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Mechel Smelts First Ferrosilicon on New Electric Furnace at Bratsk Plant

03/21/2012 - Mechel OAO has conducted the first smelting of ferrosilicon on its newly installed ferroalloy electric furnace at the Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant of the group’s ferroalloys division. This is the first of four electric furnaces to be installed at the plant.

Mechel OAO has conducted the first smelting of ferrosilicon on its newly installed ferroalloy electric furnace at the Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant of the group’s ferroalloys division. The electric furnace was installed as part of a general modernization program at the plant.
 
This is the first ferroalloy electric furnace to be installed as part of the Bratsk Plant’s contract with Sibir Electrothermal Equipment Plant OAO to supply four ferroalloy electric furnaces with the capacity of 33 MVA each. The new furnaces will replace the existing 25 MVA furnaces. In addition to supplying the equipment, Sibir Electrothermal Equipment Plant OAO is also responsible for supervision of installation and commissioning works.
 
Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant’s reconstruction began in late 2010 and will be completed in 2013. According to the company, once the new furnaces are commissioned the plant’s production capacity will increase by 30% and its power consumption will be reduced by 10-13%.
 
Investment in the project topped 1.9 billion rubles (65 million US dollars*). Reconstruction measures will help to preserve the plant’s entire existing infrastructure, thus enabling the plant to substantially cut costs and save time in implementing the project.
 
Technical revamping of ferrosilicon production also includes reconstruction of the raw materials dosage system and expansion of storage space for finished products.
 
“Successful installation and launch of the new electric furnace confirm that the path we chose to modernize production is right and will substantially improve Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant’s efficiency,” noted Mechel Ferroalloys Management OOO’s Chief Executive Officer Gennady Ovchinnikov. “Thanks to state-of-the-art technologies, the plant will also be able to cut its electricity expenses.”
 
* Based on the Russian Central Bank exchange rate of 29.22 RUR/$ as of March 20, 2012.
 
Mechel, one Russia’s leading companies, conducts business in four segments: mining, steel, ferroalloy and power. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, nickel, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon, steel, rolled products, hardware, heat and electric power, and its products are marketed domestically and internationally.