Moscow, 16 December 2015 – UC RUSAL (SEHK: 486; Euronext: RUSAL/RUAL; Moscow Exchange: RUAL/RUALR), a leading global aluminium producer, is pleased to announce that it has joined the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (“ASI”) with a view to take part in developing global sustainability standards for international application in the aluminium value chain.
The ASI standards are designed to be applicable to all stages of aluminium production and transformation, with a specific focus on; bauxite mining, alumina refining, primary aluminium production, semi-fabrication (rolling, extrusion, forging and foundry), material conversion, and refining and re-melting of recycled scrap, as well as material stewardship criteria relevant to downstream users of aluminium. The importance of the aluminium industry’s sustainable development has acquired greater attention with the 2015 United Nations Conference on Climate Change (“COP21”).

“As one of the leading low carbon aluminium producers, RUSAL is happy to contribute to the development and implementation of a standard for aluminium stewardship across the aluminium value chain. Thanks to a combination of its unique properties, such as light weight, durability and resistance to corrosion, aluminium is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable materials in use today. Development of a standard that would be an international benchmark for procurement will significantly contribute to further sustainability improvement for the whole industry, making aluminium a metal of choice of the 21st century,” commented Vladislav Soloviev, CEO of RUSAL.

RUSAL is proud to supply aluminium with one of the world’s lowest carbon footprints by utilizing the renewable hydro power resources of Siberian Russia. Since 1990, RUSAL has more than halved direct emissions from our smelters, and continues to increase its share of energy from hydro and other renewable energy sources. Today, over 90% of RUSAL’s aluminium production is sourced by clean, renewable hydro power. The Company will continue to further improve its carbon footprint and aims to achieve 100% of its energy from clean hydro power for its aluminium production.

About ASI
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, ASI, (aluminium-stewardship.org) was launched at the end of 2012 by key participants in the aluminium industry including producers, converters and end users and is supported by more than 20 companies and associations including such upstream and downstream producers and consumers as Alcoa, Norsk Hydro, Rio Tinto Alcan, Aleris, Audi, BMW Group, Constellium, Jaguar Land Rover, Nestlé, Nespresso SA, Novelis, Rexam, and Tetra Pak. The objective is to develop and implement a standard for aluminium stewardship across the aluminium value chain. The standard would be an international benchmark for procurement as well as a broader agenda for stewardship improvement for the industry.