Türkiye’s exports of boron and associated merchandise have hit an all-time excessive this yr, stated a senior official on Wednesday, because the nation revved up efforts to learn extra from its huge reserves of the important thing materials.
The state-run mining agency, Eti Maden, has shipped some 2.65 million tons of boron merchandise this yr, knowledgeable the Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez at an occasion within the capital Ankara.
“By transforming boron ores into products with a high added value, Eti Maden achieved significant success in boron production and sales last year and set a record with sales of 2.63 million tons of refined boron,” Dönmez famous.
Türkiye has been in search of to spice up its value-added merchandise, and has been processing extra boron and producing semi-finished and completed merchandise as a substitute of promoting instantly after extraction, which was the case in earlier years.
The aspect is actively utilized in many areas together with know-how, power, cleansing supplies, protection, glass and ceramics.
Recalling that final yr’s boron gross sales introduced in $1.03 billion, the minister stated that determine rose to a whopping $1.3 billion in 2022.
Dönmez identified that the tide within the power sector has modified, and goals of being a technologically superior nation has gained extra significance than being an energy-producing nation.
Emphasizing that Türkiye is the world’s high producer with a share of 62% of gross sales within the world boron market, the minister stated 2023 could be the yr when the nation would thrive in each power and mining sectors.
In addition to expanded mining works, Türkiye has additionally ramped up investments to arrange new amenities to enlarge its manufacturing capability.
Dönmez stated {that a} boron carbide manufacturing facility with a 1,000 ton capability could be operational within the first month of 2023. He additionally referred to the ferro boron manufacturing facility beneath development in northwestern Balıkesir province since September, and stated the 800-ton capability facility could be commissioned towards the tip of 2023.
The minister burdened that Türkiye, for the primary time on the earth, produced lithium from liquid wastes arising whereas producing boron.
“We started our first production with 10 tons per year at our pilot plant. Hopefully, we will hold the tender for our lithium carbonate facility in the town of Kırka, which will annually produce 600 tons of lithium carbonate in January 2023,” he famous.
He added {that a} second lithium carbonate manufacturing facility with a yearly manufacturing capability of 100 tons is about to be in-built northwestern Bandırma province, bringing the nation’s lithium carbonate manufacturing to a complete of 700 tons yearly, thereby able to assembly half of Türkiye’s annual demand.
