MOSCOW — 27 October, 2004 — RUSAL, one of the world's leading aluminium companies, today announced growth in output across all of its main product lines in the period to the end of September 2004. Aluminium production showed 4% year-on-year growth to 2,001,732 tonnes. Alumina output grew by 5.6% year-on-year to 2,338,776 tonnes.
Continued technological upgrades at smelters, including successful experiments with current efficiency and amperage increases, were reflected in increased aluminium output, which exceeded expectations.
The company's marketing strategy continued to be focused on increasing direct sales to end users and raising alloy production. Output of value-added cast-house products, including alloys, grew by 16.5% year-on-year and alloys alone showed an increase of 41.6%. This is the result of continuing comprehensive modernization programmes at the smelters, involving upgrading of the cast-house areas.
Alumina and bauxite production showed healthy organic growth, enhancing the company's self-sufficiency in raw material supplies. Continuing measures to boost alumina production included commencement of feasibility studies at Achinsk and Nikolayev to raise those plants' capacities to 1.2 mln tonnes and to 1.6 tonnes respectively.
Developments in the modernisation programme at RUSAL's plants, which is environmentally focused, included a switch to dry anode technology of nine pot-lines at Bratsk, with the same programmes being implemented at Novokuznetsk and Krasnoyarsk. Installation of dry scrubbers and point feeders (alumina feeding devices) continued at all smelters. ISO 14001 international environmental certification of the plants proceeded, with Achinsk alumina refinery successfully passing the certification. Modernisation programmes designed to make the production process more environmentally friendly are expected to reduce overall emissions by 30% by 2012.
Other highlights for Q3 of 2004
- An investment programme to equip all potrooms at Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter with point feeders began. This programme is part of the larger $270 mln. modernization programme at Krasnoyarsk, due to be completed by 2007. It is expected that installation of dry scrubbers will cut harmful emissions by 50%.
- RUSAL has launched a new programme which is designed to lead to the development of Russia’s largest industrial park complex. The complex will be developed on property associated with its production facilities in Krasnoyarsk and three other RUSAL locations in Siberia.
- An agreement with German firm Achenbach to execute a $70 mln modernization program at the RUSAL Armenal foil mill in Armenia was signed. The program will allow RUSAL Armenal to improve the quality of its foil products and raise the plant's profitability.
- A foil ingot production line of 60 000 tonnes annual capacity was introduced at the Sayanogorsk smelter.
- In Guinea, a feasibility study to double Friguia refinery capacity to 1.4 mln and an Environment Impact Assessment for the project are proceeding and scheduled for completion by the end of 2004.
- Konstantin Steblin, former senior manager with the Krasnoyarsk smelter has been designated for appointment as the plant's acting Managing Director.
Table 1 — Production results (tonnes, unless otherwise noted)
| Products |
3rd quarter |
Year-on-year growth, (%) |
9 months |
Year-on-year growth, (%) |
| 2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
| Bauxite |
1 271 473 |
1 029 854 |
23,36% |
3 634 468 |
3 127 702 |
16,2% |
| Alumina |
789 214 |
757 776 |
4,1% |
2 338 769 |
2 216 192 |
5,5% |
| Primary aluminium and value added cast house products |
668 530 |
655 139 |
2,1% |
2 001 732 |
1 923 999 |
4,09% |
| Aluminium semi products including: |
52 282 |
52 760 |
— 0,9% |
156 946 |
163 868 |
— 4,2% |
Aluminium foil
(see Note 1) |
9 227 |
12 349 |
— 25,2% |
27 668 |
34 863 |
— 20,6% |
Aluminium beverage cans
(see Note 2) |
390 283 |
253 160 |
54,1% |
1 005 518 |
747 434 |
34,5% |
Note 1: Decrease due to temporary closure of Armenal foil mill, under renovation
Note 2: Increase in beverage can output is largely due to the recent launch of the new can plant
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 International Press
Zhenia Harrison
zharrison@rusal.ru
For Russian Press
Vera Kurochkina
Elena Shanina
Press-center@rusal.ru |
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