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Did you know that about 80 percent of all niobium sold in the world is extracted from Minas Gerais and produced in Araxá? Starting on the 18th of this month, the production of niobium iron in Araxá will be temporarily suspended for repair and maintenance works, as reported on April 29 by CBMM – Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração. Record Niobium Production in 2019 Positions Brazil as the World Leader in This Type of Exploration
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According to the company, the suspension of activities will last until the 17th of next month. The CBMM also stated that it will grant collective vacations to all production line employees (the company did not disclose 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 due to the production plan anticipated for the first four months of 2020 exceeding expectations, the company decided to advance the process.
The mining company also highlighted that the interruption of activities at this moment 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 has steel companies as its primary destination.
The metal is mainly used in the production of special steels and superalloys and acts as a “booster”: only 400 grams per ton are needed to produce lighter and stronger steels.
Niobium is currently employed in automobiles, airplane turbines, gas pipelines, ships, MRI machines, particle accelerators, lenses, and even piercings and jewelry. The metal is primarily sold in the form of ferroniobium (with about two-thirds niobium content and one-third iron), obtained through various processing stages.
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