Mechel‘s subsidiary Southern Urals Nickel Plant has started construction of an experimental industrial complex in Orsk, Russia, to produce ferronickel through electric smelting.

The construction of the 12MW complex is part of southern Urals’s programme to upgrade its production facilities.

The $41m facility has been designed by South Africa-based Bateman Engineering and will employ the latest technology to produce ferronickel.

The complex will have an annual production capacity of 4,500t of ferronickel, with an average 20% nickel content.