IRKUTSK, February 19 (Itar-Tass) —— Rosatom may start processing of rare-metal ore from deposits in the Baikal region in order to eliminate Russia’s dependence on import of tantalum and niobium.
Government of the Irkutsk region offers the state-run corporation to use spare capacities at the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Complex /AEHK/, the regional Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reports.
Technoinvest Alliance starts development of the field in the Baikal region’s Nizhneudinsk. The investment project for construction at the field of a mining and processing plant will be fully implemented by 2018 /first stage - by 2014, second stage - by 2016/. Its construction began in 2011.
Presently, Russia's needs for alloying additions of niobium and tantalum, used in production of frost-resistant steel, oil and gas pipes of large diameter, are almost 100 per cent satisfied by import.
Rosatom is Russia’s state nuclear power corporation.