Richards Bay (South Africa)

Richard's Bay is a town situated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It lies on a 30 km2 (11,6 ml2) lagoon of Mhlatuze River, giving it one of country's biggest harbours. In 2011 the population of Richard's Bay was 57,390 people on a total area of 142.78 km2 (55.13 ml2).

Richard's Bay Coal Terminal is the world's largest coal export facility in the world with planned annual capacity of 91 million tons by the first half of 2009. The annual throughput in 2007 was 66.12 million tons.

A couple of aluminium smelters, Bayside Aluminium and Hillside Aluminum are operated by BHP Billiton. Fertiliser plant operated by Foskor was erected at the harbour. Rutile (titanium oxide), zircon and iron ore are mined from the sand dunes near the lagoon by Richard's Bay Minerals. 

Richard's Bay, alongside Rustenberg, is the fastest-developing city in South Africa. It's a fast-growing industrial centre able to maintain ecological diversity. However, like most South Africa's territory, Richard's Bay area is infected by poverty and unemployment (estimated at 40%). An undefined number of the locals live below the poverty line. 

Tourism, apart from mining industry, is a major part of economy, with Richard's Bay seen as the gateway to Zululand, popular with foreign visitors due to its large game parks and diverse wildlife on offer. Richard's Bay Industrial Development Zone is of the two Industrial Development Zones within KwaZulu-Natal province. It's a fully serviced industrial land which comprises heavy, medium and light industries linked to Port of Richard's Bay.