Tenova Pyromet, part of Tenova Mining & Minerals, has successfully commissioned 4 x 16.5 MVA ferrochrome (FeCr) furnaces for Visa Bao’s new plant near Jajpur in Orissa, India. Tenova Pyromet supplied its patented lower electrode equipment for the FeCr furnaces, with the first furnace being switched in in June 2013, and the remaining three to be switched in over the second half of 2013. Visa Bao is a joint venture between VISA Steel, a leading player in the Indian special steel and FeCr sector, and Baosteel, China. Its new 100,000 t/y FeCr plant in Orissa will produce high carbon FeCr for sale in India and for export to China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Europe, and the US amongst others. VISA Steel has a Chrome Ore Beneficiation Plant (COBP) at Golagaon, Odisha, which produces high-grade chromite concentrates through the beneficiation of low-grade chromite ore by gravity separation.

With the scope of the contract covering key equipment supply for the furnaces for this greenfield project, Tenova Pyromet designed, engineered, manufactured and supplied the lower electrode assembly, comprising of Tenova Pyromet’s patented pressure ring and contact shoe equipment. The pressure ring is designed to prevent electrode breakages by enclosing and protecting the lower electrode equipment. The skirt is forged from a solid slab of high conductivity, high purity copper, providing protection for the contact shoes and other critical components. The design produces a uniform ambient temperature and electrical current distribution within the electrode baking zone around the contact shoes, resulting in enhanced electrode baking profiles.

Tenova Pyromet’s association with VISA Steel stretches back to 2006 when it supplied similar equipment for 2 x 16.5 MVA FeCr furnaces and says that VISA Steel’s experience with this equipment convinced it of the advanced performance offered by Pyromet technology in terms of equipment performance and furnace availability. “At Tenova Pyromet we are proud of our reputation in India as a world class furnace designer, with extensive experience in the Indian ferroalloys market. As with VISA Steel, our track record in India features a number of repeat orders from major players in both the private and state sector ferroalloy industry,” said Chris Oertel, Managing Director of Tenova Pyromet. “