An auction for the development of the America titanium deposit may be held in the Murmansk Region in 2026. This was reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. It is noted that the decision on this will depend on the completion of the construction of the infrastructure of the nearby Kolmozerskoye lithium deposit. Geological exploration will be completed there in the near future and work on the construction of infrastructure will begin. Rosnedra calls 2026 the optimal period for putting the America deposit up for auction. The relevant department notes that putting America on the state balance contributed to the increase in titanium balance reserves minus production to 0.4 million tons. In total, the balance reserves of titanium oxide in Russia amounted to 580.3 million tons. “Titanium is included in the list of scarce minerals, and its processed products are in the list of products with high added value, approved by the order of the Russian government,” the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources noted. — This will allow us to set reduced starting payments for auctions for scarce types of minerals on individual instructions from the President of the country.”
Titanium is a metal belonging to the group of rare metals. It is intended for military aircraft, missiles, tanks and submarines. It is used in astronautics, medicine (for prosthetics) and sports (for cryogenic equipment).
The America deposit was put on the balance sheet in 2023. As of February 2023, its reserves are estimated at 894.6 thousand tons of titanium dioxide. At the moment, the deposit is at an early stage of exploration.
Norilsk Nickel will allocate 150 billion rubles for the development of the Kolmozerskoye deposit in the Murmansk region. It is specified that the first products from the deposit are planned to be received already in 2026. The company expects to reach the design capacity of 45 thousand tons of lithium carbonate in 2030.
Earlier it became known that near the settlement of Afrikanda near the city of Polyarnye Zori in the Murmansk region they are going to create a production of highly demanded materials – titanium dioxide and rare earth metals. The forecast resources of the entire massif of the Afrikanda deposit are 50 million tons of titanium dioxide, 860 thousand tons of rare earth metals, 300 thousand tons of niobium and tantalum.