Sierra Rutile Limited is a natural mineral sands producer focused on the mining and processing of rutile, ilmenite and zircon concentrates. Its core operations are located in Sierra Leone, where it holds several mining leases and operates both dredge and dry‐mining facilities. The company’s primary output, rutile, is a naturally occurring form of titanium dioxide used in pigment and advanced materials applications. Secondary products such as ilmenite and zircon also serve a range of industrial markets, including ceramics, welding, and refractory materials.
The roots of Sierra Rutile date back to the late 1960s, when initial dredge operations commenced in Sierra Leone’s rich alluvial deposits. Production was suspended during the country’s civil conflict in the 1990s and early 2000s, and later resumed under new ownership in the mid-2000s. In 2006, the company launched a redevelopment program under the Titanium Resources Group, which brought the operation back into commercial production. In April 2016, Sierra Rutile became a wholly owned subsidiary of Iluka Resources, integrating into a broader global minerals portfolio.
Today, Sierra Rutile combines heavy mineral extraction with on-site milling and separation processes. The company’s infrastructure includes floating dredges, dry mining circuits and wet concentrators, enabling the efficient recovery of high-grade rutile and associated heavy minerals. Products are shipped to customers around the world, supporting pigment manufacturers, aerospace and electronics industries and other specialty markets that rely on high-purity titanium and zircon feedstocks.
Headquartered in Freetown, Sierra Rutile maintains a local workforce complemented by regional technical expertise. The company’s management team oversees development programs aimed at extending mine life, optimizing production and enhancing environmental and community engagement initiatives. Through its operations in Sierra Leone, Sierra Rutile remains a key supplier in the global natural rutile market and contributes to the country’s economic development.
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