Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones, S.A.U.

Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones, S.A.U. (XEAL) is a Spanish industrial company based in Madrid with operations in the A Costa da Morte region of the province of A Coruña, Galicia. It carries out two main activities: the production of ferroalloys and the generation of hydroelectric energy. The company operates two ferroalloy plants, located in the municipalities of Cee and Dumbría, and ten hydroelectric power plants in the basins of the Xallas and Grande rivers. Its annual production capacity is approximately 184,000–189,000 tons of ferroalloys, and its hydroelectric installed capacity totals 167.3 MW. The Cee plant, dating back to 1904, is the head of the industrial complex and has three three-phase electric resistance arc furnaces: two dedicated to manganese alloys (ferromanganese and silicomanganese) and one for ferrosilicon. The Dumbría plant, inaugurated in 1977, has two furnaces for ferrosilicon production, one of which is among the largest in Europe. The hydroelectric division manages ten plants, including mini-hydro and larger hydroelectric stations, with reservoirs and diversions on the Xallas and Grande rivers. XEAL's history spans more than a century. The assets date back to the early 20th century, with the first calcium carbide furnace starting in 1904. Ferroalloy production began in 1922 with ferromanganese, followed by ferrosilicon in 1925 and silicomanganese in 1931. The hydroelectric plants were developed progressively, with key stations like Castrelo (1956), Fervenza I (1971), Santa Eugenia (1988), Novo Pindo (2004), and Fervenza II, Ponte Olveira II, and Novo Castrelo (2018). In 1992, Grupo Ferroatlántica acquired the hydroelectric plants and factories from Carburos Metálicos. In 2015, Ferroatlántica merged with Globe Specialty Metals to form Ferroglobe. In 2019, Kehlen Industries Management, S.L.U., owned by Sixth Street Partners and managed by Ithaka, acquired Ferroatlántica, and in February 2020 the company changed its image and name to Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones, S.A.U. (Xeal). Since October 2023, it has been owned by Energo-Pro, a.s. XEAL is committed to sustainability, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and has a corporate governance framework including a code of conduct, anti-corruption policy, and whistleblower channel. The company's strategic axes are safety of people, respect for the environment, maintenance of assets, and efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity.

The history of XEAL's assets dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. In 1903, the Salto del Pindo concession was granted, and in 1904, Carburos Metálicos started up the first calcium carbide furnace at the Cee plant. The ferroalloy period began in 1922 with the production of ferromanganese, followed by ferrosilicon in 1925 and silicomanganese in 1931. The hydroelectric development progressed with the first plant at Castrelo starting operation in 1956, the expropriation procedures for the Fervenza Reservoir initiated in 1959, the completion of the Carantoña waterfall in 1960, the Ponte Olveira waterfall in 1966, and the Fervenza Reservoir beginning exploitation in 1967. Fervenza I power plant started up in 1971. The Dumbría factory began activity in 1977–1978. The new Santa Eugenia hydroelectric power plant started up in 1988. In 1992, Grupo Ferroatlántica acquired the hydroelectric power plants and factories in Cee and Dumbría from Carburos Metálicos. Novo Pindo hydroelectric power plant started operation in 2004. In 2015, the company became part of Ferroglobe, resulting from the merger of Grupo Ferroatlántica and Globe Specialty Metals. In 2018, Fervenza II, Ponte Olveira II, and Novo Castrelo power plants started up. In August 2019, Kehlen Industries Management, S.L.U., wholly owned by Sixth Street Partners and managed by Ithaka, acquired Ferroatlántica. In February 2020, the company changed its image and name to Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones, S.A.U. (Xeal). In October 2023, it became owned by Energo-Pro, a.s. Throughout its history, the company has faced controversy, including the 2016 announcement by Grupo Villar Mir, owner of Ferroglobe, of its intention to sell the hydroelectric plants, separating industrial and energy activities. This led to the neighborhood movement "As nosas centrais non se venden" (Our plants are not for sale). In 2019, Grupo Villar Mir sold FerroAtlántica to TPG Sixth Street Partners for 170 million euros, including both the plants and the Cee and Dumbría factories. The movement continued to protest against furnace closures, cessation of industrial activity, non-compliance with agreements, and EREs, advocating for a viability plan.

• 2023

  Company becomes owned by Energo-Pro, a.s.

• 2020

  Change of image and name to Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones, S.A.U. (Xeal)

• 2019

  Kehlen Industries Management, S.L.U. acquires Ferroatlántica

• 2018

  Fervenza II, Ponte Olveira II and Novo Castrelo power plants are started up

• 2015

  The Company becomes part of Ferroglobe, resulting from the merger of Grupo Ferroatlántica and Globe Specialty Metals

• 2004

  Novo Pindo hydroelectric power plant starts operation

• 1992

  Grupo Ferroatlántica acquires from Carburos Metálicos the hydroelectric power plants and factories in Cee and Dumbría

• 1988

  The new Santa Eugenia hydroelectric power plant (reservoir and power plant) is started up

• 1977

  The factory in Dumbría started its activity and production

• 1971

  Fervenza I power plant is started up

• 1967

  Fervenza Reservoir begins to be exploited

• 1966

  Completion of the Ponte Olveira Waterfall

• 1960

  Construction of the Carantoña waterfall is completed

• 1959

  Expropriation procedures for the Fervenza Reservoir are initiated

• 1956

  Castrelo's first hydroelectric power plant starts operating

• 1931

  Silicomanganese manufacturing begins in Cee

• 1925

  Ferrosilicon production begins in Cee

• 1922

  Ferroalloy period begins with production of ferromanganese

• 1904

  Carburos Metálicos starts up the first calcium carbide furnace at the Cee plant

• 1903

  Salto del Pindo concession granted

Integrated industrial company combining ferroalloy production and renewable hydroelectric energy, committed to sustainability and innovation.

• Ferromanganese

  Manganese alloy produced at the Cee plant.

• Ferrosilicon

  Produced at Cee and Dumbría plants.

• Silicomanganese

  Produced at the Cee plant.

• Silica fume (microsilica)

  By-product obtained from the fume filter at the Cee plant.

• Söderberg paste

  Produced in a 600 kW single-phase electric furnace for electrodes.

• Hydroelectric energy

  Clean energy generated from ten hydroelectric plants.

1. 1XEAL - Xallas Electricity and Alloys SAUxeal.es
2. 2History - Xeal - Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones SAUxeal.es
3. 3OUR COMPANY - Xeal - Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones SAUxeal.es
4. 4CORPORATE GOVERNANCE - Xeal - Xallas Electricidad y Aleaciones SAUxeal.es
5. 5XEAL - Wikipedia (Galician)gl.wikipedia.org
6. 6Wikidatawikidata.org