As part of its long-term plan to diversify the feed stocks used in its vanadium operations, EVRAZ Stratcor’s Hot Springs, Ark., plant will start processing roasted vanadium-bearing steelmaking slag in November 2012. The slag is generated by EVRAZ’s steelmaking operations and roasted before being shipped to Hot Springs.

In addition, the EVRAZ Board of Directors has approved the expenditure of US$7 million to construct new facilities that will enable Hot Springs to use greater amounts steelmaking slag in the future. These new facilities will enable the plant to resume its historic production levels of 9 million lbs. of vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) per year.

The EVRAZ Stratcor Hot Springs plant currently processes various vanadium-bearing feed stocks – including residues, ashes, and spent catalysts that are available from many countries around the world. Using roasted steelmaking slag will expand the number of raw materials that the plant converts into specialty-vanadium products used by the titanium, chemical, and steel industries.

"Processing EVRAZ’s roasted slag at Hot Springs will allow us to recover vanadium from an abundant raw material," said Tim Scott, President of Evraz Stratcor, Inc. "It also enables EVRAZ’s worldwide vanadium operations to become more vertically integrated from raw materials through the finished product." 

EVRAZ is a vertically integrated steel, mining and vanadium business with operations in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy and South Africa.

Evraz Stratcor, Inc. is a major producer of specialty vanadium alloys and chemicals used by the titanium, chemical, and steel industries. Its production is located in Hot Springs, Ark.