Eight Workers Injured in Kazakhstan Ferro-Silicon Plant Explosion

Explosion at YDD Ferro-Silicon Plant in Karaganda

According to reports from the state-run newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda and several other sources,The Kazakhstan ferro-silicon plant explosion at the YDD production facility in Karaganda on July 20 injured eight workers, raising concerns over industrial safety. The incident took place in one of the four furnaces currently in operation at the plant, and it remains uncertain how this will affect overall production.

Out of the eight injured workers, six have been placed in intensive care, underscoring the severity of the incident.

Authorities established a commission to determine the cause of the explosion, and investigators launched a criminal probe into potential labor production violations.

YDD Plant Operations and Impact on Production

According to trade data, YDD, which has a nameplate capacity of 240,000 tons per year of ferro-silicon, 10,000 tons per year of ferrosilicon slag, and 18,000 tons per year of microsilica, is reportedly operating at full capacity.

A European trader informed ScrapInsight that despite the incident, the explosion is unlikely to affect ferro-silicon prices or availability in Europe.

YDD’s Growth in Ferro-Silicon Industry

YDD is a relatively new entrant to the ferro-silicon industry, with its first furnace becoming operational in mid-2019 and the fourth furnace starting operations in 2022.