Moscow, 2 February 2004 – RUSAL ROSTAR, a subsidiary of RUSAL, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, announced today the launch of its ROSTAR-2 aluminium can plant in Vsevolzhsk in the Leningrad region, near St Petersburg.

Commenting on the event, Pavel Ulianov, RUSAL’s Deputy General Director responsible for the aluminium container business, said: “We estimate that the launch of the ROSTAR-2 plant will ensure that Russian producers can meet the fast-growing demand of the domestic aluminium beverage can market.  The addition of this new plant will make RUSAL more competitive and will increase our market share to 60%”. 

ROSTAR-2’s cans will be supplied to brewing companies in north-western and central Russia as well as to producers of low-alcohol cocktails and non-alcohol beverages.

The construction project took 15 months at a cost of some $100 million. ROSTAR-2’s planned capacity is 1,700 million. 0.5 liter cans a year. One production line has been installed with a capacity of 850 million cans, with a second one of equal capacity to be installed subsequently. The plant’s engineering design provides for potential capacity increase of each production line to 1,000 million cans, by adding equipment and increasing efficiency. Introduction of one line will increase ROSTAR’s capacity by 70%.

The plant will give the region 300 jobs, with this number set to increase to 450 after installation of the second line begins.

ROSTAR-2 is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment from Sequa Can Machinery, Belvac Production Machinery, USA, and ITS GmbH, NSM Magnettechnik GmbH&Co, Germany, making it one of the most modern beverage can plants in Europe. The US engineering company Roeslein & Associates was involved in the construction, and Russia’s “STEP – Construction projects” acted as general contractor.

About ROSTAR

RUSAL ROSTAR, a subsidiary of RUSAL, is Russia’s leading producer of aluminium beverage cans and ends, with a production capacity of 2.1 billion cans and 2.25 billion ends per year. RUSAL ROSTAR produces cans of 0.33L and 0.5L volume as well as SOT-ends. RUSAL ROSTAR includes two beverage can production plants, located in Dmitrov and Vsevolzhsk.
About RUSAL
RUSAL, a world leader in aluminium production was formed in March 2000 from the merger of a number of the largest smelters and other aluminium producers located in the CIS. The company accounts for 75% of Russia's primary aluminium output and 10% of the global primary aluminium output. RUSAL is a fully vertically integrated company with a complete production cycle from bauxite mining and the production of raw materials, to the production of primary metal, semi-products and aluminium-based end products. RUSAL is headquartered in Moscow.

For further information:
www.RUSAL.com
Eugenia Harrison,  +7 095 720 5170, zharrison@RUSAL.ru