Rusal Fires Up Electrolyser with Inert Anodes, Moving Closer to Zero-Carbon Aluminium

Rusal, one of the world's largest aluminium producers, has made a significant breakthrough by successfully starting up an electrolyser using inert anodes. This marks the first time in aluminium production history that the process has been initiated without relying on conventional coal anodes, resulting in pure oxygen being released instead of greenhouse gases.

The development is a major step forward in Rusal's efforts to scale up inert anode technology, a key innovation aimed at decarbonizing aluminium production. Traditionally, aluminium electrolysers have used coal anodes during start-up, which generated greenhouse gases before eventually being replaced by inert anodes. By using inert anodes from the beginning, Rusal has managed to eliminate these emissions entirely and reduce the time needed for the technology to stabilize.

Victor Mann, Rusal's Technical Director, described the milestone as pivotal. “We are approaching full-scale industrial implementation of inert anode technology, and this successful start-up of an inert anode electrolyser is another important milestone. Inert anode technology reduces the carbon footprint to zero and significantly enhances the environmental friendliness of aluminium production,” Mann said.

The achievement comes after extensive research and development to overcome the challenges involved in using inert anodes in the roasting and start-up process. This innovation allows the entire electrolysis procedure to be carried out without carbon emissions, positioning Rusal as a leader in green aluminium technology.

Alexander Gusev, Director of Rusal ITC's Inert Anode Electrolyser Project, also emphasized the importance of this development. “We have made another significant step towards sustainable production of aluminium and the decarbonization of our industry. This breakthrough technology will help set new standards in metallurgy,” Gusev added.

The successful implementation of inert anode technology will not only advance Rusal's green production efforts but also strengthen its position as a leading producer of low-carbon primary aluminium in international markets.