OREANDA-NEWS. In the third quarter of 2006, SUAL Group increased production of alumina by 5% up to 590.5 thousand tons from 562.5 thousand tons in the third quarter of 2005.

SUAL Group's enterprises refined 1.7 million tonnes of alumina for the first nine months of 2006, which was a slight decrease of 0.4% on the year.

According to the press service of SUAL, this development was a result of temporary decrease of production at Pikalevo Alumina Refinery, whose production facilities were impacted by a nepheline concentrate supply contract dispute. Full deliveries were reinstated in April with the conclusion of a new supply contract and operations returned to normal.