Designer and supplier of high-capacity electric submerged-arc smelting furnaces Tenova Pyromet will see the completion of various projects over the coming years.

With its long history in the ferroalloys industry, Tenova Pyromet is estimated to have built up to 70% of the ferroalloy furnaces in operation in South Africa, over the past 30 years. Tenova is a worldwide supplier of integrated solutions with advanced technologies, products and services for the metal and mining industries.

In what has been its biggest project yet in South Africa, Tenova Pyromet was awarded the ASA Metals project for the design, fabrication, installation and commissioning of two 66-MVA ferrochrome furnaces with preheaters at Dilokong chrome mine, near Burgersfort.

The project includes raw materials handling, civils, structural, mechanical, electrical and auto-mation. Tenova Pyromet successfully completed two other turnkey projects for ASA Metals, in 1998 and 2003.

After being commissioned by International Ferro Metals, in 2005, to design and construct its ore beneficiation plant and ferrochrome smelter, Tenova Pyromet made possible the early start-up of two furnaces, the first being five weeks ahead of schedule and the second seven weeks ahead of schedule.

Tenova Pyromet states that the early start-up is a testimony to its experience in large greenfield turnkey projects and a good working relationship between Pyromet and International Ferro Metals.

In May 2006, Tenova Pyromet was awarded the project to supply the Tata Steel ferrochrome plant, in Richards Bay, with a complete furnace package. The project covered the design, construction and commissioning of two 38-MVA submerged-arc furnaces.

The scope of the project included the plant control system, electrical and mechanical equipment. This consisted of the furnaces and the entire gas-cleaning scrubber system for the furnace offgas, as well as the tap hole offgas extraction bag filter systems. Commissioning of both furnaces was a success with the first furnace being commissioned in April 2008 and the second furnace in May 2008.

Tenova Pyromet has built eight of the nine newest large, closed, submerged-arc ferroalloy furnaces in South Africa.

Since its acquisition of Italian engineering group, Tenova, the company has been involved in a large amount of international work, including Russia, France, China, Norway and Peru.

Tenova Pyromet has finalised a contract with a major mining company based in Brazil for the supply of complete electrode columns. The columns are intended for two ferromanganese furnaces on the steel company’s plant located near Salvador, in northern Brazil. Tenova Pyromet is finding that by having a reference of work done with the steel company, other Brazilian ferroalloy producers have indicated interest in future projects with Tenova Pyromet.