Phatshwane was addressing the media last Thursday after a tour of the mine. Botash is the largest producer of natural sodium products in Africa, currently producing soda ash and salt. The production capacity for soda ash is 300,000 tonnes per annum but at the moment the mine delivers approximately 280,000 tonnes per year. Production capacity for salt is 650,000 tonnes per annum which includes the variants chemical grade, food grade coarse salt, and food grade fine salt.

However, production of salt stands at approximately 420,000 tonnes per annum in line with market demand. Soda ash is mostly destined for South Africa while salt is for local consumption, sold to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo amongst others. Phatshwane noted that the timing for the launch of the three newly developed products will primarily depend on market dynamics. “We are yet to benefit commercially from those (newly developed products), but they are done (fully developed). Once the market is ready and priorities of the business allow, we will launch them,” Phatshwane said.