Rusal to Invest US$2 MM in Alumina Refinery in NW Russia

Russian Federation aluminium major UC Rusal announced yesterday that it is preparing to invest US$2 million in modernizing Boksitogorsk Alumina Refinery. The modernization is intended to increase the refinery’s production of corundum.

The firm says that the planned expansion of the plant, which is in Boksitogorsk, the administrative center of Boksitogorsky District in far northwestern Leningrad Oblast, will allow the company to expand its product range as well as increasing corundum production by ten thousand tons per annum to a nameplate capacity of 73 thousand tons. In addition to domestic sales, Rusal plans to market to Europe, Japan, the United States, and other states within the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Rusal plans to have completed the modernization next year. It’s planned to take place in several stages. At present, the firm is working on project documentation and on obtaining magnetic separators, mixers and other equipment. Once this stage is finished, Rusal will begin construction on the new complex by building crushing equipment, other processing tools, and transportation systems.

“Today, China accounts for over 50% of the global output of corundum. This project will enable RUSAL to strengthen its exports and to take a strong competitive position in the global market of raw materials for abrasives and refractories’ production,” commented RUSAL’s Director of Alumina Division Yakov Itskov.

Corundum, whose name is derived from the Sanskrit and/or Tamil word for “ruby,” is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide (Al2O3). It is transparent and usually contains traces of iron, titanium, vanadium and chromium. Being a little less hard than diamond (9.0 Mohs), corundum is commonly used as an abrasive on sandpaper and large machines used in processing metal, plastic, or wood. It also can be used in various industrial applications utilizing its fire-resistance properties.