Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter (KrAZ)

Krasnoyarsk smelter is one of the largest in the world, launched in 1964 as part of a large-scale regional power and metals cluster involving both upstream and downstream facilities for aluminium and power production.

Presently, KrAZ is one of the Group’s core smelting facilities deploying new, innovative technology and manufacturing unique products.

The smelter has 25 potrooms and three casthouses, using 90% of the power generated by Krasnoyarsk HPP. Value-added products make up 42.3% of the smelter’s full product range.

A large-scale environmental modernisation program has been carried out at KrAZ over the past decade to majorly reduce its pollutant emissions. The smelter was converted to “dry” anode technology and equipped with dry gas scrubbing stations and automated alumina point feeders, while 66% of the potrooms were converted to RUSAL’s proprietary Eco-Søderberg technology by the end of 2017.

During 2018, 254 S8BMe/S8Be pots were installed at KrAZ under the modernisation plan; 101 efficient ShPVVe pots and 67 environmentally-friendly S8Ba pots were also installed at Bratsk Aluminium Smelter; and two RA-167 pots were installed in a trial area of Novokuznetsk Aluminium Smelter.

Over 80% of the reduction cells at Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter have been converted to the new standard, with 254 being retrofitted in 2018.

Development plans

The construction of a new foundry complex to increase cylindrical billet production, including large 457 mm billets, is underway, and will reach its design capacity. The large-scale environmental modernisation program was completed, reducing the facility’s gross СО2 emissions by 39% in 2018 (compared to 2004). Inert anode technology development was also completed.