|
|
WHAT WE DO / OUR
OPERATIONS / ALUMINA
DIVISION / ACHINSK
ALUMINA REFINERY
ACHINSK ALUMINA REFINERY
 Launched in 1970, the
Achinsk Alumina Refinery is the largest alumina refinery in Russia. It is
conveniently located in the vicinity of the Krasnoyarsk and Bratsk aluminium
smelters. UC RUSAL is a 100% owner of the facility.
The refinery employs 3,125 people. In 2007, the refinery produced 1,081,500
tonnes of alumina. All the alumina produced is of the highest grade G-00.
| Geography |
|
|
|
Achinsk, a town in the Krasnoyarsk
region of Russia, is situated on the right bank of the Chulym River at a
crossing of the Trans-Siberian railway, 184 kilometres to the west of
Krasnoyarsk. Achinsk was founded in 1683 and today it is a district centre with
a population of 121,000. Its industry is mainly focused on oil refining,
building materials, nepheline ore processing, alumina refining, soda products
and cement. There are also coal mining facilities only a short distance away
from the town at the Kansk-Achinsk fuel and energy complex.
|
Technology
The Achinsk Alumina Refinery uses a unique technology that was designed by the
Russian National Aluminium and Magnesium Institute (VAMI), which is part of UC
RUSAL. With this technology, ore is mixed with lime and sintered. The resulting
sinter is then subjected to hydrochemical treatment.
The raw materials used at the refinery come from the Kiya-Shaltyr nepheline
mine (using the open-cast method) and the Mazoul limestone mine.
To learn more about alumina processing and aluminium production please visit
http://www.aluminiumleader.com/en/
Certificates
In 2001, the Achinsk Alumina Refinery was the first Russian alumina refinery to
obtain an ISO 9001:2000 certificate for its quality management system. The
re-certification audit in 2007 proved that the refinery’s quality management
system was compliant with the ISO 9001:2000 international standard.
In 2004, the refinery obtained a certificate of compliance with the
international environmental management standard ISO 14001:1996, followed by a
re-certification audit held in 2007. This showed that the refinery was
compliant with environmental management standard ISO 14001:2004. The assessment
of the Achinsk refinery’s environmental management system was measured against
the criteria of the International Environmental Rating System (IERS) and was
carried out by auditors from internationally renowned Det Norske Veritas in
December 2006. This showed that the system corresponded to Level IV, which
means that the refinery exceeded the ISO 14001 requirements.
In December 2007, the refinery obtained a certificate of compliance with the OH
SAS 18001:1999 specification for its health and safety management system.
Investment
The 2007 investment programme has seen a number of measures undertaken that
were aimed at the expansion of the plant; the reconstruction and upgrading of
the production facilities; the enhancement of outputs; a reduction of the
production cost, and the streamlining of the technological processes, as well
as for programmes targeting improvements in heath, safety and environmental
impact.
The 2008 investment programme includes:
-
the expansion of the thermal power plant (TPP) capacity, the installation of a
PT-90 turbine, which will provide 95% of the potential refinery’s energy needs.
This will lessen the energy component in the alumina production cost and
improve the reliability of the TPP operation;
-
the completion of the reconstruction of the gas scrubbers for sintering kiln
No.3, which will result in environmental improvements;
-
the design engineering of a new red mud disposal area (the expected time for
completion of constructing this is 2010).
Environment
The aggregate amount of funds channeled in 2007 into construction and
reconstruction of the running end-of-pipe equipment at the Achinsk alumina
refinery exceeded RUR 323 million.
The most significant environmental activities in 2007 were:
-
the complete reconstruction of the gas scrubber for sintering kiln No.2 and its
launch following the final testing stage. The gas scrubber for kiln No.1 was
commissioned in 2005. The reconstruction of electrostatic precipitators on two
sintering kilns has allowed the refinery to cut emissions by more than half;
-
the placement of polymeric-film waterproof screen onto the mud disposal area
and strengthening of the dam concrete units to prevent dirty water from flowing
into the Bystraya and Chulym rivers;
-
the reclamation of 2.25 hectares of land on a plot of the Achinsk refinery’s
waste disposal site and 8 hectares at the Mazoul limestone mine which have seen
planting of trees and bushes.
Plans for 2008 include:
-
the reconstruction of the gas scrubbing system for sintering kiln No.3;
-
a stock-take of greenhouse gas emissions;
-
an assessment of the technical condition and operating modes of the dust
separation equipment and development of technical and technological proposals
for cutting harmful air emissions;
-
the monitoring of the underground water quality;
-
reducing harmful impact of mud waters on ponds of the red mud disposal area.
Management
Yuri Ovchinnikov, Managing Director
Contact information
roza@agk.ru
Tel. +7 (39151) 3-50-00; +7 (495) 720-51-71
To learn more about the process of aluminium production, aluminium history and
applications please visit
http://www.aluminiumleader.com/en/
|