Titanium in Nuclear Energy: A Breakthrough for Domestic Production
"Titanium is a technology in its own right. It is used in nuclear power plants for specific technological systems. Sea water is used to test titanium because it is resistant to corrosion in this environment due to a strong oxide film. Why is titanium so essential? Because sea water is highly aggressive, and only titanium can withstand the operational demands specified in the construction of Western stations.
*STS began preparing the site for titanium assembly and welding in 2024. We invested 250 million rubles into the site, equipment, and construction/installation works. We certified the technology and the workers involved in the mechanical processing, assembly, and welding of titanium pipelines. In 2025, we launched this production. For STS, it is completely new. Titanium pipelines command very high margins; their prices are an order of magnitude higher than even those of stainless-steel pipelines.*
*We have signed contracts for volumes for units 3 and 4 of the Akkuyu NPP (Turkey) – 40 tons of titanium pipelines for each unit. We have also secured a one-ton supply of titanium pipelines for Kudankulam – the largest nuclear power plant in India.*
In June, we fully launched production and completed the first shipments of titanium pipelines." — an excerpt from an interview with Mikhail Nikolaevich Pervyshin, General Director of STS LLC.
August 22, 2025: A milestone was achieved at our plant—the production of the first sector bend, manufactured not from a pipe, but from a sheet. The sheet was first rolled into a shell, welded, and then cut into sectors. Each sector was subsequently machined and fitted for the assembly. Finally, the first DN 630 sector bend made from our own titanium alloy was assembled and welded!
This breakthrough is the result of meticulous work by our engineers and welders, who have mastered new technologies and techniques. Now, with in-house production of titanium bends, we can not only control quality at every stage but also significantly reduce production costs, eliminating dependence on external suppliers.
Particular attention was paid to the dimensional accuracy and geometry of each sector during manufacturing. This ensured a perfect fit of the parts and high-quality weld seams. Welding titanium is a complex process requiring highly qualified welders. Our specialists have undergone special training and possess extensive experience with this material.
The implementation of this new technology will allow us to expand our product range and begin manufacturing complex technical parts from titanium. This opens up new prospects and opportunities for our plant's development. We plan to continue investing in personnel training and production modernization to maintain our leadership in the industry. This first sector bend is just the beginning of a significant journey.
"Today we weld titanium pipes, tomorrow we'll build our first rocket and send a new Gagarin into space! We can handle anything!" — shares one of the STS employees, expressing his joy.
Indeed, we can handle anything
