History
1972
Kenmare was incorporated in Ireland on 7 June 1972 pursuant to the 1963 Act under the name Kenmare Oil Exploration Limited (registered number 37550).
1985
In 1985, after several years of oil exploration, the Company re-registered as a public limited company under the name Kenmare Oil Exploration plc.
1987
In 1987 Kenmare Oil Exploration plc changed its named to Kenmare Resources plc. The Company also acquired an interest in licences containing the Congolone heavy mineral sands deposit in Mozambique.
1994
In 1994 Kenmare began production of graphite at Ancuabe in Mozambique, establishing itself as one of the world’s leading producers of high quality natural flake graphite until 1999. The Company also listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Irish Stock Exchange (now Euronext Dublin).
1996
In 1996 BHP became a joint venture partner in the development of the deposit.
1999
From 1996 to 1999, BHP concentrated on a new area of the Mine and identified new deposits of heavy minerals at the coastal zone of Namalope (comprising the Namalope Reserve as well as the Mualadi and Pivilli deposits). Following BHP’s closure of some titanium feedstock operations in 1999, the joint venture arrangement was dissolved without Kenmare ceding any equity interest to BHP.
2001
In 2001 Kenmare acquired the outstanding interest in the licence from the original owner.
2004
In 2004 construction of the Moma Mine began.
2007
In 2007 the Moma Mine delivered its first production.
2009
In 2009 commercial production was achieved at Moma.
2012
In 2012 Kenmare generated EBITDA of US$99 million.
2015
In Q2 2015 the Moma Mine achieved annualised production of one million tonnes per annum of products.
2016
In 2016 Kenmare became the third largest TiO2 producer globally.
2018
In 2018 the first of three growth projects to increase ilmenite production to 1.2 million tonnes per annum (plus associated co-products), a 20% capacity increase of WCP B, was delivered on time and more than 35% under budget.
2019
Construction of Wet Concentrator Plant (WCP) C began in 2019 and first Heavy Mineral Concentrate production was delivered in February 2020. WCP C is Kenmare's third mining plant and the second of three growth projects to increase ilmenite production to 1.2 million tonnes per annum.
2020
WCP B and its dredge were successfully moved 23km by road from their previous mining area at Namalope to a new high grade ore zone called Pilivili in September 2020. The relocation represented the heaviest piece of mining equipment ever to be moved in Africa. The WCP B move was the final of Kenmare’s three growth projects to deliver 1.2 Mtpa of ilmenite production on a sustainable basis.
