Following the installation of Furnace I, the first silicon metal plant in Karaganda province, Kazakhstan, called Silicium Kazakhstan LLP project has commenced production at the end of 2010.
ThyssenKrupp Mannex offered technical devices and monitored the construction of the plant. ThyssenKrupp Metallurgie is an exclusive supplier of the material and has a 16% stake in the shares in Silicium Kazakhstan.
The initial capacity of the silicon metals facility will be 12,500 metric tons per year and the products will be distributed to companies in the USA, Asia and Europe. A second furnace with similar capacity is already deployed in the plant and is slated for operation in May 2011.
To meet the increasing product demand, the plant’s capacity will be doubled with the deployment of two more furnaces. ThyssenKrupp Mannex is working on the proposal. All furnaces were produced by SMS-Siemag. The company’s technical team supervised the construction work and trained the technicians.
The plant comprises two furnaces, a flue gas-cleaning unit, all kinds of electronic control equipment, mobile cranes, wheel loaders, excavators and more.
The Kazakhstan government selected Karaganda province as it is rich in minerals and located centrally in Kazakhstan. It has a power plant and other required infrastructure.