As part of its Cost Efficiency Leader programme, RUSAL has taken action to ensure that Ewarton’s operations restart with an enhanced structure and production process, considerably lower cash operating costs and improved efficiency. The cost of bauxite mining has been reduced twice and RUSAL has also decreased Ewarton’s maintenance costs.  

The positive trends in the global aluminium market, alongside agreements with the Jamaican Government and the plant’s contractors, were important factors which have helped to improve Ewarton's operational cost efficiency, thereby enabling RUSAL to restart the refinery.

Yakov Itskov, Deputy CEO of the International Alumina Business, said:
"We are pleased to restart RUSAL’s Jamaican operations. They are an important part of the bauxite and alumina industry which plays a fundamental economic and social role in the country. RUSAL is committed to continuing and developing its operations in Jamaica. This restart at Ewarton has been made possible because of the strong and constructive support of the Jamaican government, our contractors, and our employees who worked hard to make the plant economically viable."

About RUSAL

UC RUSAL (www.rusal.com) is the world’s largest producer of aluminium, accounting for approximately 10% of global production of aluminium. UC RUSAL employs about 76,000 people in 19 countries, across 5 continents. UC RUSAL markets and sells its products primarily in the European, Japanese, Korean, South East Asian and North American markets. UC RUSAL’s ordinary shares are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock code: 486) and global depositary shares representing UC RUSAL’s ordinary shares are listed on the professional compartment of Euronext Paris (RUSAL for Reg S GDSs and RUAL for Rule 144A GDSs).

Disclaimer
The information contained in this press release is for media advice only. The contents are true and accurate at the time of publishing, however, may change over time.