Al Tamman Indsil Ferrochrome, a 50-50 joint venture of Oman's Al Tamman Trading Establishment and the Indsil Group of India, plans to develop the Sultanate's first ferrochrome smelter, Oman Daily Observer has reported. The JV will invest some $70m in the establishment of the 75,000 tons per annum facility at the Sohar Industrial Estate. The smelter will comprise a pair of 24 MVA furnaces that will process chrome ore, among other ingredients, into high carbon ferrochrome. The chrome ore feedstock will be sourced from the mines of Al Tamman Trading Establishment, which presently ranks as the biggest producer and exporter of chromite ore in the country. The plant is set to be operational before the end of next year.