SAIL's titanium project depends on technology availability: Minister.

Over 19 months after the signing of an initial pact, fate of SAIL's titanium project in Kerala still hinges on the availability of suitable technology, Parliament was informed recently.

'According to the Techno Economic Feasibility Report, the financial viability of the project depends upon the latest cost effective technology, which is still not available in India,' Minister of State for Steel and Mines Vishnu Deo Sai said in Lok Sabha.

Replying to an unstarred question, Sai said: 'Efforts to obtain transfer of technology from leading global supplies has not been very encouraging and further course of action is dependent on availability of titanium production technology.'

Steel Authority of India had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and Kerala Minerals and Metals (KMML) on behalf of the Kerala Government in April, 2013.

The MoU was aimed at jointly exploring possibilities of setting up a titanium sponge and metal complex in the state through a joint venture in a phased manner.


ET