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[May 2002]
RUSAL Continues Output Increase in 2002 First Quarter
Russian Aluminium (RUSAL) - the world's second largest primary aluminium producer - announced at the end of April its production results for the first quarter of 2002. Compared to the same period in 2001 and continuing the trend from the full-year results, RUSAL has again increased its production across all major product types.Amongst these is alumina production, which increased by 1.57% (excluding the Cemtrade Refinery) giving a total production of 529,300mt (2001: 521,100mt). While overall production at the Nikolayev Alumina Refinery dropped slightly to 275,000mt of alumina, its annual target, 100% of production during the quarter was in the form of the premium quality G-00 Alumina, compared with just 36.5% last year.
The introduction in 2001 of new furnaces at the Achinsk Alumina Refinery led to the most notable production increase, producing 253,800mt compared to 228,000mt during the same period in 2001.
RUSAL also announced that it had signed an agreement with Lurgi Metallurgy GmbH (Germany) for the construction of an alumina calcination furnace which will further boost output at the Nikolayev Alumina Refinery. Capacity is projected to increase alumina production to 1.3 million mt per year, as against the current 1.1 million mt per year.
In the first quarter 2002, RUSAL also produced 608,974mt of primary aluminium and alloys; 58,087mt of rolled products; and 8,617mt of foil and cold rolled tapes.
ENDS