OREANDA-NEWS. UC RUSAL, the world’s largest producer of aluminium and alloys, announces today a new initiative entitled "Paving The Way To A Safer World", which is comprised of measures to reduce harmful impact on the environment and minimise climate change risks.

This initiative is part of UC RUSAL’s wider strategy to secure its dynamic development as an energy and metals corporation with the Company’s operations based on the principles of sustainable development.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in its most recent climate report that the major cause of observed rising trends in the Earth’s average temperatures is very likely increased concentrations of identified greenhouse gases in the atmosphere produced by human activity.
 
UC RUSAL understands the importance of climate change to future generations and has established two related goals:
To reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions by the company’s existing smelters by 50% overall by 2015. Achievement of this goal will allow UC RUSAL to continue developing its aluminium business and meet the demands of global consumers without compromising its goal of carbon neutrality;
To be carbon neutral over the long-term, as part of the full life-cycle use (and re-use) of our aluminium products. Improved unit energy efficiency at our operations will be the key element of the drive to carbon neutrality, supplemented by a broad offsets program.  

Since 2000, the companies now comprising UC RUSAL have invested over USD 1 bln in environment protection activities. For 2007-2013, the United Company has allocated USD 1,4 bln for operations reconstruction programmes focused on environmental protection. This will allow for a reduction in pollutant emissions by almost 1.5 times by 2015. The larger-scale modernisation programme will bring all of UC RUSAL’s smelting facilities to a single environmental standard.

“As a global company, we believe that UC RUSAL must take an active leadership role in global issues. We realize that leadership is first and foremost about taking responsibility - responsibility for the environment in the countries where we operate, responsibility in terms of the highest international safety standards and responsibility for the lives of the people around us. I believe that the threat of serious climate change can and must be avoided through practical steps focused on reducing GHG emissions. I hope that the Environmental Care Programme that we are implementing - and that is based on the use of clean energy and modern technologies – as well as the new initiative we announced today will be a powerful call for joint action", said Alexander Bulygin, UC RUSAL CEO.

The efficient increase of consumption and utilisation of environmental-friendly energy are key elements of UC RUSAL’s carbon neutrality strategies. UC RUSAL uses hydro-electricity to produce up to 80% of its aluminium output, minimising greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating other negative environmental effects. By 2013, the Company plans to produce 140 billion kWh of energy at its own generating facilities. Hydropower projects are at the centre of UC RUSAL’s development plans. UC RUSAL is also committing substantial time and investment to researching the possibilities of more efficient and environmentally friendly use of coal.

Re-melting of aluminium requires only 10% of the energy to produce primary aluminium, which produces a positive contribution to sustainable development through substantial energy savings. By 2013, the United Company is planning to have increased its share on the secondary aluminium market to 50%.

As a first step, and to advance the Company’s carbon reduction initiative, UC RUSAL and the United Nations Development Programme have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a preparatory project designed to accelerate greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts among industrial companies. The MOU was signed in Moscow today. UC RUSAL is the first company in Russia to have joined UNDP in its effort to create a global network of projects driven by the single goal of addressing the challenge of climate change.

“The climate change initiative of UC RUSAL marks a new stage in the development of Russian business and underscores the need for further commitment to sustainable development principles and, ultimately, a safer future for the planet. I hope that this initiative and the agreement we have signed today will create additional momentum, urging other Russian companies to implement large-scale measures to reduce emissions and minimise climate change risks”, said Marco Borsotti, Russia Coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme.