Ferroatlantica reported to Spanish media that it reduces production for four to six hours, Monday through Friday, in order to cut its electricity costs at its Boo de Guarnizo plant near Santander in Cantabria. Spain, which has comparatively high energy costs, reduces rates to consumers through the weekend, typically when needs of the grid are lower. Ferroatlantica reported that it runs the plant at 100% during those times to take advantage of the lower costs. Thirty percent of the producer's costs is energy. Due to high global competition among smelters and the weight placed on low prices to win contracts, there is an even higher importance placed on cutting costs on behalf of the producers. The Boo plant, which has five furnaces, produces 125,000 mt of ferromanganese and ferrosilicon on average, but production can reach 175,000 mt during periods of highest demand.
Over the past weekend, Ferroatlantica opened the doors of its Boo plant to neighbors and other community members in order to highlight the operations at the facility, as well as the electric challenges it faces. The company welcomed over 400 visitors.
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