Rusal announced on Wednesday that it planned to invest more than $3 million in developing and modernizing Yaroslavsk GRK in 2012.
The $3 million investment will be used to refurbish existing equipment, purchase new machinery and carry out stripping operations, Platts reports.
Yaroslavsk currently produces approximately 10,000 mt per month of fluorspar concentrate, which is approximately 60 percent of Rusal’s needs. The concentrate then proceeds to Rusal’s smelters.
In 2012, monthly fluorspar production is expected to increase to 11,000 mt.
In addition to fluorspar, Yaroslavsk manufactures and sells approximately 900 mt of zing concentrate to third part customer per month.
“Given the current situation in the global economy and within the aluminum industry itself, issues such as business efficiency, cost reduction and safety of raw materials can be looked to be solved by the assets’ consolidation and implementation of lean manufacturing policies,” Evgeny Ovchinnikov, Rusal’s commercial director, said, according to Platts. “Integration of Yaroslavsk GRK into the structure of UC Rusal will provide the ore company with additional stability and the ability to withstand adverse economic challenges.”