Rusal, is planning to invest a combined $82.2mn on upgrading its Sayanogorsk and Khakas aluminum smelters in Moscow in 2020.
The Russian aluminum maker plans to spend around $51mn from this investment on the modernization of its Sayanogorsk facility this year. This project includes improvements to is anode baking furnaces to enhance the smelter electrode production. This project—which is still in its design stage—is likely to span three years and cost Rusal a total of $190mn.
At the Khakas facility, Rusal has planned upgrades that will increase the potential of product sale. It includes the planned installation of a new system to clean crude aluminum in 10mt ladles to increase the purity of the metal. The company also plans to replace two transformers at its silicon rectifier station in the facility to ensure a strong power supply line for the Khakas operations.
Rusal has indicated that suspension of operations in Guyana—that supplied Bauxite for the company’s aluminum production—this week, will not impact the company’s overall operations as Guyana’s supply will be substituted by other mines. Earlier this week, the Russian aluminum producer suspended its operations in the country and sent out termination letters to all its 326 employees.