TURKEY'S BORON IS NOT BORING

UNCLAS ANKARA 002667

SIPDIS

USDOE FOR CHUCK WASHINGTON
USDOC FOR 4212/ITA/MAC/OEURA/CPD/DDEFALCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EMIN ENRG EINV TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY'S BORON IS NOT BORING


1. SUMMARY: As the holder of the world's largest Boron
reserves, Turkey is eager to derive economic value from this
mineral. Among a variety of applications in industry, use of
Boron for fuel cells and the potential hydrogen economy is
most promising. Turkey's relatively new Boron Institute aims
to foster research and development in new applications. End
Summary.


2. In a meeting May 3 with Embassy Officer, National Boron
Research Institute President Erk Inger and Board Member Funda
Altun made the following points:

-Turkey holds the world's largest Boron reserves (563 million
tons or 64 % of the world's known reserves),compared to
Russia (100 million tons) and the U.S. (80 million tons).
The U.S. is the biggest producer and consumer of boron. 92 %
of Turkey's production is exported to the U.S.

-Boron is used in agriculture, timber preservation, civil
works, textiles, paper, ceramics, glass, chemicals, medicine,
metallurgy, cleaning products and more. The Boron Institute
enthusiastically notes over 250 uses of boron. In the energy
sector, boron can be used for energy storage, fuels, and
insulation. There are specialized potential application in
nuclear power plants and magnetic levitation transportation.
The greatest enthusiasm is reserved for use of sodium
borohydrate (and potentially other boron-based chemicals) for
fuel cells to help "catalyze" the next energy frontier--the
prospective hydrogen economy.

-Turkey's National Boron Research Institute was established
in 2004 and is dedicated to the goals of supporting R&D
activities to develop new technologies and applications for
use of boron products and seeking to increase the consumption
of boron products in Turkey and the world. In collaboration
with the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency, the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Energy (MENR),and Eti Mining (the
state boron mining company),the Boron Institute held the
first National Workshop on boron April 28-29. The workshop
aimed to facilitate cooperation on research and policies to
speed up deriving economic value from boron mineral resources
(by both increasing consumption and carrying out higher value
production in Turkey). MENR Minister Guler said, "we have
much more to do with boron. Our objective is to use our
underground resources for the economy."


3. Comment: Although not rich in hydrocarbons, Turkey is
rich in some minerals, particularly boron. A current Turkish
best-seller "Metal Storm" depicts the anti-American fantasy
of the seizure of Turkey's boron reserves by the U.S.
military. Stressing that U.S. interest was not of this
nature, Embassy Officer and Turish Boron Institute officials
discussed possibilities for commercial and research
cooperation on boron applications. Istanbul will host the
International Hydrogen Energy Congress and Exhibition July
13-15, which will be an opportunity to highlight boron's
potential role. Turkey's International Center of Hydrogen
Energy Technologies and Boron Institute will be show-cased.
(Note: Turkish press reports indicate that California
Governor Arnold Schwarzeneger will attend the July hydrogen
conference.)
EDELMAN