IperionX receives Key Permits for Titanium Metal Production in Virginia

US materials specialist IperionX has received all necessary permits to begin construction and operation of its planned titanium metal production facility in Virginia.

These permits include approval for the discharge of industrial effluents and approval for air pollution testing. This will allow for the realization of the planned TCF-1 capacity of 1,125 tons of titanium metal within the existing facility in Halifax County, Virginia.

Initial steps towards production have been completed, key equipment has been ordered and procurement is underway. IperionX expects first titanium production in the first quarter of 2024 and plans to reach a production rate of 125 tons per year by the third quarter of that year. A later expansion stage could increase capacity to 1,125 tons per year by the end of 2025.

Based on the operating processes of the current pilot plant in Salt Lake City, IperionX aims to build the world’s largest recycled titanium metal powder production facility and the only factory using only titanium scrap. The goal is to produce a 100% recycled titanium metal powder with the lowest carbon intensity on the market.

Anastasios (Taso) Arima, IperionX CEO said: “Securing all major permits is an important milestone in developing the world’s largest 100% recycled titanium plant and is a credit to the successful work of the IperionX development team, Halifax County, Virginia and regulatory agencies.

IperionX is uniquely positioned to re-shore titanium metal production to the U.S.A., reducing the acute reliance on titanium imports from foreign nations and lowering the significant environmental impacts from producing titanium metal using the existing ‘Kroll Process’ – which is energy intensive, high cost and generates excessive greenhouse gas emissions.

IperionX has a pipeline of potential U.S. government funding programs and incentives that are designed to support domestic efforts to re-shore critical mineral and material supply chains. With the successful development of this project, IperionX will be the only commercial primary titanium metal producer in the U.S., with the capacity to deliver low carbon and low-cost titanium for advanced American industries.”