Eramet Norway, Eramet's Norwegian subsidiary, specializes in the production of refined manganese ferromanganese and silicomanganese alloys. Since 2020, thanks to its resilience during the health and economic crisis, Eramet has become the world's leading producer of refined manganese alloys.
Eramet Norway's three plants, located in fjords in the south-west of the country, mainly use manganese ore from the Comilog mine, Eramet's subsidiary in Gabon:
- Eramet Norway Kvinesdal has three silicomanganese furnaces and uses, among other raw materials, HC FeMn slag from the Sauda plant. A thermal power plant was also built in 1981, generating around 80 GWh of electrical energy and large amounts of thermal energy for a near-by fish farm.
- Eramet Norway Porsgrunn is specialized in refined ferromanganese alloys. The plant includes two furnaces, one for ferromanganese and one for Silicomanganese, and an MOR facility (Manganese Oxygen Refining – MOR) capable of producing a wide range of specialized products.
- Eramet Norway Sauda is Europe's largest manganese smelter and one of the world leaders in the production of refined ferromanganese. It is where approximately 50% of the manganese imported by Eramet Norway is processed. The Sauda plant also produces HC FeMn slag, a by-product used in the production of silicomanganese at Kvinesdal.
- Eramet Norway's R&D department in Trondheim, in collaboration with Eramet Ideas, develops innovative technological solutions, in particular to optimize production and reduce Eramet Norway's environmental footprint.
Most of Eramet Norway's alloys are sold on the European and North American markets and are mainly used in the manufacture of steel.
Steel is the world’s most widely used construction material in everything from structures, industrial equipment and cars to consumables. Steel, and thus also manganese alloys that make the steel ductile and durable, is therefore an essential input factor in the green shift aiming at transforming important sectors such as energy generation and transport.
At the crossroads of industrial tradition and sustainable innovation
Norway's industrial potential was revealed at the beginning of the 20th century, notably through the use of renewable hydroelectricity for industrial purposes in the Norwegian fjords – an alternative to the coal-fired energy used on the rest of the continent.
More than a century later, Eramet Norway continues to work to reduce its climate and environmental footprint, for example, by replacing fossil coke by biocarbon and through several CCUS initiatives (carbon capture and usage or storage). In 2021, the first phase of the energy recovery unit (ERU) in Sauda was implemented and shore electricity facilities at all ENO sites are being installed. Eramet Norway has set itself the target of reducing its CO2 emissions by 43% and recovering 27% of its energy by 2030 (v. 2005).
The company is also committed to the circular economy, in particular through developing new business opportunities for "Silica Green Stone", a silicomanganese by-product today mainly used for road and building construction. Eramet Norway produces around 300,000 tonnes of this material per year.
Key figures
- 4 sites in Norway (3 plants and an R&D department)
- 532 employees in 2020
- 747kt produced in 2021
- 43%: CO2 emissions reduction objective by 2030 (v. 2005)
