Interfax reported that Nikopol Ferroalloy Works, Ukraine's biggest ferroalloy producer has been running at full capacity since July 1st.

The Dnipropetrovsk regional administration said all specialists who had been sent on forced leave are now back at work and salaries are being paid in full.

According to the report, NFW has also started to implement its investment plans again.

The Ukrainian Ferroalloy Association said NFW aimed to produce more than 55,000 tonnes of ferroalloys in July. It has re commissioned two silicon manganese furnaces one on April 26th after it had idled for eight months and the other on July 1st.

The administration's press release also said iron ore concentrate production in the region had gone up 5% in June compared with May. It said Inhulets Mining had boosted output 20.1% and Southern Mining had ramped it up 9.3%.

Coke production in the region went up 5% MoM and ferroalloy production by 24%.

NFW reduced ferroalloy production 64.9%YoY in January to May to 157,000 tonnes. The company produced 144,300 tonnes of silicon manganese down by 51.7%YoY and 12,700 tonnes of ferromanganese down by 91.5%.

The works cut ferroalloy output 18.7% to 828,600 tonnes in 2008.

(Sourced from Interfax)