Titanium-Zirconium Subsoil Plot in Tambov Region, Russia, Up for Auction

The titanium-zirconium subsoil plot "Eastern part of the Tsentralnoye deposit" in the Tambov Region, previously developed by VSMPO-AVISMA, has been put up for auction, according to GIS Torgi data.

VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation had earlier shown interest in this deposit. In January 2023, the company sought proposals for design work on backhole drilling and large-tonnage sampling of titanium-zirconium sands at the Tsentralnoye deposit.

As per the auction documentation on the GIS Torgi website, the deadline for bid submissions is July 26, 2024. The minimum one-time payment for subsoil use is set at 1.990 billion rubles. The subsoil use term is 25 years, Vedomosti reported.

Industrial expert Leonid Khazanov suggested that VSMPO-AVISMA might be a potential bidder for this plot due to its lack of domestic deposits. Currently, the corporation sources raw materials primarily from abroad, including Asia and Africa, and also from the Ilmenit mine in the Tomsk Region. Khazanov noted that obtaining a license for the eastern part of Tsentralnoye could enhance the reliability of VSMPO-AVISMA's titanium production supply chain, especially considering the current sanctions environment around Russia.