PTC Industries has forged a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Odisha government. They aim to establish an aerospace-grade titanium sponge facility in the eastern Indian state. Details regarding planned capacity, financial capital, and timeline remain undisclosed. However, this facility would position PTC as a key integrated producer, handling everything from sponge production to milled products.
“The Government of Odisha has played a pivotal role in facilitating this strategic investment, offering a conducive industrial ecosystem, policy support, and infrastructure incentives,” PTC stated.
This MoU follows PTC’s earlier January announcements. They commissioned a vacuum arc remelt (VAR) furnace in Lucknow. They also secured a supply agreement with Saudi Arabian sponge producer AMIC Toho Titanium Metal (ATTM).
India possesses the third-largest ilmenite reserves globally, totaling 85mn metric tonnes (t). However, its extraction lags behind other countries. India ranks ninth in mined production in 2023, according to the USGS.
Despite its substantial ore reserves, India’s sponge production is limited. Kerala Minerals & Metals operates a 500t/yr sponge facility, commissioned in 2011. Consequently, India relies heavily on imports to develop its aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
For context, the Toho Titanium and AMIC joint venture in Saudi Arabia, a 15,600t/yr sponge plant, was announced in 2014. Construction began in 2015, and commercial production started in 2019. The project required $420mn in investment. Qualifying sponge for aerospace applications can take up to three years. SuperMetalPrice views this development as a significant step in bolstering India’s titanium production capabilities.
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