Eramet Norway’s processing plant in Sauda employs about 175 people and,with its two 40 MW (megawatt) furnaces, is the biggest ferro-manganeseproducer in northern Europe, according to the company's website.
 
The fire department was called to the plant in south-western Norway onTuesday night amid reports of minor fires inside the smelter.
 
A fire was reported in a tube at the plant, although there has been nodamage to operations and nobody was hurt, the official said. Productionhas been unaffected.
 
Eramet Sauda supplies material to the international steel sector,particularly producers in Europe and North America. It gets manganeseore supplied from its parent company's mine in Gabon, Wes Africa.

• [Editor:Sophie]