Rusal offers cash for research into uses of aluminium

AUSTRALIAN universities and research centres are being invited by Russian aluminium giant Rusal to apply for grants to fund work on finding new applications for the light metal. Rusal, a partner in Queensland alumina refinery QAL, has earmarked an initial $US2 million ($A2.1 million) for the project as part of its global technology and innovation research project. Rusal said that it was in search of ground-breaking ideas and research projects, with the aim of expanding the use of aluminium. "New applications will be developed where the unique features of the metal could bring environmental benefits, improve energy efficiency, optimise use of resources, encourage recycling, and create secure packaging and transportation methods," Rusal said. It is expected that up to 10 research projects will receive funding with a view to having the new applications for the metal coming to market in the next three to seven years. Rusal, the International Aluminium Institute and an independent expert, Professor Thomas Graedel, from Yale University, will act as the selection committee. Local universities and research centres will be competing for funding with their peers in America, Asia, Europe and Russia. The deadline for the submission of proposals has been set for September 30. Rusal accounts for 15% and 12% respectively of global alumina and aluminium — a position reached following the 2007 merger of Rusal, Sual and the alumina assets of commodities trader Glencore. The research to be funded will focus on one specific end-use market for each year of the program. "This should greatly enhance the concentration of research efforts and enable simple measurement and comparison of the value offered by different proposals within defined end-use categories," Rusal said. In 2008, the focus is transportation: building and construction follow in 2009; and packaging in 2010. Rusal recently bought into the world's biggest nickel producer, Norilsk, saying it wanted to form a giant Russian metals group to compete with global players such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. Source: Basemetals