XEAL schedules its annual maintenance and investment shutdown in July

• THIS SHUTDOWN IS RECURRENT YEAR AFTER YEAR AND WILL LAST FOR AN ESTIMATED 15 DAYS.
• DURING THIS PERIOD, MAINTENANCE WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON ALL THE FERROSILICON FURNACES AND IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO THE COMMON FACILITIES AND BUILDINGS. as well as improvements to the communal facilities and buildings. 
• WORK WILL ALSO BE CARRIED OUT IN related to the announced investments in environmental improvements at the silico-manganese furnaces.

Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones, XEAL, plans its usual annual shutdown of all its furnaces during the first two weeks in July to undertake essential annual maintenance work, as well as work related to ongoing investments which require access to the production facilities.

Xeal committed to executing an investment plan of €28 million between 2020 and 2024, €14 million in each of the company's divisions, ferroalloys and energy.

The maintenance work will focus on the ferrosilicon furnaces and general facility upgrades and will improve the operation and reliability of the facilities, enhancing the company's competitive position.

Investments will center on improvements to the environmental control processes of the silico-manganese furnaces and the modification of the filters of the ferrosilicon furnaces; these investments amount to a total of €2 million, accounting for 50% of the investments planned for 2021.

This investment is part of the future plan announced by the company to invest 14 million euros in the ferroalloys division over the next five years, in line with its four strategic axes: maximum commitment to workers' health and safety ; respect for the environment and compliance with environmental regulations; long-term care and maintenance of assets; and improved efficiency and productivity for increased competitiveness.

Maria Couto, XEAL's CEO, stated that "we want Xeal to be a benchmark in preventive maintenance for the long-term care of our assets and and we work each day to achieve this".