Oman-India JV smelter to start operating next month

Oman's ferrochrome smelter, which is a joint venture between Muscat Overseas Group and India's Indsil group, will begin its trial operation next month.
In the first phase, two smelters of Al Tamman Indsil Ferro Chrome will be started in the Sohar free zone, a news report said.
They will achieve their full capacity of 75,000 tonnes per annum within the two months following the trial run, Anindya Das, Financial Controller of the JV told the Times of Oman.
The heating up of furnace will take time and that is why it takes one-and-a-half to two months to achieve full production capacity, which is around 6,000 tonnes per month," he said.

The project will play an important role in boosting Oman's position in the global ferrochrome market, which is a key product used for manufacturing specialty stainless steel.
The company has invested around USD 35 million for the first phase development. The production capacity will be doubled in the second phase by installing two additional furnaces.
Vinod Narsiman, Managing Director of Indsil Hydro Power and Manganese, expects the joint venture to generate around USD 200 million in revenue every year after the second phase begins its operations.