Sichuan looks to strengthen rare earths, TiO2
By Albert Li
Published: Friday, 07 July 2017
Authorities in the Chinese province are aiming to expand R&D and innovation in TiO2 and rare earths, targeting electronics and automotive.
China’s Sichuan province is targeting the
expansion of its titanium dioxide (TiO2) industry
and of rare earths and their downstream sectors as part of the
2017 Economic Development Target for the
province’s Panxi economic zone, local authorities
announced on 6 June.
Panxi owns the biggest titanium feedstock base in China,
represented by Pangang Group Vanadium Titanium & Resources
Co.
Although this company’s stock listing was
suspended, a number of measures have been announced with a view
to resume listing. These include expanding
TiO2 through mergers and acquisitions or
cooperation, and promoting high-quality
TiO2 R&D.
The plan includes also supporting new and high-tech
industries, especially rare earth and its downstream segments
– given that Sichuan has the second-largest light rare
earth resource in China, after Baotou in Inner Mongolia.
Chengdu Galaxy Magnet Company is due to benefit from this
government announcement as its two capacity expansion projects
have now been granted approval, adding 600tpa for NdFeB magnet
for hard drive applications, and 200 tpa for automotive
NdFeB.
Sichuan Wankaifeng Rare Earth New Energy Technology Company
has a rare earth hydrogen storage battery project, listed as
one of the 56 key provincial projects.
The company has a proven reserve of 1.37m tonnes and
prospective reserve of 3m tonnes.
In Panxi, rare earth material has fine particles and is thus
difficult to process, but an improved technique was recently
developed by China Geology Academy and supported by Sichuan
provincial government.
This processing method can increase rare earth recovery rate
from 20% to 55% in normal temperature.
This article was first published
online on 12
June.