Merafe production tanks

Johannesburg - Merafe Resources, the black-owned ferrochrome company, on Tuesday announced a 76% fall in production during the first quarter of this year.

First quarter attributable production of 19 000 tons was reported compared to 79 000 tons for the same period last year.

The company said 17 out of 20 furnaces, equivalent to some 80% of annual production capacity, remained suspended during the first quarter as destocking continued in response to weak demand.

Production prioritised was the lower cost, energy-efficient capacity from the Lion and Lydenburg smelters, which employ the Premus technology.

- I-Net Bridge