News entreprises
ERG, a leading diversified natural resources group headquartered in Luxembourg, is one of the world’s largest ferroalloys producers, and in September, ERG’s Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant has produced its 3-millionth tonne of ferroalloys on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Smelting Shop No. 4. The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr Olzhas Bektenov, has attended ERG’s production facility during a tour of the region.
The Prime Minister has inspected the production process. The plant with a design capacity of more than 740 thousand tonnes of ferroalloys per year includes a slag processing shop, mining and other auxiliary facilities. Ferrochrome, ferrosilicon and other alloys are used in the production of extra strong steel, iron alloying, as well as in other areas of metallurgy. The plant has already created around 4,500 jobs.
Mr Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasised the importance of introducing innovative technologies, as they not only improve the quality of high-end products, but also address industrial safety and environmental issues. Production growth at giant enterprises such as the Aktobe Ferroalloys Plant gives impetus to the development of wider industries, the creation of new jobs, and further improvement in quality of life.
“For the past 30 years, ERG has been committed to being the best at what we do and the launch of a new state-of-the-art production facility in 2014 fully underlines this. Kazakhstan has set a new benchmark for the global metals industry, ensuring a more efficient use of its existing resources, while minimising waste and producing top quality metals, without compromising on output. We have set a new trend; our foreign peers are now interested in tapping into the experience of our metallurgists. This is a significant milestone for the industry in Kazakhstan,” said Mr Shukhrat Ibragimov, Group CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors at ERG.
By launching the smelting shop No. 4 with a design furnace capacity of 72 MW, while operating steadily at 75 MW, with testing already underway for a ramp-up to 80 MW, ERG has more than doubled the ferroalloys output at the Plant, from 300,000 to over 700,000 tonnes per year.
"Environmental protection is an integral part of our operations, and all the new facilities are designed and commissioned taking into account all the relevant environmental requirements,” said Mr Serik Shakhazhanov, General Director of ERG Kazakhstan. “The smelting shop is equipped with state-of-the-art gas scrubbers, and production solutions used in the enterprise make it possible to collect ferroalloy gas and use it for alternative energy generation.”
The plant has high level of automation and unique innovative smelting technology. The plant’s four direct current furnaces are the most powerful in the world. The design of the furnaces enabling the use of iron ore fines in the production process helps reduce production costs and increase local content. Unlike conventional alternating current furnaces, they allow for the use of locally produced reductants and iron ore fines without the need for additional agglomeration and without compromising quality.