Rusal’s eco-friendly investment

(Posted on 02/02/20)

Rusal, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, has invested approximately 600 million roubles as part of an eco-friendly modernization of its coke-calcining kiln at the Volgograd aluminium smelter (VgAZ).

Following this modernization, the kiln’s output capacity has now increased to 12 tonnes per hour as compared to 8-9 tonnes of output at comparable kilns at other plants.

With a capacity of 94,608 tonnes per year, the modernization of the kiln at VgAZ is aimed at enhancing the environmental aspects of production and intensifying the plant’s coke calcining process. Thanks to new structural segments where the raw materials go through a preparatory ‘drying’ process, the coke that enters the heating chamber of the kiln has a lower moisture content compared with earlier generations of kilns. The lower consumption of natural gas also improves the kiln’s performance and minimizes the carbon footprint of the entire process. Another design concept that has been implemented involves the mixing of elements to ensure that all layers of raw coke are evenly calcined.

As the result of these improvements, the kiln’s fuel consumption has been reduced while the output has been increased. In addition, thanks to the recovery unit that has also been constructed, the steam that is produced during the calcining process can now be converted into heat (used for heating the plant in winter and heating the tap water year-round) and electrical energy. The steam and the carbon-containing dust are captured and returned to the production process.

Rusal’s CEO Evgenii Nikitin said: “The modernization projects conducted by RUSAL are not only aimed at achieving specific operational objectives, but also have a key role to play in improving the environmental profile of our plants. Improving and upgrading the calcining kiln at our Volgograd aluminium smelter fully conforms with these two principles, as it is part of a larger project to increase the self-sufficiency of the Company in terms of raw materials and to create a modern, energy-efficient and environmentally clean anode production.”

Latest News

SSAB delivers decarbonised steel to Vattenfall’s solar park project in Germany

SSAB is supplying decarbonised steel to Vattenfall for the construction of the ground-mounted solar... Read more

NGFA statement on STB’s decision to conditionally accept rail merger application

In accordance with the Surface Transportation Board’s merger rules, the Board has conditionally... Read more

EU feed production market forecast highlights continued stability

FEFAC market experts are forecasting continued stability in the EU compound feed production market for... Read more

Fertilizer Action Plan: recognition must now translate into delivery

Fertilizers Europe has acknowledged the European Commission’s Fertilizer Action Plan, which recognises... Read more

Tripartite MOU to establish direct U.S.–DRC cobalt supply chain

Entreprise Générale du Cobalt, EVelution Energy LLC and Trafigura Pte Ltd. has announced... Read more

Commissioning of Oxelösund electric arc furnace delayed due to permitting

SSAB’s conversion of the mill in Oxelösund to fossil-free production is being delayed due... Read more

YEC agreement supports decarbonisation of Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations

Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC), one of Australia’s largest Indigenous-led renewable energy... Read more

ASA Vice President urges caution in USTR Section 301 investigation

Soybean farmers are already facing significant economic headwinds and new trade actions could add further... Read more

ADM investment to upgrade Clinton, Iowa, corn processing facility

ADM, a global leader in innovative solutions from nature, has announced a multimillion-dollar investment... Read more

JV in Bayuquan, China to strengthen global raw material supply chains

CREMER ERZKONTOR GmbH has announced the official opening of its joint venture, CREMER (Yingkou) Supply... Read more