Molycorp Silmet plans to resume production of rare metals in Estonia after major fire
Rare metal production factory Molycorp Silmet will resume its operations in the coming days after its manufacturing facilities caught fire earlier this month.
The plant, in Sillamäe, caught fire on June 9 and firefighters battled the blaze for more than 10 hours to put out the flames.
It is understood that the factory building was destroyed, and the roof collapsed along with two top floors which meant firefighters had to put the fire out from outside the building. Local residents were being advised to stay indoors due to the threat of chemical contamination, but there is no threat of a chemical disaster as only plastic pipes and construction waste caught alight.
Chairman of Molycorp Silmet David O'Brok-Kaljuvee said that production will begin again 'in the coming days'. He said that the workshop for rare earth metals had not been affected by the fire, but that one production line had been destroyed. A new one will be built as soon as possible, he added.
The Estonian fire and police service is still investigating the incident and will release their findings later this month.
Molycorp Silmet is an Estonian branch of the US Molycorp Inc, specializing in the production of tantalum and niobium. It employs more than 550 people.
Editor: H. Wright, S. Tambur