Boron Sales Hit Record USD 1.3 Billion

Boron Sales Reach Record USD 1.3 Billion Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez recalled that Eti Maden transformed boron ore into high-value-added products and broke records with 2 million 630 thousand tons of refined boron sales, which generated USD 1 billion 30 million for the country. Breaking its own record this year, Eti Maden operated at 95 percent capacity and achieved 2 million 650 thousand tons of refined boron sales, generating USD 1 billion 300 million in revenue for the country. Steps to obtain higher value-added returns from boron mining in Turkey, which holds 62 percent of the global boron market, were addressed at the 2nd Boron Workshop, which examined issues ranging from production to marketing, supply to research and development (R&D) from both academic and industry perspectives. The workshop was hosted by Eti Maden General Directorate. At the workshop, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez stated that Turkey is a leading country in boron production and export, saying "I know you have heard this statement many times before. Our academics have included this statement repeatedly in their academic research, and our sector representatives in their reports. Is merely producing and exporting a product sufficient? Of course not. What truly enriches a product, adds value to it, and sets it apart from others actually begins before production with R&D and innovation."

"Turkey is now transitioning from consuming technology to producing it"

Minister Dönmez stated that the transformation of boron ore into boron carbide, ferroboron and lithium reflects the transformation and change targets they have set in the technology sector, saying "In fact, not just boron, but in energy and all other fields, Turkey is now transitioning from consuming technology to producing it. Global competition once centered on increased production; now it focuses on technology development."  

"Eti Maden broke its own record with 2 million 650 thousand tons of refined boron sales, generating USD 1 billion 300 million in revenue for the country"

Dönmez recalled that Eti Maden broke records last year by transforming boron ore into high-value-added products and achieving 2 million 630 thousand tons of refined boron sales, which generated USD 1 billion 30 million for the country. He said "This year, Eti Maden broke its own record by operating at 95 percent capacity and achieving 2 million 650 thousand tons of refined boron sales, generating USD 1 billion 300 million in revenue for the country. On behalf of my ministry, I extend my gratitude to all employees who contributed to this achievement. God willing, Eti Maden will surpass these figures with a new record in the centennial year of our Republic."

"We will commission our 1,000-ton capacity boron carbide facility in January 2023"

Minister Dönmez noted that Eti Maden is a pioneering and exemplary organization in high-value-added boron sales and stated: "With our new end-product-focused boron strategy, we have implemented our boron carbide, ferroboron and lithium facilities. We will commission our 1,000-ton capacity boron carbide facility in Bandırma in January 2023. We laid the foundation three years ago. Although facility construction slowed during the pandemic due to supply chain disruptions, it did not stop. As you know, even getting a single part from abroad was nearly impossible during that period. Thankfully, we have now reached the stage to open our facility. Boron carbide, which is highly important in national defense and foreign markets and is used in the production of wear-resistant machine parts and in nuclear power plants, will now have Turkey as its new base. We are also starting the project for a new boron carbide facility with 5,000-ton annual production capacity in Kütahya Emet."

"We will lay the foundation for the lithium carbonate facility in Kirka at the earliest opportunity"

Minister Dönmez noted that they will hold the tender for the lithium carbonate facility in Kirka, which will produce 600 tons annually in January 2023, saying "We will lay the foundation for our facility as soon as possible, God willing. In due course, we will lay the foundation for our second lithium carbonate facility in Bandırma, which will produce 100 tons annually. By producing 700 tons of lithium annually across both facilities, we will produce 50 percent of Turkey's lithium needs domestically in Eti Maden facilities."

"We will commission the pilot facility for processing rare earth element reserves in February 2023"

Minister Dönmez provided information that they will build a pilot facility in Beylikova that will initially process 1 million 200 thousand tons of ore annually, saying "We will complete and commission our facility in February 2023, God willing. After completing the R&D work at this facility, we will rapidly begin construction of the industrial production facility. When the industrial facility reaches full capacity, it will process 570 thousand tons of ore annually." Beylikova district in Eskişehir had previously yielded a discovery of 694 million tons of rare earth element reserves. The reserve, containing 17 different rare earth elements, is the world's second-largest reserve after China's 800 million tons. Rare earth elements are used in more than 20 fields, ranging from fiber optics to satellite communications, smart missiles to fuel cells.