RUSAL Includes its Plants in the Aluminum Recycling Program

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): RUSAL's four Russian aluminum plants began processing and integrating aluminum scrap into primary metal production in 2024. Volgograd Aluminum Plant, the pioneer and leader of this program, increased its processing volume by 74%. The use of scrap makes it possible to reduce the carbon footprint of metal and products made from it and realize one of the strategic advantages of aluminum – the possibility of recycling without loss of quality.

In 2024, RUSAL's Boguchansky, Bratsky, Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk aluminum plants joined the program for processing third-party aluminum scrap, which after melting was used in the production of primary metal. Volgograd Aluminum Plant (VgAZ) launched this program in 2021 and is a leader in scrap recycling.

"RUSAL supplies customers with more and more types of aluminum products containing recycled metal, and together we confirm their high quality. The growth in the share of recycled aluminum in production, the carbon footprint of which is considered close to zero, is a global long–term trend in the industry, allowing us to reduce the carbon footprint of our metal and processed products and realize its strategic advantage – the possibility of endless recycling without deterioration of consumer qualities," said Igor Ignashov, RUSAL's Sales Director in Russia and the CIS.

In 2024, VGAZ increased the processing of aluminum scrap by 74% compared to 2023.

"Last year, VGAZ produced 72,000 tons of aluminum, and 2,000 tons of melted scrap were involved in the production of this volume. We can state that the share of scrap in the total volume of finished products of the largest aluminum plant in the European part of Russia has ceased to be a statistical error and approached 3%. This is an important marketing and environmental initiative: the presence of cylindrical ingots with a reduced carbon footprint in the product line gives us an additional competitive advantage," said Alexander Belotelov, Director of VGAZ.

Of the new participants in the program, the Irkutsk Aluminum Plant (IrkAZ) recycled the largest amount of third-party scrap.

"In 2024, IrkAZ melted down and involved in the production of more than 800 tons of scrap. Some of the products containing recycled aluminum were exported and were highly appreciated by foreign customers who need a metal with a low carbon footprint to produce competitive products. This year we plan to increase the processing of aluminum scrap several times," said Artyom Fominykh, Director of IRKAZ.

 Courtesy: www.akm.ru