Successful commissioning of the silicon metal plant of Mississippi Silicon, USA

At Mississippi Silicon LCC, SMS group has successfully commissioned the first of two submerged arc furnaces for the production of silicon as well as Ecoplants environmental technology. Commissioning of the second furnace is also scheduled for this year. The annual capacity of the two furnaces is 33,000 tons.

The new works was built in Burnsville, Mississippi, USA and is one of the most efficient of its kind in the world. Mississippi Silicon is now able to supply the nearby works belonging to the aluminum and chemical industries in the region with metallurgical silicon.

“With SMS group, we made the right choice for the construction of our silicon works – a competent and reliable partner. We are very happy with the result and very proud of our new plant. Now we can supply the market with American silicon.” Dave Tuten, CEO at Mississippi Silicon

SMS group supplied two submerged arc furnaces, the electrode strings, the material handling system, the hydraulic systems and end product processing systems, the cranes, the chemistry lab and the stoking and charging machines. The scope of supply furthermore includes the X-Pact^® electrical and automation systems and the Ecoplants gas cleaning systems.

A special technical feature is the rotation of the furnace shells during the process. In this way, “cold spots” in the molten metal can be avoided and carbide deposits on the furnace walls prevented.

Silicon metal is used as a primary material in the solar, electronics and chemical industries and as an alloying element in the production of aluminum. The investment costs total 200 million USD.

The project is being realized with support from the KfW IPEX-Bank, which provides the external capital for the financing covered by a Hermes export credit guarantee.

The majority shareholder of Mississippi Silicon LCC is the Vicintin family, which also owns Rima Industrial S/A, one of the leading Brazilian manufacturers of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys.

Cleantech LLC is a group of investors which, among others, includes Global Principal Partners, a group of strategic investors and financial consultants.

The works of Mississippi Silicon, USA, with two submerged arc furnaces and Ecoplants environmental technology from SMS group

Submerged arc furnace from SMS group for the production of metallurgical silicon

Based on SMS group information