RUSAL integrates its smelters into aluminium recycling program

RUSAL, one of the world's largest aluminium producers, has integrated four of its Russian smelters into a programme focused on processing and incorporating aluminium scrap into primary metal production. The Volgograd Aluminium Smelter — the pioneer and leader of this initiative — increased its recycling volume by 74 per cent. The use of scrap helps reduce the carbon footprint of both the metal and its end products while highlighting one of aluminium's strategic advantages — the ability to be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality.

The Boguchansky, Bratsk, Irkutsk, and Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelters joined the programme in 2024, processing external aluminium scrap that, after remelting, was used in the production of primary metal. The Volgograd Aluminium Smelter (VgAZ) launched this initiative in 2021 and remains the leader in scrap recycling.

"RUSAL continues to offer clients an increasing range of aluminium products containing recycled metal, all while maintaining high-quality standards. The global long-term trend of increasing the share of recycled aluminium — which carries an almost zero carbon footprint — enables us to further reduce the carbon footprint of our metal and its downstream products. This also reinforces aluminium's strategic advantage — the potential for endless recycling without compromising consumer qualities," said Igor Ignashov, RUSAL's Sales Director for Russia and CIS countries.

In 2024, VgAZ increased its aluminium scrap recycling by 74 per cent compared to 2023.

"Last year, VgAZ produced 72,000 tonnes of aluminium, incorporating 2,000 tonnes of remelted scrap into this volume. We can now say that the share of scrap in the total output of the largest aluminium smelter in the European part of Russia is no longer a statistical margin — it has reached nearly 3 per cent. This is a key sales and environmental initiative: offering cylindrical billets with a reduced carbon footprint gives us an additional competitive edge," stated Alexander Belotelov, Director of VgAZ.

Among the new programme participants, the Irkutsk Aluminium Smelter (IrkAZ) processed the largest volume of external scrap.

"In 2024, IrkAZ remelted and incorporated over 800 tonnes of scrap into production. Part of the recycled aluminium was exported and highly appreciated by international clients who require low-carbon metal for producing competitive goods. This year, we plan to multiply the volume of aluminium scrap recycling," said Artem Fominykh, Director of IrkAZ.