JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Manganese miner Assmang has shut another of its manganese furnaces and announced plans for the closure of two more chrome furnaces in May.

In a joint announcement with black economic empowerment partner African Rainbow Minerals (Arm), the companies said on Tuesday that the latest closure, of Cato Ridge’s No 5 high-carbon 55 000 t/y ferromanganese unit, was due to the ongoing low levels of carbon steel production.

The furnace, which had been closed since April 7, followed the shutting of Cato Ridge Works’ No 3 and No 4 furnaces, as well as Cato Ridge Alloys’ refined-alloys converter, which had not produced since December.

All would also remain closed until market conditions warranted a resumption of production, Assmang-Arm announced through the Stock Exchange News Service.

Owing to manganese ore markets remaining weak, the mining of manganese ore was being continuously reviewed.

Also, owing to the global reduction in stainless steel production, two charge chrome furnaces at the Machadodorp Works would operate until end May and thereafter all four furnaces would be shut.

Along with the consequent reduction in ferrochrome production, chrome ore production at the Dwarsrivier mine would be commensurately scaled back.