Press-releases
08.09.2021

RUSAL will prepare a report on its participation in the federal project "Clean Air"

Moscow, 7 September 2021 – RUSAL (SEHK: 486, Moscow Exchange: RUAL), a leading global aluminium producer, intends to annually provide the public with information about its contribution to ensuring the quality of atmospheric air, including its participation in the federal project "Clean Air".

Today, September 7th, marks the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, which was established by a Resolution of the UN General Assembly two years ago in order to draw attention to the fact that atmospheric air pollution directly affects the quality of life and health of the population. RUSAL announced its intention to annually prepare and submit to the public a special voluntary report on the company's participation in the implementation of the federal project "Clean Air".

The report will contain detailed information on the progress of implementation and achieved results of all projects and programs carried out by RUSAL in accordance with the comprehensive plans for improving environmental efficiency, including the volume of investments and the funds disbursed.

Irina Bakhtina, RUSAL's Chief Sustainability Officer, noted: "Three entities of the company have participated in the "Clean Air” federal project: Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk and Novokuznetsk Aluminium Smelters. Programs to improve the environmental efficiency of RUSAL's smelters are included in the comprehensive plans of Krasnoyarsk, Bratsk and Novokuznetsk to reduce emissions into the atmosphere, as approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. In turn, these plans are fixed in the agreements of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Rosprirodnadzor and the executive authorities of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Irkutsk and Kemerovo regions."

The main activities implemented by RUSAL, including those within the scope of the Clean Air project, are the introduction of electrolysis using the EcoSoderberg technology, the introduction of a technology for using a new anode mass with a lower content of harmful substances, the new construction and modernization of existing gas purification plants, as well as a whole range of other measures to optimize production parameters.
It is important to note that, according to a published report from the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, on the state and environmental protection in the Russian Federation in 2020, the total volume of pollutant emissions in Russia decreased by 5% compared to 2019 and amounted to 21.5 million tonnes. This value is the minimum for the observation period from 2010 to 2020, and was one of the main reasons for reducing the level of atmospheric air pollution alongside the implementation of the "Clean Air" federal project. For example, the 2020 data on the values of pollutant emissions from stationary sources in 12 large industrial centers included in the “Clean Air” project show a decrease in emissions compared to 2019 in 6 cities. The largest relative decrease was recorded in Krasnoyarsk, where one of RUSAL's largest assets, the Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Smelter, is located.

For RUSAL, reducing atmospheric emissions is one of the priorities in the field of environmental protection, enshrined in the company's Environmental Policy. In 2020, the company reduced the emission of pollutants by more than 33% in comparison to 2008 levels.

The head of the Russian Ecological Society, and Deputy chairman of the Public and Business Council of the National Project "Ecology", Rashid Ismailov gave the initiative a high assessment: "The openness of an industrial enterprise today is a sign of a responsible attitude to the territories of its presence and society. RUSAL's public comprehensive report is the right story. I would like to draw the attention of the heads of enterprises participating in the Clean Air federal project to this case and suggest joining the initiative. RUSAL’s approach also has a positive impact on the development of an "ecological" dialogue between business and government."

For reference

The federal project "Clean Air" is being implemented in our country within the framework of the state program of the Russian Federation "Environmental Protection" and the national “Ecology” project, initiated by the decree of the President of Russia in 2018. The task of this federal project is to implement comprehensive action plans to reduce the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere in 12 large industrial centers: Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, Lipetsk, Magnitogorsk, Mednogorsk, Nizhny Tagil, Novokuznetsk, Norilsk, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Cherepovets, Chita. These targets should be achieved by the end of 2024.
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