One of the world's largest producers of phosphate and phosphoric acid, Foskor is proudly South African, but internationally focused. 
 
• Foskor was founded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in 1951 to produce phosphates for South Africa’s agricultural sector, and is the only vertically integrated producer of phosphate ore, phosphoric acid and granular fertiliser in South Africa.
 
• The Group’s core activities are the mining of phosphate rock and the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate-based fertilisers. Foskor mines and beneficiates phosphate rock at Phalaborwa in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, from there it is carried by rail to the production facility in Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal.
 
• Foskor is the leading South African supplier of granular fertilisers, the core ingredient in nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertiliser products known as NPKs. It is also a commercial producer of phosphoric and sulphuric acids and magnetite (a by-product of the phosphate beneficiation process), which are sold both locally and abroad.
 
History - Key Milestones and interesting facts about Foskor Mines
 
1906
Dr. E.T. Mellor described the presence of the mineral Apatite in the Palabora Igneous Complex.
 
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.
 
1951
Foskor was founded with a £1 million loan from the IDC.
 
1953
Foskor plant in Phalaborwa commissioned. 50k tons of concentrate were produced in the first year. Current production 2 million tons per year.
 
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.
 
1976
PMC tailings floatation plant commissioned in Phalaborwa.
 
1976
A phosphoric acid and two sulphuric acid plants were commissioned by Triomf Kunsmis in Richards Bay
 
1984
Triomf became Indian Ocean Fertiliser (IOF)
 
1984
The granulation plant was commissioned in Richards Bay
 
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
Started exporting MAP to Australia and Brazil.
 
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).
 
1994
Foskor raised its IOF shareholding to 50%
 
1997
Foskor became a 100% shareholder of IOF.
 
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.
 
2000
TThe Phalaborwa and Richards Bay plant were integrated into one Group consisting of two operating divisions - Mining and Acid.
 
2001
IOF became Foskor Richards Bay
 
2002
Richards Bay doubled its acid production capacity by commissioning 2nd plant.
 
2002
Commissioned Turbo Generator in Richards Bay with capacity of 27 MW.
 
2002
Foskor started exporting MAP and DAP into SADC
 
2003
Foskor acquired a 5% share in Godavari Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd India.
 
2004
Foskor enters into a Business Assistance Agreement with Coromandel Fertilizers Limited from India who then obtained a 2.5% shareholding in Foskor.
 
2005
IDC loan to Foskor increased from R544 million to R1.4 billion
 
2008
Coromandel increased their shareholding in Foskor to 14% and SUN India obtained a 1% shareholding in Foskor.
 
2008
Phalaborwa's hauling capacity increased to 26 million tons per year with the addition of 4 new 180-ton haul trucks.
 
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
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
Foskor repaid the IDC loan of R1.4 billion and declared a dividend of R1.3bn.
 
2010
Foskor successfully concluded the BEE transaction with Manyoro consortium (15%), employees trust (6%) and communities trusts (5%).
 
2010
Foskor accredited for training in Metallurgy, fitting and turning and mineral excavation.
 
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.
 
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.
 
2012
The export corridor between Phalaborwa and Maputo was opened.
 
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.
 
2014
IDC approved a R700 million facility for north pit expansion, D-stream floatation, tank replacements and 4th Belt Filter.
 
For more information contact / visit
www.foskor.co.za
Foskor Mining Division
Tel : +27 15 789 2000
 
Physical Address
27 Selati Road, Phalaborwa, Limpopo Province, 1390
 
Postal Address
P.O. Box 1, Phalaborwa, 1390