The Horizon Europe program has allocated a four-year €7.3 million grant under the Resilient Value Chains 2024initiative to the REPTiS project (Responsible Extraction and Processing of Titanium and other Primary Raw Materials for Sourcing EU Industrial Value Chains and Strategic Sectors). The project includes participation from Ukraine’s Velta LLC, the Velta RD Titan Research and Development Center, and 11 leading European companies and research institutes.
Europe is currently grappling with challenges in the titanium market, such as securing a sustainable supply chain and developing low-carbon production technologies. The REPTiS project aims to tackle these issues by demonstrating innovative solutions for extracting and processing critical titanium raw materials. This involves mining ilmenite ore at Ukraine’s Byrzulivske deposit, producing low-carbon titanium powder using the Ukrainian-developed Velta Ti Process, and manufacturing final products with advanced technologies like 3D printing and Metal Injection Molding.
Andriy Brodsky, CEO of Velta, highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “The substantial funding for our consortium project underscores the EU’s recognition of Ukraine as a strategic partner—one capable of establishing a secure titanium supply chain from raw materials to final titanium products, which are critical globally.”
The consortium, composed of European companies and research institutes, will focus on several key areas:
- Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact: Implementing new approaches to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact during titanium production at Velta’s mining facilities in Ukraine.
- Advanced Titanium Powder Production: Showcasing cutting-edge titanium powder production technologies at the Velta RD Titan research center, including waste recycling and powder spheroidization through the Velta Ti Process.
- Final Product Manufacturing: Producing and testing various final products, including aircraft components, medical implants, and watch casings, from Ukrainian titanium powder.
Additionally, a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) will be conducted, evaluating the environmental efficiency of the improvements made under the REPTiS project, particularly the Velta Ti Process, compared to traditional titanium extraction and production methods.
