Russian aluminum producer Rusal has brought on stream a new 72,000 mt/year calcined coke production unit at its Irukutsk aluminum smelter in Siberia, the company said Tuesday.
Rusal has been producing calcined coke at Bratsk and Krasnoyarsk aluminum smelters. Self-sufficiency of the material will increase to 71%, from 61%, with the start-up of the new Irukutsk plant.
"Russia is short of calcination capacity and buyers reach out to China at higher prices," Rusal said.
The Irukutsk plant cost Rusal $23.7 million but will generate cost-cutting benefits of $8 million/year, the company said.
