“Alternative Energy” races .. Boron and Turkey
When the world is in search of new energy resources, Turkey is about to add another investment in the automotive world. This country has been spending much effort to produce the raw material sodium borohydride used in electric vehicle fuel cells. It is now reported that Turkey will soon be capable of producing the sodium borohydride used for fuel cells in electric vehicles with a new investment by the Bandırma Bor ve Asit Factories.
Moreover, this opportunity is estimated to open the door for the production of the fuel cells in Turkey in future years which would also bring about the contribution the planned annual production of 100 tons of the raw material will make to the economy.
WHAT IS BORON?
Boron is a hard, brittle semi_metallic element (with Chemical Symbol B)
Boron does not occur in nature as free element, occurs in nature as a mineral with associated clay and other impurities.There are over 200 naturally occuring boron containing minerals but the most commercially important and frequently traded minerals (salts, known as borates) are tincal, colemanite, ulexite and kernite . These ores can be refined into a pure chemical compounds of commercial importance are:
Turkey is the largest producer of boron ore in the world. Boron minerals contain different amount of B2O3 in their structures. The important factor for industrial application of boron minerals are B2O3 content, so they can replace each other in use . This means that one boron mineral can be trade competiter the other one.
Boron minerals can be used in some sectors in the industry as crude minerals. In general, their applications after refining and end-products are wider than crude ones. Borates find use in a different sectors, however the principal markets are: Glass,ceramics and frit, detergents and soaps, agriculture.
Boron Reserves
In the world, Turkey, USA and Russia have the important boron mines. In terms of total reserve basis, Turkey has a share of %72.20, the other important country USA is %6.8.
Total world boron reserves on the basis of B2O3 content are 369 million tons proven. 807 million tones probable and possible, as a total of 1,176 million tons. With a share of %72.20, Turkey has a total boron reserves of 851 million tons on the basis of B2O3 content .
Considering above data, it is no wonder that BORON is a crucial element for Turkey as the world is supposed to be running out of oil resources within a specific time (not very remote). That is also exactly why it is very understandable that many conspiracy theories as to “some major powers planning to deprive Turkey of this crucially vital asset” have been in the air, all along. (first written on 22.10.2012)
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