DNIPROPETROVSK, Oct. 28 - Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant (NZF), Ukraine's biggest producer of silicon manganese and ferromanganese, might shut down operations on Nov. 1 due to a lack of demand amid the global financial crisis, an aide to NZF's general director, Volodymyr Tsybenko told Interfax, citing statements general director Volodymyr Kutsyn made in an interview with a local television channel.

Kutsyn said "the plant does not have orders or sales of products; the financial crisis has affected Ukraine's mining and metals sector, and NZF is preparing a number of measures to shut down the plant."