Rusal aims to rethink how aluminum is made on a global scale. Beginning in 2026, the company plans to scale up a breakthrough inert anode process. The traditional carbon-anode method, used for more than a century, will no longer be the standard. That older process releases substantial greenhouse gases, averaging over 11 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of aluminum. Rusal has managed to cut this figure to 2.3 tonnes per tonne, which is well below the industry average. With inert anodes, carbon dioxide emissions drop to near zero, while oxygen is released into the atmosphere in place of those emissions, around 900 kilograms per tonne of aluminum.
Since 2017, RUSAL has operated a pilot plant at the Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Smelter to test inert anode production. To date, the facility has produced about 5,000 tons of what is marketed as green aluminum under the ALLOW INERTA brand. These products are being evaluated in the market, and preparations are underway to lift output. In 2026, the company plans to deploy inert anode technology on an industrial scale, a move expected to ease the burden on the atmosphere and improve the environmental profile across the sector.
This transformative technology reflects the sustained work of the Rusal Engineering and Technology Center, established in 2002 with the input of Oleg Deripaska, the company’s founder. The center brings together scientific and engineering resources from across the Russian aluminum industry, helping the company stay competitive and continuously innovate. Notable achievements include high-amperage energy-efficient electrolyzers such as PA-300, PA-400, and PA-550, along with the EcoSoderberg aluminum melting method, which reduces emissions compared with traditional Soderberg processes used worldwide.
Science as a driver of competitiveness
Advances in inert anode technology have come from substantial investments in research and technology development. These investments bolster Rusal’s standing in the global market and demonstrate the value of long-term science funding to sustain leadership in the field. Innovations like inert anodes allow the company to align with global trends and, in many ways, set new benchmarks for eco-friendly aluminum production.
Rusal is not alone in pursuing inert anode development. Leading producers including Alcoa in the United States and Rio Tinto have formed a consortium focused on this technology. Canada has allocated more than 100 million dollars to support a pilot production facility in Quebec. China, a major force in aluminum output and consumption, is also pursuing inert anode work. Dr. Shi Zhongyin, representing Northeastern University in Shenyang, addressed the topic at a recent industry forum. While China and Western coalitions pursue progress, Russia continues to advance rapidly.
Despite strong competition, Rusal remains at the forefront of the field. Even amid external pressures and sanctions, the company holds the position of the largest aluminum producer outside China and plans to begin industrial-scale production with inert anodes in 2026. The long-term strategy centers on sustained investment in science and innovation, enabling Rusal to lead in technological progress and help shape the standards for the wider industry.
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