Companhia Vale do Rio Doce, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rio Doce Manganese Norway (RDMN), located in Mo I Rana, Norway, started its operations. RDMN, formerly Elkem Rana, was acquired by CVRD in February 2003 for US$ 17.6 million. CVRD is investing US$ 10 million to convert its plant to produce ferromanganese alloys, including revamping one of its electric furnaces and improving its environmental protection and safety procedures. The RDMN plant production capacity is 110,000 tons per year of ferroalloys, and it will produce ferrosilicon manganese and ferromanganese high carbon alloys.