Shunaid Qureshi, Managing Director of Al Abbas Industries (AAI), told Business Recorder on Tuesday that with the commissioning of this ferroalloy plant, Pakistan has joined a select group of countries producing ferroalloys.
The project has been initiated at a cost of $30 million and is being managed by Al Abbas Industries (AAI) Limited with the technical co-operation from South African experts.
First tapping/casting of ferro silicon at the plant was successfully carried out this week and would start producing ferromanganese commercially as well.
The AAI, an ISO 9001:2000 certified plant, is the first of its kind in Pakistan to commercially produce various ferroalloys using 100 percent local raw materials and captive electric power generated from a mixture of domestic and imported coals.
Shunaid said that till now ferroalloys used in steel industry for degassing and alloying purpose were imported.
The production of the two products would enable Pakistan to save $10 million in foreign exchange. He thanked the government of Pakistan, Pakistan Steel Chairman and other organisations who extended their valuable co-operation in making the dream come true.
Oureshi said that his company has the capacity to produce ferrochromium and silicon manganese in future beside the current production of ferrosilicon and ferromanganese.