UC Rusal Says First Metal At New Taishet Smelter Seen End 09 

LONDON (Dow Jones)-United Co. Rusal, Russia’s largest aluminum and alumina producer, said Wednesday it expects first metal from its Taishet aluminum smelter to be produced in 2009, boosting the company’s total annual production capacity by 18%.

The company will invest a total of $700 million on the smelter, which will have a capacity of 750,000 metric tons a year annually.

The smelter will also include casthouse, anode, and energy shops, gas treatment facilities, and a complex of infrastructure facilities.

Over $250 million has already been invested in the smelter since the beginning of the project.