Xstrata Alloys' Lion Ferrochrome Operation is located near Steelpoort in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is located close to the chrome ore reserves and adjacent to Xstrata Alloys' former Vantech plant.

Lion Ferrochrome is the latest addition to Xstrata’s chrome division which utilises Xstrata’s Premus technology for the production of low silicon ferrochrome. Premus is the most sophisticated, competitive and technological advanced process available for the production of ferrochrome. The process is able to maximise resource utilisation by utilising low cost reductants and fine ores whilst being the most environmental friendly practice available for the production of ferrochrome. The plant is supplied with ore from Xstrata’s Helena mine which is situated 22 kilometres from the smelter.

Merafe is Xstrata’s Pooling and Sharing Venture (PSV) partner which holds a 20.5% participation in Xstrata chrome and participated in the Lion expansion. The PSV is jointly managed by Xstrata and Merafe with unrestricted voting rights and economic interests equivalent to shareholding.

Xstrata Lion was a brown field project that utilized the infrastructure of the decommissioned Vantech vanadium plant. Construction started on the 14th of December 2004 and was executed by Xstrata alloys projects department and commissioned during the third quarter 2006. First product was despatched to customers early in the fourth quarter 2006. The project was completed within budgeted costs and time frames.

Skills development centre

A Skills Development Centre that forms part of Xstrata’s Corporate Social Development initiatives was developed adjacent to the Lion site. This centre enables members of the local communities to obtain marketable skills whilst improving their opportunities for employment in the industrial and mining sector.

Business park

An area has been allocated for the development of a business park to allow for black economic empowered companies to participate in the fast developing industry in the area.