(a)the details of schemes promoting research and development of Titanium Metal in the country;
(b)whether the country is capable of commercially producing the said metal and if so,the details thereof; and
(c)if not, the reasons therefor and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a)Research to develop Titanium Metal production technology in the country was initially carried out in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Based upon this technology, a pilot plant was set up in Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad (an industrial unit of DAE). This technology was subsequently transferred to Defense Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), Ministry of Defence, who successfully operated a pilot plant. Based on the same technology, Department of Space in association with Kerala Minerals & Metals Ltd. (KMML), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Government of Kerala, is now operating an industrial scale unit for production of Titanium metal.
(b)Yes, Madam.
Details are as follows:
(i)India is capable of producing Titanium metal. Kerala Minerals & Metals Limited (KMML), a Kerala State Government Undertaking, has an installed capacity of 500TPA Titanium Sponge.
(ii)Currently KMML operates approximately at 50% capacity for producing high quality sponge, which is mainly consumed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). There is a potential to increase the capacity to 1000 TPA in case domestic demand arises.
(iii)Billets are produced at Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), a Public Sector Undertaking under Ministry of Defence and end products like tubes, bars etc. are produced at NFC, Hyderabad as per user requirement.
(c)Not applicable, in view of (b) above.
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