The Waste of the Ferroalloy Production in Russia

Abstract

Ferroalloys are used to change the composition and properties of ferrous and non- ferrous metals. Therefore, the volume of ferroalloy smelting corresponds to the amount of steel and other alloys produced. Currently world steel production is approximately 1630 million tons, and about 40 million tons of various ferroalloys are produced (2.5%). The structure of ferroalloy production in different countries mainly depends not on the needs of industrial enterprises, but on ore reserves. Excessive amounts of ferroalloys produced are exported, and the missing alloys are imported. In Russia silicon alloys that have no restrictions in the raw material base (44%) are the most produced, then manganese (25%) and chromium (23%) ferroalloys. The remaining ferroalloys account for 8% of production. About half of the manganese ferroalloys needed for consumption are bought abroad, and half are produced in the Russian Federation from foreign raw materials (Kazakhstan, South Africa, Gabon). The Russian Federation provides itself with chromium ferroalloys completely, and sells ∼ 80%, and for their production mainly imported raw materials (∼ 65%) from Kazakhstan are used.