Mississippi Silicon's new $200 million plant is now producing metal and initial shipments should begin soon, a company official said Monday.
"We've actually fired up the furnace and should be shipping metal next week," said John Lalley, the company's vice president of finance.
The plant began commissioning activities last month.
Lalley declined to reveal how much silicon is being produced at the plant in Burnsville in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. A second furnace is scheduled for commercial operation before the end of the year, he added.
Lalley also would not say who the silicon will be shipped to next week.
"Eventually, we're going to be shipping to all segments of the market," he said.
The company, a subsidiary of Brazil's Rima Industrial S/A, remains confident the new plant will be profitable, especially "once we get the second furnace up and running," he said.
Once both 24-MW furnaces are operating, the plant's capacity will be 36,000 mt/year.
Mississippi Silicon survived a legal challenge brought by 16 Front Street, a subsidiary of silicon competitor Globe Specialty Metals, and local landowner C. Richard Cotton.
