XEAL reactivates a silicomanganese furnace and recovers employees and production in Cee-Dumbría

Cee, NOVEMBER2 ,2020.- Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones, XEAL, is this week temporarily opening the Silicomanganese Furnace 14 and recovering part of the production rhythm with the reactivation of a furnace that was stopped due to low market demand, severely affected on a global scale by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The opening of Furnace 14 and its start-up will take twenty of the company's employees out of the furlough scheme, taking advantage of a peak demand that is expected to last for the next two months, namely November and December.

XEAL, in line with its strategy, is therefore taking advantage of market opportunities, manufacturing when there is demand, showing its firm commitment to making the best possible decisions to remain competitive in the long term.

The Company, also following its strategy of investing in its 4 strategic axes (safety, environment, care of assets and efficiency and effectiveness), has continued with its investment plan despite the complicated situation. Since the arrival of the new shareholders, Xeal has completed or is executing investments worth 6 million euros. Xeal has committed an investment of 28 million euros until 2024.

María Couto, XEAL's CEO, stated that "we want the demand for ferroalloys to recover as soon as possible, but unfortunately the market situation is very complicated in general and we do not foresee a sustained recovery in the short term. We will produce when there is demand; as long as there is not, we will continue with our investment plan; it is the best possible strategy to remain competitive and sustainable".