Boeing interested in tapping India's titanium reserves

New Delhi: Global aerospace major, Boeing Co, may be looking forward to tap India's vast titanium resources in order to meet growing global demand for aircraft and aerospace products. Reports suggest that the company has expressed interest in mining and processing of ilmenite ore, the raw material used for producing titanium, in the country. Titanium, along with its alloys, is used in manufacturing airframes and engines of aircraft.

India, being rich in titanium, can be considered a natural destination for sourcing the material. It has already signed a major deal with Russia for the production of this resource. However, the mining and processing of titanium ore is still regulated by the department of atomic energy (DAE).

Official sources suggest that this may undergo a change, with the government eventually de-regulating the mining of the mineral. A notification to this effect may materialize after the Union cabinet clears the National Mineral Policy.

Since Boeing is tight lipped on the issue, it is not clear whether the aerospace major will undertake mining activities directly or through a joint venture. Last year, it had signed a JV agreement with Russian firm VSMPO-AVISMA for the machining of titanium forging to be use in its commercial aircraft.

However, the company is believed to have a strategy in place for downstream activities that will ensure raw material and parts for the assembly of aircraft.

With massive orders for commercial aircraft already in its pocket, as well as increasing demand for its aerospace products, Boeing is very clearly in need of large quantities of titanium.