Nippon Denko to Decide New Offshore Ferroalloy Plant in 2012

Nippon Denko will decide offshore ferroalloy plant in this year. The firm will open plant to make more than 300,000 tonnes ferroalloy including silicomanganese in Asia. With the decision making in the year, the plant will start operation in second half of 2013.

Nippon Denko’s president Teruaki Ishiyama said on Thursday the firm is finishing the site selection but the firm cannot disclose location now. The firm plans joint venture with 5-6 companies. The firm would secure around 20% shares in the joint venture.

The plant will make silicomanganese, medium and low carbon ferromanganese and ferrosilicon at first phase. The project would make metallic manganese production later.

Nippon Denko launched silicomanganese making joint venture in China in 2006 while the firm stopped the alloy production at Hidaka plant in Hokkaido, Japan. The firm sold major part of 71% shares in the joint venture due to unfavorable Chinese regulation for ferroalloy export. The firm studies potential alternative silicomanganese supply base while the firm restarted silicomanganese production at the high carbon manganese making Tokushima plant.

The firm continues high carbon feromanganese production at Tokushima plant while the firm has production bases of ferrochrome and ferrovanadium at joint ventures in South Africa. With the potential new plant, the firm reorganizes world optimum production network.