A shutdown of the Nadvoitsy Aluminum Smelter is long overdue, but aluminum giant RUSAL has not discussed closure of its other plants, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov declared on September 4.
“Concerning shutting and preservation works at the other facilities, I am unaware of anything of the kind. Maybe there are rumors or discussions but no such discussions have taken place on the official level,” Manturov said.
RUSAL started temporary shutdown of electrolysis capacities of its Nadvoitsy Aluminum Smelter in the republic of Karelia in early August, saying that the company, which sold its products to the U.S., had been stockpiling the metal since April because of sanctions.
Company sources said that if the U.S. sanctions persisted, RUSAL would start shutting down most of its facilities in September.
“We continue dialogue with the company and do not ease our monitoring efforts here,” Manturov said. “The issue of the Nadvoitsy has been discussed for a long time, it is overdue because keeping RUSAL production in some regions and single-industry cities was economically unreasonable. The Nadvoitsy production was also aimed at the American market.” (Prime/Ukrainian metal)