By: African mining market

Sovereign Metals Ltd. has achieved a major validation for its flagship Kasiya Rutile-Graphite Project in Malawi, with Japan’s Toho Titanium confirming that rutile from Kasiya is suitable for producing high-specification titanium metal products.

This validation strengthens Sovereign’s position as a key player in the global titanium supply chain, especially in light of growing geopolitical tensions and the increasing demand for titanium in critical industries.

Toho endorsement paves the way for high-end applications

Toho Titanium, one of Japan’s premier producers of titanium metals, conducted an extensive test of Kasiya’s rutile and concluded that the material met the stringent specifications required for aerospace and industrial applications, Sovereign announced on Tuesday.

The analysis confirmed that Kasiya’s rutile exceeded necessary parameters, including titanium dioxide (TiO2) grade (>95%), low levels of deleterious elements and suitable particle size distribution.

With a reputation for supplying titanium to the world’s top aerospace manufacturers, including Boeing and Airbus, Toho Titanium’s endorsement positions Sovereign Metals as a future supplier of high-quality titanium feedstock to some of the most demanding industries globally.

This validation comes as demand for titanium is poised to grow exponentially. Titanium is critical for applications in aerospace, defence and space exploration, sectors that are projected to see robust growth over the next decade. The aerospace industry, in particular, is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%, with demand for titanium set to more than double by 2034.

Geopolitical tensions heighten the value of secure supply chains

As geopolitical risks disrupt traditional supply routes, the demand for secure and diversified sources of titanium has never been more acute. Toho Titanium is one of the two dominant players in the global titanium market, producing a significant portion of the world’s aerospace-grade titanium outside of China and Russia, which have traditionally dominated titanium supply.

With global defence spending surging by 7.4% in 2024, the search for alternative supply sources for this critical mineral has become a pressing global challenge.

Sovereign’s Kasiya project, with its large-scale rutile deposit located in the stable jurisdiction of Malawi, is now seen as a strategic resource that could help address critical supply shortages in these high-growth sectors.

Frank Eagar, Sovereign Metals’ managing director and CEO, highlighted the strategic importance of the Toho validation.

Confirmation that our rutile meets Toho Titanium’s exacting standards for high-specification titanium production validates our position as a future cornerstone supplier to critical industries,” he said.

“With the world’s largest known rutile deposit, Sovereign is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the intersection of resource security, aerospace supply chain realignment and national defence priorities.”

Sovereign’s Kasiya project primed for growth

The endorsement from Toho Titanium comes on the back of previous metallurgical testing conducted by Allied Mineral Laboratories, which confirmed that Kasiya’s rutile could be processed into a high-grade product without complex processing.

This simple, conventional process flow has been shown to yield high-quality rutile with a TiO2 grade between 95% and 97%, further cementing the project’s potential as a premier global supplier.

The validation also provides a solid foundation for Sovereign Metals to strengthen its relationships with major global customers in the aerospace, defence and industrial sectors. As the company moves forward with development at Kasiya, its role as a key supplier of titanium feedstock looks increasingly secure, with sovereign and strategic supply chains rapidly becoming a top priority in the global marketplace.