According to the terms of the deal, RUSAL received a 77.5% block of shares in ALSCON, a 193,000-tonne smelter (reduction, anode-producing and casthouse areas), a port on the Imo River and a power-generating station. Germany's Ferrostaal AG and the Government of Nigeria remain minority shareholders with 7.5% and 15% blocks respectively.

ALSCON produced its first metal in 1997, before being fully completed. Its output during the short period of operations totaled 40,000 tonnes of aluminium.

Geography
Akwa Ibom is one of Nigeria’s 36 states with a population of 3.9 million people. It was created in 1987 from the former Cross River State and is a major oil-producing area in the country. The state’s capital is Uyo, home to some 300,000 people and a prominent academic centre (University of Uyo). Akwa Ibom has two major ports on the Atlantic Ocean (Port Harbour and Ikot Ekpene). Along with English, the main languages spoken here are Ibibio, Annang, Eket, Ibeno and others.

In 2000, the smelter was brought to a standstill with high production costs, inadequate gas supply, complicated marine access and lack of working capital cited as the main reasons. ALSCON was re-launched after the modernization completed by UC RUSAL in February 2008.

Once the smelter reaches its full capacity, it will create 1,900 local jobs and 90% of the employees will be Nigerian citizens. Additionally, 20,000 jobs will be created through the development of infrastructure around the smelter, resulting in a positive improvement in the standard of living for Akwa Ibom state residents. 

Development and Environment

The terms of the deal include the dredging of the Imo River necessary to create the transport infrastructure. RUSAL plans to allocate more than USD 150 million over three years to refurbish ALSCON and turn it into a state-of-the art facility.

As a signatory of the UN Global Compact, we are committed to maintaining the best standards of environment and quality management. We also regularly meet with community leaders and other companies present in Akwa Ibom to jointly work out ways to improve the economic and social situation in the town of Ikot Abasi, home to ALSCON.

To learn more about the process of aluminium production, aluminium history and use please visit http://www.aluminiumleader.com/en/

Management

General director - Andrey Partyansky

Contact information