UC Rusal and RusHydro, one of Russia’s largest generating companies, commissioned the first potline at the Boguchansky aluminum smelter (BoAZ), part of the Boguchany Energy and Metals Complex (BEMO). It is also the first example of a large scale public-private partnership in Russia.
“The launch of the first production line of the Boguchansky aluminum smelter is a great example of the successful implementation of a cooperative large scale Russian project,” said Evgenii Nikitin, CEO of Rusal. “Along with the Khakass aluminum smelter built by RUSAL and the Taishet plant which is now under construction, the introduction of the new BoAZ capacities operating on the most modern technologies will not only ensure the production of competitive products, but will also make a great contribution to the socio-economic development of both Siberia and the country.”
The BEMO project includes the BoAZ smelter and Boguchanskaya hydroelectric power plant (HPP). The joint agreement for the project was signed by Rusal and RusHydro 13 years ago at the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum.
Located in the in the Krasnoyarsk territory, the BoAZ smelter covers 2.3 sq km (231 hectares) and is one of the largest and most modern metal production facilities within Russia. US$1.6 billion has been invested in the first stage of the smelter, which provides an annual capacity of 298,000 tonnes. The smelter has been constructed to meet the company’s health, safety, and environment policies in order to promote an integrated approach for reducing emissions. This means that any environmental issues are identified and tackled at each stage of the aluminum production process. As a result, the facility will meet ISO 14001 international environmental management standards.
The Boguchanskaya HPP is also impressive with a total design capacity of 2,997 MW. From 2013 to 2014, nine hydropower units with 333 MW capacity were introduced – this was a record level of input into hydropower for the entire post-Soviet era. After filling the Boguchansky reservoir to the design level in 2015, the station reached its total capacity, becoming the fifth largest hydropower plant in Russia.
“Boguchanskaya HPP — the fifth-largest hydroelectric power station in Russia with a capacity of 2,997 MW — is one of the most modern and efficient power plants, not only in Russia but in the world,” explained Nikolai Shulginov, chairman of the management board and general director of RusHydro. “BEMO is a unique and significant project for modern Russia, which showcases the joint venture of a large hydropower station and a large consumer. Boguchanskaya hydropower station has already developed more than 70 billion kWh of electricity, which exceeds the annual energy consumption of the entire Krasnoyarsk territory.”