OREANDA-NEWS. December 29, 2011. UC RUSAL (SEHK: 486, Euronext: RUSAL/RUAL, MICEX: RUALR, RTS: RUALR), the world’s largest aluminium producer, is pleased to announce that its Nikolaev alumina refinery has delivered a record annual production level of 1.6 million tonnes of alumina during 2011.

These record levels were reached following a USD350 million CAPEX programme that has been undertaken at the refinery since 2000, resulting in significant upgrades to the refinery’s facilities. In particular, the lime burning kiln has been reconstructed with its conversion to heating gas, fifth calcination kiln has been built and the captive power plant has been reconstructed. The output increase in 2011 was also made possible via implementation of RUSAL’s Production System, raising equipment utilization ratio by 2.6% in 2011 as compared to 2010.

“This is one of the most notable achievements in the refinery’s 31-years history. In last 11 years, the refinery has constantly extended its production volumes culminating in record levels this year. For comparison, in 1999 the refinery produced 992 thousand tonnes of alumina. Despite this achievement, the Company is continuing to strive for higher output and the refinery’s reconstruction and upgrades are still undergoing. The refinery has a great team in place, focused on raising efficiency, cost-cutting, energy saving and development of social environment,” commented UC RUSAL’s Director for Alumina Division East Valery Matvienko.

In 2010 the Nikolaev alumina refinery produced 1.534 million tonnes of alumina, with a 1.57 million tonnes total production capacity.