Xichang Jinchen's 1,120-Ton Titanium, Tantalum, and Niobium Powder Project Passes Environmental Review; HDH + Spheroidization Process Targets Semiconductor and Aerospace Applications

On August 2, 2026, the Xichang Ecological Environment Bureau issued a public notice of its preliminary approval for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Xichang Jinchen Technology Co., Ltd.'s "High-End Metal Powder Industrialization and Deep Processing Project." Located in the Jingjiu Area of the Xichang Vanadium-Titanium Industrial Park, the project involves a total investment of RMB 250 million (including RMB 3.75 million for environmental protection) and will establish a production line with an annual output of 1,120 tons of metal powders (titanium, tantalum, niobium, and their respective alloys) using a combination of hydrogenation-dehydrogenation (HDH) and spheroidization processes. The project is positioned at the high end of the market, with applications spanning semiconductors, aerospace, 3D printing, and superconductors. Key equipment includes hydrogenation furnaces, dehydrogenation furnaces, jet mills, crushers, and ultrasonic vibrating screens. The public comment period for the EIA runs from August 2 to August 13 (five business days), after which the approval is expected to be finalized. The project had previously been accepted for review on July 20 and completed a 10-business-day public disclosure. This marks the latest specialized production line focused on refractory metal (tantalum and niobium) powders, following Zhongti New Materials' 8,000-ton base in Anhui and Beifeng Intelligent's bases in Ordos and Linfen. It fills the gap in high-end titanium, tantalum, and niobium powder production capacity in Southwest China. Tantalum and niobium powders are indispensable in semiconductor sputtering targets, superconducting materials, and medical implants, with low domestic localization rates and significant import substitution potential. Value for powder buyers: ① The 1,120-ton tantalum/niobium powder capacity will help ease the tight supply of high-purity tantalum powder for domestic semiconductor targets; ② Leveraging the titanium ore resources of the Xichang Vanadium-Titanium Industrial Park, titanium powder costs could be lower than those of eastern competitors; ③ The project adopts a combined HDH + spheroidization process, and the sphericity and oxygen content of the final products merit close attention—buyers are advised to arrange for sample testing once production commences.