Ground breaks at new titanium plant
Ground breaks at new titanium plant
Construction started on Vietnam’s second titanium complex last week, which is expected to lure more investors into Vietnam’s titanium processing industry.
Located in the central province of Binh Thuan’s Thang Hai II Industrial Zone, the $4.76 million titanium processing project is invested in by Binh Thuan Mineral Industry Joint Stock Company and Bao Thu Industrial Development and Investment Joint Stock Company.
Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, deputy head of Heavy Industries Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that when the Thang Hai II complex came online, it would be a breakthrough for Vietnam’s titanium industry. He noted that the complex had been designed to minimise its environmental impact.
General director of Binh Thuan Mineral Industry Joint Stock Company said the complex was expected to produce 180,000 tonnes of titanium slag and 50,000 tonnes of pigment per year. Its exports would be primarily to China, Japan and Korea.
Vietnam’s first titanium complex started construction last year in the Song Binh Industrial Zone, also in Binh Thuan, and is invested in by Binh Thuan Provincial Industrial Zones Management Authority and local Rang Dong Company.
Binh Thuan has titanium reserves of 599 million tonnes, accounting for 92 per cent of Vietnam’s total reserves. The province is also planning to set up Vietnam’s largest titanium processing industrial zone to accommodate large titanium projects which will consist of the Song Binh Industrial Zone and the Thang Hai Industrial Zone.
According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, there are currently 17 titanium processing projects in the works at different levels of development including a $350 million complex by Russia’s Geopromining Group, a $650 million facility by Binh Minh Ex-Import Co., a $620 million project by Hanoi Technology Co., and a $130 million complex by Him Lam Minerals JSC.
Vietnam is estimated to have a total reserve of around 650 million tonnes of titanium, accounting for five per cent of the world’s reserves, just behind Canada, the US, Norway, India, and Australia, according to the Vietnam Titanium Association.
Titanium is important in shipbuilding, airplane manufacturing and painting industries, among others. In the past, the lion’s share of the mineral mined in Vietnam was exported, but under a government decision the export of ilmenite ore, the raw material for producing titanium, was stopped. Instead the country will focus on producing refined products such as titanium slag, refined ilmenite, synthetic rutile and Ti02 pigments, all of which have high added value.
Last year the prime minister approved a master plan for the titanium sector, paving the way for investors keen to tap into this lucrative industry.
Under the master plan, the prime minister agreed to zone off areas for the exploration and production of titanium through 2020 with a vision towards 2030. The country’s four titanium ore producing areas will supply raw materials for manufacturing facilities in Thai Nguyen, Ha Tinh, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces.
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