Heavyweight industry-backed UKTMP to convert TiO2 in Odisha
An Indian-Kazakhstan Joint Venture is to be established for converting Titanium Slag as feed material to produce Titanium Sponge, which is required for strategic use by Defence, Aero Space and Atomic Energy sectors, Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said in a written reply and an update to Rajya Sabha http://dst.gov.in.
The Joint Venture between IREL (India) Limited (IREL) and Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium & Magnesium Plant JSC (UKTMP JSC) Kazakhstan proposes to convert low TiO2 ilmenite produced in Odisha to high Titanium oxide (TiO2) Titanium slag, he said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 13 Dec.
The heavyweight partners of UKTMP JSC includes Boeing, Airbus, Nippon Steel, SNECMA, General Electric and many others.
“The intended downstream products are of strategic nature and demand and consumption depends upon existence of manufacturing facilities in aviation sector, which is being focused now in India by private sector,” he said.
“Moving forward to slag level is expected to attract value chain in aviation sector in India,” added Dr Jitendra Singh.
At present, India’s titanium sponge capacity is extremely limited (500 tpa) with production of the order of about 260 tpa.
A JV plant, under the agreement signed, is expected to catalyse the establishment of chloride pigment/Ti Slag/sponge manufacturing industry, which has been hindered by non-availability of high TiO2 feed stock https://www.conexpoconagg.com/.
UKTMP JSC will grant the licence for the technology of an automated furnace for the production of Titanium slag, including the technical design of the plant under the JV agreement https://www.makeinindia.com/home/.
The JV partners will further provide assistance during the Commissioning of the furnace and develop standard operating procedures for the working process of the plant.
UKTMP JSC will provide assistance in the commissioning of the plant in operation and hand-holding training to the plant operators, which in turn will result in developing skill set of the employees of the JV company.
IREL will safeguard the intellectual property rights of UKTMP JSC regarding the utilisation of titanium slag production technologies in India.
The proposal for setting up JVC with UKTMP JSC would result in production of titanium slag which is an intermediate value-added product in the titanium value chain https://www.bseindia.com/.
In addition, pig iron will also be produced in the plant having commercial value https://www.nseindia.com/.
The assured offtake of titanium slag by UKTMP JSC will significantly contribute to increase export value, the Minister said.
Further, it will pave the way for Indian Industries to produce titanium pigment/ sponge which are the ultimate end use products.
The proposal once implemented is expected to develop industry in titanium value chain and generate direct and indirect employment including the downstream industry to the tune of 8,000 to 10,000, along with foreign exchange earnings.
Titanium Slag is an intermediate product in the value chain of Titanium. It can be used as a feed material to produce Titanium Sponge which is used in the aerospace and defence sectors. The setting up of this JV plant is expected to catalyse the establishment of Titanium Sponge manufacturing industries which has been hindered by the limited availability of high grade TiO2 feed stock in Odisha.
The quality of Ti slag produced in Indian facility will be at par with the one required for producing Ti sponge/metal essential for strategic application in aerospace, defence and atomic energy.
Titanium Sponge is used in preparing critical components in the aerospace industry like Aircraft fuselage, engine parts and loading gear. In defence, it is used in armour plating, hull and heat exchanger in submarine, missiles, fighter jets etc. In atomic energy it is used for nuclear reactor shields, heat exchanger and condenser tubes etc.
UKTMP JSC is one of the largest vertically integrated industrial enterprises in the world, which includes all technological steps from the extraction of raw materials to the production of finished products.
The production structure of UKTMP JSC includes 5 main and 6 auxiliary workshops, as well as subsidiaries and joint ventures. The plant products are certified by all world aerospace companies. Kazakhstani titanium occupies 11% of the world market, 18% of the titanium market in the aerospace industry, is used in shipbuilding, medicine, oil and chemical industries. fiinews.com
