Sandur Manganese

Recently, SMIORE has expanded its operations to include ferroalloy production, coke manufacturing, and power generation. They’ve also integrated downstream, aiming to become a more vertically integrated player in the steel and energy sectors. This diversification helps mitigate some of the cyclicality associated with raw material markets like manganese and iron ore.

Let’s break down the significance of each operation:

1. Ferroalloy Production

• What it is: Ferroalloys are alloys of iron with a high proportion of one or more other elements, such as manganese, silicon, or chromium. SMIORE primarily produces silicomanganese and ferromanganese.
• Where it’s used: These ferroalloys are critical in steelmaking. Silicomanganese and ferromanganese are used as deoxidizers and to add specific properties to steel, such as improving its hardness, strength, and resistance to wear and corrosion.
• Benefit to SMIORE: Ferroalloy production adds vertical integration to the company’s mining operations. Instead of only selling raw manganese ore, the company processes the ore into higher-value products. This enhances profit margins, reduces reliance on volatile raw material prices, and positions it closer to end-users in the steel industry.
• Market relevance: With the global push for infrastructure development and manufacturing, demand for steel continues to grow, which directly increases the demand for ferroalloys.

2. Coke Manufacturing

• What it is: Coke is a high-carbon fuel made by heating coal in the absence of air. It’s primarily used in steel production as a reducing agent in blast furnaces, helping to melt and purify iron ore to produce pig iron.
• Where it’s used: Coke is integral to the traditional steelmaking process. It helps achieve the high temperatures needed in blast furnaces to convert iron ore into molten iron, which is then processed into steel.
• Benefit to SMIORE: By producing coke, it reduces the need to buy this essential material from third parties, cutting costs and improving the efficiency of its iron and steel production chain. Additionally, as the global steel industry faces supply chain challenges, having its own coke production gives the company an advantage in maintaining production continuity.
• Environmental aspect: Coke manufacturing is typically a carbon-intensive process. However, investments in clean energy, such as its thermal and future renewable energy plans, suggest a forward-looking approach to reducing the environmental impact of this operation.

3. Power Generation

• What it is: SMIORE captures and utilize the heat produced during their operations to generate electricity. It operates a 32 MW thermal power plant, which primarily supplies electricity to its own mining and manufacturing operations. In addition, the company has ambitions to expand into clean energy.
• Where it’s used: The power generated is largely used for its mining and ferroalloy production operations, ensuring they have a stable, reliable, and cost-effective energy supply.
• Benefit to SMIORE: Power generation offers energy security and cost efficiency. Rather than being exposed to fluctuating energy prices, the company can control its energy input costs. This also reduces the company’s operational risks, as any power outages or supply issues can have severe impacts on continuous operations like smelting and ore processing.
• Future potential: The company’s future move towards cleaner energy production aligns with global trends towards sustainability. By generating clean energy, it not only reduces its carbon footprint but may also tap into government incentives for green energy projects, improving its public and market standing.

The synergy

• By incorporating ferroalloy production, coke manufacturing, and power generation into its operations, SMIORE is creating a closed-loop system where raw materials (manganese and iron ore) are transformed into higher-value products (ferroalloys), fueled by in-house energy (coke and power generation).
• This level of vertical integration offers the company better control over its supply chain, reduced operational costs, and the ability to weather fluctuations in commodity prices more effectively.