Natal, Rossmin has become one of the country’s most reliable suppliers, producing high-quality limestone products for industries nationwide.

At its core, limestone extraction is a business of scale and precision. Massive open pits, powerful machinery, and meticulous sorting ensure the right grades of stone for different applications. Behind this impressive operation is a dedicated team and a company culture focused on safety, quality, and growth.

Mine Manager Fana Shozi oversees operations at Rossmin’s Port Shepstone site and is proud of its progress.

“We have two open-cast pits. The mining right we are on covers around 1,500 hectares. One pit is dolomitic limestone, with a high magnesium content, and the other is calcitic, with a high calcium concentration. These two distinct operations serve different markets, but both are mined here.”

PRECISION IN PRACTICE

Rossmin balances efficiency with sustainability. Blasting is carefully planned to maintain continuity of supply.

“We usually aim for 50,000 tonnes of limestone per blast because that’s the most cost-effective. We keep three to five months of blasted stone to support our customers, and around five years of open reserves to ensure sustainability,” explains Shozi.

Once blasted, material is transported to Rossmin’s crusher, with throughput capacity of 150 tonnes per hour.

“Our contractor delivers tonnes of production stone, plus tonnes of development stone from the quarry,” he says.

From there, stone is sized according to customer needs: Primary crushing reduces to 120–200mm and Secondary crushing screens to 60mm, 22mm, or dust.

This flexibility allows Rossmin to serve multiple sectors, from construction firms needing aggregates to farmers requiring soil supplements.

To refine product quality, the company has adopted optical sorting technology.

“Instead of chemical processing or slime dams, we use a laser colour camera and an infrared camera for selection. Stones are sorted for purity by colour – ideally super white – and by chemistry,” Shozi explains.

This precision supports high-value products for specialist industries. “Stone crushed can be further milled to 15 microns for the paint sector. We can also produce 2-, 5- or 10-micron powders, used in food production, paint, and other specialist sectors.”

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

Rossmin places local employment and development at the centre of its mission.

“We employ around 190 people daily – about half full-time and half contractors. We’ve developed several companies within the Oshabeni community, and we’re proud to have contractors from these businesses. Around 80% of our workforce, including contractors, comes from Oshabeni and Ray Nkonyeni municipality,” says Shozi.

This approach aligns with the wider South African mining industry’s push to create meaningful opportunities for host communities. Internally, unity is strong.

“The spirit is very good. We’ve built strong relationships with the community, traditional leadership, and local government. We feel wealthy in terms of relationships, and that results in great support for our projects,” Shozi notes.

SAFETY AND STANDARDS

Operating an open-pit mine carries risk, but Rossmin has earned a reputation for safety and compliance.

“Our safety statistics are very strong. We’ve been audited on health, safety, and environmental performance and are highly compliant. We are close to one million hours without a reported injury – thanks to the team’s efforts,” Shozi confirms.

This track record is significant in an industry where safety challenges remain a global concern.

BARRIERS TO GROWTH

While output is strong, expansion is limited by power constraints.

“We only have 1.5MW from Eskom.  For us to grow, we have to overcome the barrier of expensive and intermittent power from Eskom. When we develop alternative power supplies, we will have the ability to expand and exploit more from the current product portfolio,” says Shozi. Resolving this issue could unlock major opportunities.

“We’re considering options like a coatings plant – demand is strong for coated product. There’s also big demand for a two-micron product, but it isn’t cost-effective to produce at scale with our current mill,” he explains.

MARKET LEADERSHIP

Rossmin is building a strong reputation in a competitive market.

“Our competitors have longer histories, but while we’re still young, our presence is felt. Rivals follow us in the technology they install, so we’re teaching a thing or two – and we’re happy about that,” says Shozi.

Proximity to Durban strengthens their position with faster turnaround times and easier market access.

With South Africa’s construction industry expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.3% between 2025 and 2028, and agriculture continuing as a key limestone consumer, Rossmin is well placed to benefit.

“We have reserves for many years. Our goal is to improve onsite capacity and limit imports. Competing in those markets requires new equipment – but that depends on solving the power issue,” says Shozi.

STEADY PROGRESS

Reflecting on Rossmin’s journey, Shozi highlights resilience and ambition.

“We’ve faced challenges, but always overcome them. Our growth curve is steady – and always upwards.”

From its base in KwaZulu-Natal, Rossmin is not just extracting limestone but building a foundation for industrial growth. By investing in technology, prioritising safety, and placing communities first, the company is becoming a trusted partner in South Africa’s most vital industries.

As demand for construction materials and agricultural inputs rises, Rossmin’s ability to balance sustainability, community development, and growth will shape its future leadership in the limestone market.