United Rusal : RUSAL's investments in Eco-Soderberg to amount to USD 250 mln

RUSAL's investments in Eco-Soderberg to amount to USD 250 mln

23.01.2018

Moscow, 23 January 2018 - UC RUSAL (SEHK: 486, Euronext: RUSAL/RUAL, Moscow Exchange: RUAL), a leading global aluminium producer, is pleased to announce that it will invest around USD 250 mln in the implementation of the Eco-Soderberg technology at the Company's production facilities between 2018 and 2022.

The transition to Eco-Soderberg technology involves a number of engineering activities, including the construction of dry and wet two-stage gas-cleaning plants, the implementation of an automated system to supply raw materials to reduction cells, the state-of-the-art automation systems, the innovative high-performance systems for gas removal from reduction cells, and the mechanisation of labour-intensive processes.

The newly developed systems for gas removal from the reduction of cells, increases the gas removal efficiency in terms of the key contaminant - fluorine compounds (F, fluorides) to 97.5% and reduces emissions by 3.5 times, thus bringing the environmental efficiency of the Eco-Soderberg technology to baked anode technologies. Moreover, as one of the most efficient technologies in the world, the dry and wet gas-cleaning complex allows for capturing both fluorides and sulphur (SO2). Just a few plants worldwide are equipped with such integrated gas cleaning systems with fluoride capture efficiency of more than 99% and SO2 capture efficiency of at least 96.5%. The project is a milestone of the environmental protection programmes being implemented at the aluminium smelters of UC RUSAL.

About 70% of capacity of Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter has already been switched to the Eco-Soderberg technology. The Bratsk Aluminium Smelter has switched about 70% of one of its potrooms to the Eco-Soderberg technology, and two series of potrooms feature a cutting-edge gas cleaning system. Pilot task areas each consisting of six new reduction cells have been launched at the Irkutsk and Novokuznetsk Aluminium Smelters. Plans are in place to expand the technology to cover the entire smelter of IrkAZ after the technology is developed, and at NkAZ, modernisation has already started in 2018 in two potrooms.

Vladislav Soloviev, CEO of RUSAL, commented: 'Implementing the Eco-Soderberg technology is among the key projects underway to eco-upgrade RUSAL's facilities, which would allow to reduce emissions as well as increase production efficiency in general. Developing and implementing green technologies is an essential requirement for maintaining a leadership position in today's aluminium industry. By growing in this area, RUSAL not only develops new technologies and products, but also promotes Russia's scientific expertise on a global scale'.

Eco-Soderberg is a proprietary technology development by RUSAL's Engineering and Technology Centre based in Krasnoyarsk. It is included in the 'Guide to the Best Available Technologies in Aluminium Production' approved by the order of Rosstandart. The new generation of reduction cells allows to significantly reduce the environmental impact, increase the energy efficiency of aluminium smelters, and bolster workplace safety and health.