The present world demand for Titanium dioxide is well over 5 million tonnes per annum and the demand is steadily increasing at the rate of 3 to 4% per annum in a consistent manner every year This means that in the world, additional capacity of 1,50000 tonnes per annum of Titanium dioxide project should be built every year.
l by N.S.Venkataraman
(December 26, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Titanium dioxide is an important chemical and pigment extensively used in the paint, polymer, textile, paper and a host of other industries. Titanium dioxide is produced from ilmenite , which is a mineral and available in good quantity in the sands of Sri Lanka. While Sri Lanka mines and produces ilmenite ore, it is simply exporting it without converting into value added product namely titanium dioxide. As a result, Sri Lanka is losing big investment opportunity that would significantly promote overall industrial and economic growth and employment opportunities.
The present world demand for Titanium dioxide is well over 5 million tonnes per annum and the demand is steadily increasing at the rate of 3 to 4% per annum in a consistent manner every year This means that in the world, additional capacity of 1,50000 tonnes per annum of Titanium dioxide project should be built every year. Why not Sri Lanka exploit this opportunity?
Globallly , since the capacity for Titanium dioxide is not being built with the urgency that it deserves, the product is in short supply at present. The prices are steadily going up. For example, India itself is importing around 75,000 tonnes per annum of Titanium dioxide and no new project is presently under advanced stage of planning or implementation in India at present.
Titanium dioxide project is capital intensive and the present economic capacity of the project is considered to be 50,000 tonnes per annum. This would call for an investment of around Indian Rupees 6000 million.
What is required is that the Sri Lankan Government should declare Titanium dioxide project as thrust area for investment and growth in Sri Lanka and offer a package of appropriate incentives to encourage the international investors to set up titanium dioxide project in Sri Lanka in a big way.
Titanium dioxide project is technology intensive. While more than 40 Titanium dioxide plants are in operation in the world, the capacity is dominated by a few players such as DuPont, Crystal of Saudi Arabia and others. Such organisations are looking for appropriate locations to build capacities for Titanium dioxide with equity participation. Such organisations should be targeted by Sri Lankan government and they must be invited to discuss the investment possibilities.
India itself can be a big market for Titanium dioxide project in Sri Lanka , since Indian demand is going up steadily at 9 to 10% per year with the import likely to exceed 100,000 tonnes by 2016.
Nandini Consultancy Centre , a renowned firm of Chemical Business Consultants based at Singapore and Chennai (India) has made an extensive study on the investment opportunity in the field of Titanium dioxide and this publication would be of great interest and use to those interested in venturing into Titanium dioxide project in Sri Lanka. Details on this publication can be obtained by contacting email info@nandinichemical.com
It takes around two years to design and implement a Titanium dioxide project. The project should be set up near a coastal area and can be operated with environmental friendly technology and zero effluent discharge. The chloride process Titanium dioxide project has no ecological issues.
One hopes that Sri Lankan government will seize this opportunity and move with great speed that the Titanium dioxide project deserves.
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