UC Rusal To Expand Irkutsk Casthouse To Meet Smelter Needs

LONDON (Dow Jones)-United Co. Rusal, Russia’s largest aluminum and alumina producer, said Thursday it plans to expand capacity at the Irkutsk aluminum smelters casthouse, to bring it in line with a recent expansion at the plant.

The new casthouse will be in full operation by the end of 2008, Rusal added.

Capacity at the Irkutsk smelter was recently hiked by 170,000 metric tons a year, or 55%, to 460,000 tons annually. Construction of the new potline was completed within three years and production is expected to be at capacity by the end of 2008.

More than 50 of 196 electrolysis cells in the new smelter potline are currently in operation.