Reuters reported that Turkish mining firm Dedeman will begin producing 100,000 tonnes per year of ferrochrome at a smelter in Turkey or the Middle East by the end of 2009. Dedeman would feed the smelter with chrome ore from its Turkish mines.

Mr Murat Eroglu chairman of Dedeman Mining said that "We aim to finish the construction of the smelter by end 2009." He added that the location of the smelter would depend on electricity prices, which are higher in Turkey than Egypt or Qatar.

Mr Eroglu said that Dedeman was in talks with a Japanese firm to cooperate on its chrome operations and the talks were expected to be finalised by March 2008. He added that "It can be either a merger or a JV to form a new company."

Dedeman Mining aims to increase its sales to TRL 110 million next year from TRL 88 million this year.