UC RUSAL targets major aluminium growth over next 5 years

UC RUSAL, the giant aluminium producer created from the merger of Russia's two producers and the aluminium interests of Swiss trade house Glencore, aims to lift annual aluminium production capacity to 6 million tonnes and alumina production capacity to 17 million tonnes by 2013, according to chief executive Alexander Bulygin. The lift to 6 million tonnes would represent a 50% increase in current production capacity. Some of that will come through upgrades to the existing smelter network but more will come through greenfield smelter projects. The first of those—the 300,000tpy Khakaz plant—is close to full ramp-up (see above). Two more have been started—the 750,000tpy Taishet smelter and the 600,000tpy Bochuchansk plant, both in Russia. In addition, UC RUSAL noted it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Venezuela for an integrated alumina-aluminium project. The company is also rehabilitating the mothballed 193,000tpy Ikot Abasi smelter in Nigeria, which it bought during last year's privatisation. It said it has started restoring the cathode and foundry sections as well as the gas-fired power plant. UC RUSAL reported a 5% year-on-year increase in group aluminium production to 3.105 million tonnes in the first 9 months of 2007. Group alumina production increased by 5.7% to 8.452 million tonnes and cast-house products output rose by 13.6% to 1.620 million tonnes.