Zoning for exploration and exploitation of titanium ore

The Prime Minister has just approved Document 1546/QD-TTg on Zoning Planning for exploration, exploitation, processing and use of titanium ore for the period up to 2020, with a view to 2030.

Mining of primary titanium ore by 2015

Regarding the planning for mining and ore selection, the period up to 2015 will mainly exploit original titanium ore (Thai Nguyen area) and titanium placer in the gray sand layer (all 4 areas). Focus on innovating, improving, and upgrading selection technology to increase the recovery rate of useful minerals, reduce water and electricity consumption. Research technology and carry out preparations for investment in mining in the Luong Son area (Northern Binh Thuan).

In the period of 2016 - 2020, continue to exploit the operating mines and put into operation new mines that were explored in the period up to 2015 in the provinces: Thai Nguyen, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan. Invest in mining and ore selection in Luong Son area (Northern Binh Thuan) with modern technology, large scale.

After 2020, maintain production at mines with remaining reserves. Depending on specific conditions (market, deep processing capacity, capital arrangement capacity, infrastructure conditions...), new projects will be developed.

Complete exploration of unified areas

Accordingly, the forecast reserves and resources of titanium ore are about 650 million tons of heavy minerals (including about 78 million tons of zircon); the forecast reserves and resources of Binh Thuan area are about 599 million tons, accounting for 92% of the total reserves and resources of titanium ore in Vietnam.

During the planning period, it is expected to mobilize about 150 million tons of heavy minerals (including about 17 million tons of zircon), the remaining reserves and resources will be put into national reserves.

Specifically, 4 titanium ore regions are planned to provide raw materials for processing facilities, in accordance with the technological properties of the ore and the scale of processing capacity, specifically, Region I: Thai Nguyen region (primary ore and mineral sand); Region II: Ha Tinh - Thua Thien Hue region (mineral sand in gray sand layer); Region III: Quang Nam - Binh Dinh - Phu Yen region (mineral sand in gray sand layer); Region IV: Ninh Thuan - Binh Thuan region (mineral sand in gray sand and red sand layer).

By 2015, complete exploration of areas that have been agreed upon in the following areas: Thai Nguyen, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Binh Dinh, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan to have reliable reserves to meet the raw material needs of processing plants.

In addition, completing exploration of titanium ore in the red sand layer of Luong Son area, Bac Binh Thuan to serve large-scale exploitation and processing.

In the period of 2016 - 2020, depending on the ability to implement mining projects associated with deep processing, conduct expanded exploration in areas surrounding Luong Son (Northern Binh Thuan), and titanium-containing areas in the red sand layer in Ninh Thuan province.

Phase after 2020, explore titanium areas in the remaining red sand layer.

Exploration projects will only be carried out when there is a technically and economically feasible exploitation and deep processing project.

The total current reserves, being explored and to be mobilized in the planning period, are expected to be about 150 million tons of heavy minerals (about 120 million tons of ilmenite concentrate).

According to baocongthuong - PH