One-Billion-Dollar Boron Sale Completed

One Billion Dollar Boron Sales Achieved Energy and Natural Resources Minister Dönmez: "We are at the contract-signing stage for a ferro boron production facility with annual capacity of 800 tons in Balıkesir. We will lay the foundation for this facility in 2022," he said.

ANKARA (AA)

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez stated that record figures were achieved this year in boron production, exports and sales, saying: "We sold a total of 2.6 million tons of boron products, with 2.5 million tons being exports. We set a record by achieving sales figures exceeding one billion dollars." Dönmez informed that at the Boron Workshop held at the Eti Maden General Directorate, the boron carbide facility would be completed towards the end of 2022 and initial performance tests would be conducted. Emphasizing that this facility would increase the added value in boron, Dönmez said: "Another important work we are conducting related to boron concerns ferro boron, which is primarily used in steel production. We are at the contract-signing stage for a ferro boron production facility with annual capacity of 800 tons in Balıkesir. We will lay the foundation for this facility in 2022." Pointing out that preparations are continuing for the Rare Earth Elements Recovery Process Design, Pilot and Production Facility in Eskişehir, Dönmez stated that construction of the pilot facility would begin in the first quarter of 2022.

"We Own 62 Percent of the Boron Market"

Drawing attention to Turkey being the leader in the global boron market, Dönmez said: "In 2021, despite pandemic conditions, we set records in boron production, exports and sales. We sold a total of 2.6 million tons of boron products, with 2.5 million tons being exports. We achieved sales figures exceeding one billion dollars, setting a record. Today we own 62 percent of the boron market." Noting that Eti Maden produces lithium from liquid boron waste and that production continues at the pilot facility in Eskişehir, Dönmez stated: "The feedback we receive from this will lead to the establishment of two facilities with a combined capacity of 700 tons—600 tons annually in Kırka and 100 tons annually in Bandırma. We will hopefully conduct the construction tenders for these facilities in 2022 and lay the foundation for a new facility in Bandırma." Emphasizing that Turkey needs to prioritize domestic technology in order to be an effective player in the region's energy sector, Dönmez said: "In the past, when domestic technology was mentioned, it referred to technological experiments conducted by TÜBİTAK or R&D laboratories of state enterprises. We understand domestic technology as a technology ecosystem. We can accomplish this task through a large ecosystem ranging from our national laboratories to industrial support, certification and initiatives, and most importantly our universities. We are witnessing good examples of this ecosystem on the public side. TENMAK-BOREN has completed 342 projects since 2004 for the development of boron products and technologies and the expansion of their application areas. Work on 36 projects is still ongoing. Some of our projects have made progress in terms of patents and production. 28 of our projects have received patent certificates. Patent application processes are continuing for 20 of them. 16 of our industrial products in this scope have been commercialized and manufactured," he said. Stating that 2022 will be a year in which boron ore is converted into more end products, Dönmez said: "Our boron carbide facility will hopefully be commissioned. We will lay the foundation for our ferro boron facility and new domestic lithium facilities operating at full capacity. We will hopefully also begin construction of our pilot facility that will produce rare earth elements this year."