The world's largest refractory materials manufacturer, RHI Group of Austria, has approved an initial R65m project for the construction of a new fusion plant at Isithebe, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. In a recent announcement the company said it would establish a smelting plant, comprising 2 electric arc furnaces, with a capacity to produce around 30,000/tpa. However, there were already plans for a further R20M expansion to introduce a 3rd furnace that could raise output to 45,000/tpa. The development reportedly received board sanction at a meeting in Vienna in September. Once build, the plant will process locally-sourced chrome ore & imported Chinese magnesite ore into fused magnesia-chrome - a key ingredient in the production of refractory bricks.
