Rusal completes first stage of aluminium division West modernisation

UC Rusal has announced the completion of the first stage of its aluminium division West modernisation. The modernisation has resulted in a significant increase in the share of value-added products (VAP) across the company’s three smelters, reaching 100% at the Volkhov aluminium smelter (24,000 tpy of VAP), 80% at the Nadvoitsy aluminium smelter (60,000 tpy of VAP) and 100% at the Urals aluminium smelter (75,000 tpy of VAP).

The modernisation of the Volgograd and Kandalaksha smelters is planned to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. It will enable the smelters to produce 165,000 tonnes and 75,000 tonnes of VAP respectively: the Kandalakasha smelter will produce the wire rod, the Volgograd smelter will increase the output of slabs. The increase of alloys production is underway at the Bogoslovsk smelter – the plant will be able to produce the alloys in form of small ingots and slabs for rolling mills.

After the modernisation is completed all smelters of the division will reach 100% share of VAP (wire rod, foundry, slabs) in the output. These products are used in energy, wire, rolling, automotive and aerospace industries.

In the first quarter of 2012 the primary aluminium share in Rusal sales was 63%: slabs – 11%, extrusion billets – 10%, foundry alloys – 8%, wire rod – 7%, other products – 1%.