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Did you know that around 80% of all the niobium sold in the world is extracted from Minas Gerais and produced in Araxá? As of the 18th of this month, the production of niobium iron in Araxá will be temporarily suspended, for repair and maintenance works, informed on the 29th of April, CBMM – Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração. Record production of niobium in 2019 positions Brazil as a world leader in this type of exploration
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According to the company, the suspension of activities will take place until the 17th of next month. A CBMM also informed that it will grant collective vacations to all employees of the production line (the company did not inform the number of employees).
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The note issued by the company informs that the interruption of niobium production activities was expected to occur in the next two months, but that due to the production plan expected for the first quarter of 2020 having exceeded expectations, the company decided to advance the process.
The mining company also highlighted that the interruption of activities at this time will provide greater peace of mind for the resumption of metal production and sales volume in the second half of the year.
about niobium
Currently, the niobium produced in Araxá – MG is exported to more than 50 countries and its main destination is steel companies.
The metal is mainly used in the production of special steels and superalloys and works as an “improver”: 400 grams per ton are enough to produce lighter and more resistant steels.
Niobium is currently used in automobiles, airplane turbines, gas pipelines, ships, magnetic resonance machines, particle accelerators, lenses and even piercings and jewelry. The metal is mainly sold in the form of the ferroniobium alloy (with about two thirds of niobium content and one third of iron), obtained from several processing steps.
