United Company has allocated USD 1.4 bln for 2007-2013

UC RUSAL, the announces today a new initiative entitled Paving The Way To A Safer World, which is comprised of measures to reduce harmful impact on the environment and minimise climate change risks.

This initiative is part of UC RUSAL’s wider strategy to secure its dynamic development as an energy and metals corporation with the Company’s operations based on the principles of sustainable development.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated in its most recent climate report that the major cause of observed rising trends in the Earth’s average temperatures is very likely increased concentrations of identified greenhouse gases in the atmosphere produced by human activity.
 
For 2007-2013, the United Company has allocated USD 1.4 bln for operations reconstruction programmes focused on environmental protection. This will allow for a reduction in pollutant emissions by almost 1.5 times by 2015. The larger-scale modernisation programme will bring all of UC RUSAL’s smelting facilities to a single environmental standard.

The efficient increase of consumption and utilisation of environmental-friendly energy are key elements of UC RUSAL’s carbon neutrality strategies. UC RUSAL uses hydro-electricity to produce up to 80% of its aluminium output, minimising greenhouse gas emissions and eliminating other negative environmental effects. By 2013, the Company plans to produce 140 billion kWh of energy at its own generating facilities. Hydropower projects are at the centre of UC RUSAL’s development plans. UC RUSAL is also committing substantial time and investment to researching the possibilities of more efficient and environmentally friendly use of coal.

Re-melting of aluminium requires only 10% of the energy to produce primary aluminium, which produces a positive contribution to sustainable development through substantial energy savings. By 2013, the United Company is planning to have increased its share on the secondary aluminium market to 50%.

As a first step, and to advance the Company’s carbon reduction initiative, UC RUSAL and the United Nations Development Programme have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a preparatory project designed to accelerate greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts among industrial companies. The MOU was signed in Moscow today. UC RUSAL is the first company in Russia to have joined UNDP in its effort to create a global network of projects