Global furnace group boasts numerous projects

Local furnace supplier Tenova Pyromet is undertaking the design and supply of components for two ferrochrome furnaces for use at the Xstrata-Merafe Lion ferrochrome complex, in Limpopo.

Merafe output falls 21% on maintenance, power deals

South African ferrochrome producer Merafe Resources said Wednesday that its production volumes for the first quarter of 2012 were down 21% from the 2011 comparative period. Production declined to 65 000 t compared with 82 000 t in the previous...

Merafe reports 17% increase in Q2 ferrochrome price

Shares in JSE-listed Merafe Resources rose 3.3% on Wednesday as it announced a 17% increase in the European benchmark ferrochrome price. The miner, which operates a ferrochrome joint venture with Xstrata in South Africa, said the second-quarter...

South African ferrochrome in meltdown, urgent intervention needed

South Africa’s ferrochrome industry is speaking with one voice when it says that its in meltdown mode – but at least one trader is as vociferous that the proposed imposition of a temporary export tax will also cause economic hurt. It is the...

South Africa’s stricken ferrochrome industry eyes Canada’s Canpotex as potential turnaround model

South Africa’s once mighty chrome-to-ferrochrome industry, now threatened by an unexpected local oversupply of raw ore, is looking to get itself back on its feet by emulating what the Canadians did 40 years ago for their then teetering but now...

Threatened ferrochrome eyeing Canada’s potash turnaround model

Stability can be brought to South Africa’s ferrochrome industry by creating a marketing organisation for ferrochrome similar to the Canpotex marketing arm that boosted potash in Canada, the South African ferrochrome industry says in a brochure...

Raw ore export smashing ferrochrome - Merafe

The unbridled export of raw chromite ore from South Africa is threatening to smash South Africa’s mature chrome value chain which provides 200 000 jobs and contributes R42-billion a year to South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP)....

Merafe ferrochrome sales fall, profit plunges

The ferrochrome sales of JSE-listed Merafe Resources fell 13% and profit plunged 58% in the year to December 31. The profit and total comprehensive income, Merafe CFO Zanele Matlala reported, was R117-million compared with R279-million for 2010.

Lion ferrochrome complex expansion Phase 2, South Africa

Xstrata has reported, in its preliminary results for 2012, that the Lion ferrochrome expansion project is 11% complete.

Merafe 2011 production down 12%

JSE-listed Merafe Resources on Tuesday reported lower 2011 ferrochrome output, as scheduled maintenance, weaker market conditions and industrial action impacted on production. Ferrochrome output dropped 12% to 263 000 t in the year ended December...

Merafe says FY profit to fall

South African ferrochrome producer Merafe Resources is set to report lower profit when it publishes its 2011 financial results on March 6. The company, which operates in a joint venture (JV) with Xstrata, said on Wednesday its headline earnings a...

Expansion project on track despite challenges

The second phase of the Lion ferrochrome complex expansion project, in Limpopo, is progressing steadily and on budget, despite challenges arising from local community unrest, reinforcing steel availability and delivery issues