KIEV, Aug. 30 - Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant (NFP), Ukraine’s biggest ferroalloy producer, may suspend output by the end of the year unless the government takes steps to lower power prices and restrict ferroalloy imports, the company said Thursday.

NFP, which already reduced output 12.4% on the year in July, will shut down three ferroalloy making furnaces in September, after shutting down five earlier this year.

“An order has been already signed to lay off 170 workers” in September, the company said in a statement.