Ferrochrome

Most of the global output is produced in South Africa, Kazakhstan and India, which have large domestic chromite resources.

FeCr from South Africa, known as "charge chrome" and produced from a Cr containing ore with a low carbon content, is most commonly used in stainless steel production.

Chromite (an oxide of Cr and Fe) is reduced by coal and coke to form the iron-chromium alloy.

In the process of smelting, huge amounts of electricity are consumed, making production very expensive in countries where power costs are high.

When enough smelted ferrochrome has accumulated in the furnace hearth, the tap hole is drilled open and a stream of molten metal and slag rushes down a trough into a chill or ladle.