Vale has announced that production of manganese ore totalled 2.4 million tonnes in 2008, up 78.7% compared with 2007. The Azul mine produced 2.0 million tonne in 2008 versus 1.0 million tonne in 2007, when its operations were temporarily suspended.
Vale said that ferroalloy production in 2008 amounted to 475,000 tonnes lower than the 542,000 tonnes achieved in 2007. In 2008, ferroalloy production was comprised of 213,400 tonne of ferrosilicon manganese alloys, 209,400 tonne of high carbon manganese alloys and 51,900 t of medium-carbon manganese alloys.
The company's manganese ore mines and ferroalloy plants in Brazil were shut down in December 2008 and are expected to resume operations by nex month. The ferroalloy plant in Mo I Rana, Norway, had its furnace maintenance extended until June 2009. Ferroalloy operations at Dunkerque, France, stopped in August 2008 due to problems with the electric furnace and will be kept idle until April 2009.
Due to the announced cutbacks, manganese ore production in 4Q08 was 491,000 tonne compared with 694,000 tonne in 3Q08 and 118,000 tonne in 4Q07. The production of ferroalloys was reduced by 35.5% against 3Q08, reaching only 84,000 tonnes.
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Source: Steel Guru
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