OREANDA-NEWS.  Anatoly Chubais, Chairman of the Management Board of RAO "UES of Russia", Alexander Khloponin, Krasnoyarsk Kray Governor, Maxim Bystrov, Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Management of Special Economic Zones, Vyacheslav Sinyugin, Management Board Chairman of OAO "HydroWGC", and Oleg Deripaska, Board Member of UC RUSAL, and Alexander Bulygin, Director General of OAO "US RUSAL" have visited the construction site of the Boguchanskaya HPP and reviewed the progress made to date. The HPP is being built by OAO "Hydro WGC" and UC RUSAL as part of the Boguchansk Energy and Metal Complex (BEMO) project.

Since the project to complete the plant was restarted in December 2005, the dam has been reinforced with 110,000 cubic metres of hydraulic and bituminous concrete, 2 million cubic metres of earth works have been finished, over 2,000 tonnes of supporting metal infrastructure have been installed, and the principal equipment for the power plant has been ordered. In 2006, investments in the power plant construction made about RUB5 billion. In 2007, investments are expected to grow twofold to RUB10 billion. According to the approved schedule, in 2007, the volume of works in most project areas will increase 2-2,5-fold.

The delegation also took part in the official ceremony to kick off the construction of the Boguchansk Aluminium Smelter (BoAS). The 600,000 tpa-strong smelter will be one of Russia’s five largest. Total investment in this project is expected to reach USD2,3 billion. The project feasibility study was prepared by the All-Russia Aluminium and Magnesium Institute (VAMI), a subsidiary of UC RUSAL, and Bechtel, the international engineering company.

The smelter will include a reduction area, a baked anode production plant, a casthouse, and power supply and related auxiliary facilities. The smelter will be fitted with RA-300 reduction cells, a UC RUSAL proprietary technology and one of the world’s top three most efficient and clean electrolysis technologies. Commissioning of the smelter is expected to take place in December 2009, with full capacity to be reached in Q2 2011.

"Boguchansk Aluminium Smelter is one of the five facilities that the United Company is simultaneously building in different regions of Russia. I am confident that the experience we gained in constructing our Khakassia Aluminium Smelter will ensure success of this new project. It is symbolic that Boguchansk Smelter foundation stone is being laid on the 75th anniversary of the launch of the Volkhov Aluminium Smelter, Russia’s first. This marked the birth of aluminium production in Russia and is an auspicious day for our now world-leading industry”, said Alexander Bulygin, UC RUSAL CEO.

"I am pleased to say that HydroWGC is taking part in developing what will become the main consumer of energy generated by the Boguchanskaya HPP. I am sure the project will play a key role in unlocking the significant potential of the Lower Angara area”, said Vyacheslav Sinyugin, HydroWGC Management Board Chairman.

Investment in the project in 2007 will amount to about RUB5 billion. By the year end, contracts will be made with the leading global and Russian equipment manufactures. Also, 60 percent of earth works will be completed, foundations will be laid for the reduction area and casthouse, and a railroad will be constructed to the smelter. By the year-end, it is planned to commission the housing for the anticipated work crew.