Oman's first ferro-chrome smelter, a joint venture between Muscat Overseas Group and India's Indsil Group, is set to start a trial run in June, a company official said on Thursday May 23.

 

The initial capacity will be 75,000 mtpy but there are plans to double output by adding two additional furnaces. Also envisioned is a 20,000-mtpy low-carbon ferrochrome smelter. The smelter will buy imported high-grade chrome ore to blend with the country’s output of lower-grade material. Oman plans to have a growing presence in the ferrochrome market. The country is already a leading ore exporter, which could be curtailed as more smelters open. Metkore Alloys and Industries is building a 150,000-mtpy ferrochrome smelter, while Gulf Mining Materials, one of the largest chrome ore mining and exporting firms in Oman, is planning its own smelter. A fourth smelter project is planned.