Daily podcast – March 11, 2009

In today's podcast: Samancor Chrome prepares to retrench workers; and China-linked Dragon Energy eyes investments in new mining projects.

Samancor Chrome prepares to retrench, 900 jobs at risk

South African chrome-miner and ferrochrome producer Samancor Chrome said on Tuesday that it was preparing to retrench workers as a consequence of its planned 55% cut in smelter production and 50% cut in chrome mining during 2009. Of the 4 800...

Chrome entrant officially opens mine, smelter on track

Chrome entrant International Ferro Metals (IFM) had officially opened its chromite mine at a ceremony attended by representatives of the South African, Chinese and Australian governments, the company said in a statement released on Thursday.

Project on track for 2007 start up

Construction of a new ferrochrome plant at the Buffelsfontein ferrochrome smelting and mining operation in the North West will be completed at the end of 2007 in time for the plant to take advantage of projected continued growth in the stainless...

Falcondo Mine, Santo Domingo

Name: Falcondo Mine Location: Located in the town of Bonao, 80 km north of the capital, Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic Brief history: Falcondo started up in 1971 and today employs 2 100 people. In 1989, the company established the...

Chrome output to rise in sync with platinum-group metals

The expansion of the South African platinum-mining industry is expected to boost local ferrochrome production and support the country’s position as a highly competitive force in the worldwide ferrochrome market.

Stainless growth underpins R1,25bn ferrochrome project

A hungry stainless-steel market is one of the driving forces behind the construction of London-listed Xstrata’s new R1,25-billion 330 000 t/y ferrochrome smelter in South Africa.

Empowerment-in-mining plans

Black economic empowerment (Bee) companies are set to benefit over the next few years from several projects worth billions of rands being promoted by mineral and metallurgical parastatal Mintek.

Second JV furnace switched on

The second new furnace at the Wonderkop ferrochrome plant in South Africa, a joint venture between Xstrata and Samancor, a subsidiary of BHP Billiton, has been switched on.

Chrome investment rush following three-year pause

Department of Minerals and Energy chief mineral economist: ferrous minerals Keith Armitage has spent a lifetime studying the South African and international chrome industry.

SA consolidates as chrome capital of the world

South Africa is continuing to consolidate its position as the chrome capital of the world.