OREANDA-NEWS. November 23, 2007. UC RUSAL, the world’s largest aluminium and alumina producer, announced that Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Smelter (KrAZ) has completed an installation of automatic alumina point-feeders. KrAZ is the first and the only aluminium smelter in Russia based on the slotted anode technology equipped with automatic point-feeders. The investments in this project amounted over USD 38 millions.

According to a company's press release, the project on automatic alumina point-feeders started in 2004 as part of the strategic programme of ecological modernization of KrAZ. Today, all its 1,954 electrolytic cells based on Soderberg technology are equipped with automatic alumina point-feeders which enable to reduce emission of fluoride compound by 10%, tarry substance by 3%, and dust by 30%.

According to Jerry Marks, a reputable climate change scientists who has conducted the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions in September and October 2007 at KrAZ, the installation of automated alumina point feeders enabled to reduce perfluorochemicals emissions (a type of green gas emissions) by about 40%. 

Valery Matvienko, Director of the Engineering and Construction Division, UC RUSAL, said: "The environmental protection is a key strategic priority for us and practical steps we undertake are highlighted in the "Paving the Way to a Safer World" initiative launched this May. The main advantage of the automatic alumina point feeders is a better isolation of electrolytic cell dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. From the very beginning the Khakas aluminium smelter, which was launched at full capacity in November, as well as the Taishet and Boguchansk aluminium smelters, which are currently under construction, have been designed taking into account all ecological protection requirements including automatic alumina point feeders.  In addition the automatic alumina point feeders installation is mandatory part of modernization of Sayanogorsk, Bratsk, and Irkutsk aluminium smelters."