Current State of Ferroalloys Production in Russia and CIS

Abstract

The development of ferroalloys production directly depends on the progress in the steel industry. Therefore, an increase in steel production inevitably entails an increase in the production of ferroalloys. The global steel production has increased by about 30% in the past decade. This article discusses the general condition of the ferroalloy sector in the CIS countries and, in particular, in Russia. The main consumers of ferroalloy products in the domestic markets among Russian metallurgical enterprises are listed, and the structure of production and consumption in other producing economies (China, India, the EU, the United States, Japan) is examined. It is revealed that the overproduction of ferroalloys in the CIS is nearly 400%. In addition, the ways of developing the ferroalloy sector are considered, that is, aimed at reducing the share of ore raw materials, reducing agent, and electricity in the production cost, which is achieved by using cheaper ore, applying new types of processes and outfits, and designing alternative ferroalloys to replace their conventional counterparts. One of such novelties is smelting in DC furnaces, which allows using unprepared fine chrome ore as a raw material instead scarce lump ore in combination with a cheap fine reducing agent (anthracite) for ferrochrome production. Another promising technology is melting in an oxygen reactor by postcombustion with gaseous oxygen released with the reduction of carbon monoxide inside the outfit. In addition, alternative kinds of ferroalloy products can gain ground, such as KAUR calcium carbon which can replace calcium carbide in steelmaking.