Russia's Irkutsk smelter expansion on track for later this year

Construction of a fifth potline at UC RUSAL’s Irkutsk smelter in Russia is on track for completion in the fourth quarter of this year. First production is scheduled for October with full production seen in 2008. The new line will boost the plant’s capacity from the existing 290,000tpy to around 450,000tpy once fully ramped up. Irkutsk last year produced 294,700t of primary metal.