OREANDA-NEWS. RUSAL, a top three global aluminium producer, reports production results for the first nine months of 2006.

Bauxite output for January-September 2006 increased by 28.6% to 5,389,020 tonnes from 4.190.327 tonnes for nine months of 2005.

Alumina production for January-September 2006 grew by 2.1% to 2 ,952,415 tonnes  from 2.890.965 tonnes for nine months of 2005.

Aluminium production for January-September 2006 rose by 2% to reach 2,067,798 tonnes from 2.027.200 for nine months of 2005.

Output of high value-added casthouse products went up 12.5% and amounted to 716,516 tonnes from 637.007 tonnes.

The 2% growth in aluminium production and the 12.5% increase in the production of high value-added casthouse products resulted from RUSAL's ongoing programmes to bolster production, modernise equipment and improve the technical and economic performance of smelter operations.

The 2.1% increase in alumina output was driven by the acquisition of 20% of the QAL Refinery in Australia in April 2005, as well as modernisation programmes undertaken at the Nikolayev Alumina Refinery.

The acquisition of Aroaima Mining Company in Guyana, participation in the Komi Aluminium project, and a production increase at Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia in Guinea secured 28.6% uplift in bauxite output compared to the same period of last year.