Startup for Project Sunrise

Last week Friday saw a joyful day for ASA Metals at Dilokong Chrome with the official startup of Project Sunrise, when the President of Sinosteel Mr Huang Tianwen, visited the completed expansion project. Sinosteel, a Chinese state controlled company, is the majority shareholder in ASA metals with 60 percent of the shares. The other shares is held by Limdev. ASA Metals successfully commissioned its new 600 000 ton per annum pelletising and sintering plant during July 2009 with the first sintered pellets produced at 12:20 on Sunday the 12 July. The successful commissioning of the pelletising and sintering plant signified the first major milestone in ASA Metals’ expansion.

The plant will beneficiate chromite concentrate into pellets that will be supplied to the new furnaces that has just been completed. The two furnaces (top photograph) are 66 MVA closed furnaces, each with its own pre-heaters. The utilization of pellets in the new furnaces will boost overall charge chrome production capacity to around 400 000 tons per year. The pelletising and sintering plant is scheduled to ramp up to full production by the end of the calendar year. ASA Metals has started during January 2008 with an extensive development program to increase their ferrochrome productioncapacity with 300 percent.

The whole project was completed well within the timeschedule, budget and safety objectives of the project. Mr Huang and his party was hosted by the MD and CEO of ASA Metals, Mr Richard Zhang, and the COO, Mr Herman Smith, at the new completed project. They did an extensive tour of Dilokong Chrome with the highlight at the new furnaces where a plaque was unveiled by Mr Huang outside the control room and office block outside the the new furnaces. 

Last week Friday saw a joyful day for ASA Metals at Dilokong Chrome with the official startup of Project Sunrise, when the President of Sinosteel Mr Huang Tianwen, visited the completed expansion project. Sinosteel, a Chinese state controlled company, is the majority shareholder in ASA metals with 60 percent of the shares. The other shares is held by Limdev. ASA Metals successfully commissioned its new 600 000 ton per annum pelletising and sintering plant during July 2009 with the first sintered pellets produced at 12:20 on Sunday the 12 July. The successful commissioning of the pelletising and sintering plant signified the first major milestone in ASA Metals’ expansion

	The pelletising plant as seen fro the furnaces           Left: Mr Juan du Preez (left in the red jacket) highlight some aspects of the project tp Mr Huang (blue jacket) and Mr Zhang near the top of the furnaces

The plant will beneficiate chromite concentrate into pellets that will be supplied to the new furnaces that has just been completed. The two furnaces (top photograph) are 66 MVA closed furnaces, each with its own pre-heaters. The utilization of pellets in the new furnaces will boost overall charge chrome production capacity to around 400 000 tons per year. The pelletising and sintering plant is scheduled to ramp up to full production by the end of the calendar year. ASA Metals has started during January 2008 with an extensive development program to increase their ferrochrome productioncapacity with 300 perceThe toasting of the succsessful completion of Project Sunrise by Mr Smith and Mr Huang (Safety rules observed with classy grape juice.

The whole project was completed well within the timeschedule, budget and safety objectives of the project. Mr Huang and his party was hosted by the MD and CEO of ASA Metals, Mr Richard Zhang, and the COO, Mr Herman Smith, at the new completed project. They did an extensive tour of Dilokong Chrome with the highlight at the new furnaces where a plaque was unveiled by Mr Huang outside the control room and office block outside the the new furnaces