Taiyo Koko to Produce Vanadium Metal

Kobe based molybdenum and vanadium maker, Taiyo Koko starts vanadium metal production. The firm starts test production as early as in the autumn after introduction of electron beam furnace at Ako plant in Hyogo for around 600 million yen. The firm tries to improve the cost structure and production technology through the own production though the firm now consigns the production to nonferrous smelter. The firm starts own production of vanadium metal with 99.7% purity, which is used for hydrogen absorbing alloys of fuel cell, and metal with 99.9% purity. The firm tries to produce the metal at around 20 tonnes per year while the firm now provides around 5 tonnes of vanadium metal through consignment production. The firm now constructs the plant building at Ako plant and sets electron beam furnace in June. The firm finishes the construction work in as early as September starting test production. The firm produces annual 1,800 tonnes of ferromolybdenum and 2,200 tonnes of ferrovanadium at Ako plant. The firm also recovers each around 800 tonnes per year of molybdenum and vanadium from desulfurization catalyst of oil refinery.