Very large Titanium source in Andhra
Titanium metal, which is used to build aircraft and rockets will now be exploited by Andhra Pradesh. Andhra has the largest quantum of 116 million tonnes, which has been unexploited so far. There is huge demand for titanium metal in the international markets.
Prof. C. Kasipathi of the department of geology in Andhra University said that the titanium metal that was used to make aircraft, artillery guns and other defence equipment because it was lightweight and noncorrosive. He said that there were huge reserves of ilmenite in the beach sands of north coastal Andhra.
Titanium metal is also used to make defence equipment. Titanium metal is a strong aluminium-like metal. It can withstand high temperttures and melts only at 1800 degrees Celsius and is twice as strong as steel. Titanium alloys are used in high-tech aircraft parts, missiles, space vehicles and even in surgical implants.
The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) has recently signed three MoUs to mine these aluminium-like metal by spending Rs 7,500 crores. APMDC will get 26 percent equity without any investment in all three ventures.
State mining minister P.Sabita Indra Reddy said that they had agreed to establish the titanium producing units apart from mining in the state. It would be the first unit in the country, she added.
