UC RUSAL begins modernisation of giant Bratsk smelter

UC RUSAL announced the start of a major modernisation programme at its giant Bratsk smelter, which with nameplate capacity of 983,000tpy is the world’s largest single smelter. The first stage of the programme will see $350m invested with the main focus on the reduction of emissions from the Soviet-era plant by the end of 2011. UC RUSAL is in the process of completing a similar exercise at the Krasnoyarsk smelter and in both cases the aim is to maintain the older Soederberg technology whilst achieving the same environmental parameters as pre-bake technology. The programme will also include a 100,000tpy capacity increase via the installation of 64 new cells and will be followed by a second-stage upgrade from 2012 aimed at cutting emissions still further.