MoU signed on project to repurpose ferroalloy slag

BINTULU: OM Materials (S) Pte Ltd (OMS) and South32 Marketing Pte Ltd (South32) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a project to repurpose ferroalloy slag.

The project seeks to develop and implement innovative solutions to close the silico manganese slag (SiMn) waste loop by recycling it as a substitute for natural aggregates in concrete, reducing the need for virgin materials in concrete production, lowering the overall environmental footprint.

According to OM Materials Singapore managing director Adrian Low, the SiMn slag, a by-product recovered from the production of manganese alloy produced at OM Materials (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd which currently have limited recycling opportunities.

“Being an industrial producer, we do have the responsibility to manage the waste that is generated from the industrial production process,” he said during the MoU signing ceremony held at Parkcity Everly Hotel here Tuesday.

“One of the key sustainability goals at OM is to reuse and repurpose more than 80 percent of the waste or by-products that we are generating and we are well-contracted to meet this target,” he said.

“So this target is something that we are well-contracted to meet at the focus area.”

He said that through innovative research and development with various higher educational institutes both in Sarawak and Singapore, OM Materials is looking for these new opportunities.

He pointed out that this initiative can potentially provide solutions for a wide variety of fields including for coastal protection, improving marine ecosystems through restoration by providing structural support for all those processes.

“By consuming industrial by-products, we are ultimately conserving natural resources by substituting the materials used,” he said.

While stating that South32 has been a valued supply and partner for OM Materials, Low expressed his excitement on this next phase of their collaboration, especially as they are focusing on the sustainability angle.

“This collaboration is a testament to our belief in the importance of circular economy practices. Beyond silicon manganese slag, this is the second collaboration we are announcing this year.

“In fact, all other slags that are produced in Sarawak, including dust, fumes, and others are currently being reused and repurposed. SiMn slag is the last by-product that we are trying to repurpose.

“By finding these new applications, we hope to create value also along the whole supply chain and continue the journey towards a more sustainable future,” he said.

The signatories of the document were OMS managing director Low and South32 General Manger Rosa Ye representing Vice President and Head of Marketing Matthew Gillespie.