Turkey projects $1 bln exports with boron in 10 years

Turkey projects $1 bln exports with boron in 10 years

– By manufacturing value-added products from boron, Turkey aims to create $1 billion worth of exports in next decade

 

Turkey projects to generate $1 billion worth of exports in the next 10 years through the use of boron, Turkish Energy Minister Ali Riza Alaboyun told Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

The energy minister said that Turkey, in cooperation with the private sector, has begun producing superconductors from boron, a chemical element which Turkey has the world’s biggest proven reserves.

Boron is used as a material in more than 250 fields, such as telecommunications, transportation, nanotechnology in various industries including the health, scientific and defense sectors as well as space technologies, Alaboyun said, noting that interest in boron material is on the rise.

The energy minister explained that research on boron is prioritized in Turkey which holds 73 percent of the world’s boron reserves.

“We prioritize research and development to achieve value-added products in Turkey and that’s why we support research on boron. In this respect, we succeeded in producing a superconductive material from boron through cooperation between the private sector and National Boron Research Institute (BOREN).”

“We have obtained a patent for the project we support. Within the scope of this project and our support, the private firm Pavezyum has succeeded in manufacturing this superconductor.”

Suat Somer of Pavezyum said high-tech superconductors are materials that conduct electricity current without any loss, and added “a superconductive wire’s electricity conductivity is 150 times higher compared to a regular copper wire.”

“Because of this feature, superconductives can be used in state of the art technology products, MRI machines in the medical sector, wind turbines’ generators that have over 10 megawatts capacity, trains with magnetic railroads and superconductive magnets,” Somer explained.

BOREN President Abdulkerim Yorukoglu said the institute will continue supporting projects towards processing and turning boron into final products including superconductive materials.

Reporting by Nuran Erkul

Writing by Ovunc Kutlu

Anadolu Agency

ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr