Erdos Group to Expand FeSi Output to 0.7M tonnes by 2010

Chinese ferroalloy major, Erdos Group will expand the output capacity of ferrosilicon to annual 700,000 tonnes by 2010. The firm now operates at annual 200,000 tonnes capacity expanding the capacity to 350,000 tonnes in 2006. The firm expands the ferroalloy output to total 1 million tonnes in the final stage by expanding the menu including ferrochrome after the firm launched silicomanganese making joint venture with JFE Steel and Mitsui & Co in June. The firm tries to develop the site as world major ferroalloy center with the cost competitiveness through the integrated production system from own coal mine, in-house power generation to ferroalloy. The firm started the ferrosilicon production at Qipanjing, Erdos in 2003. The firm operates 20 electric furnaces and expands the output by commissioning large furnaces, which are under test running, to annual 350,000 tonnes. The firm started the production at joint venture with JFE Steel and Mitsui & Co., Inner Mongolia Erdos EJM Manganese Alloy with annual 35,000 tonnes of output capacity in June. The joint venture will establish 75,000 tonnes of capacity as the first phase. Erdos Group has around 500,000 tonnes of ferroalloy output capacity including metallic silicon and silicon carbide. The firm will expand the capacity to 1 million tonnes by starting production of ferrochrome and silicon calcium along with expansion of ferrosilicon and silicomanganese. The firm produces 900,000 tonnes of coal to feed in-house power generation and expands the output to 1.8 million tonnes in 2007. The firm operates 660,000 kilowatt of power generator and doubles the power generation in 2007. The firm with 300 million tonnes of coal reserve can provide cheap electricity to the ferroalloy plants.