To increase primary aluminium output and reduce pressure on the environmental, the United Company's Engineering and Technology Centre (ETC) developed a 4-year modernisation project for the Krasnoyarsk smelter (RUSAL Krasnoyarsk).

In 2003, a modernization project began at the Sayanogorsk aluminium smelter, which was built in 1985, at a cost of USD 62 mln. The modernisation includes installation of 18 new pots, increase of amperage, upgrade of scrubbers and improvement of baked anode production technology. In February 2004, the first stage of modernisation of the casthouse was completed. Hydro supplied the Sayanogorsk smelter with ingot casting equipment. In May 2006, a new casting unit was put into operation with the capacity to produce up to 192,000 tonnes per annum of high-quality extrusion billets.