Green Power Aluminum Certification and Russia China Aluminum Cooperation

International certificate

CNIA experts from the China Non-Ferrous Metallurgical Association, guided by Ma Conzhen, head of the Center for Evaluation of Environmentally Friendly Products, conducted a formal assessment and issued certification for the company’s two largest aluminum smelters, Krasnoyarsk KrAZ and Bratsk BrAZ. The Irkutsk Aluminum Smelter IrkAZ, with an annual capacity of four hundred twenty-five thousand tons, remains part of the same program. All three facilities have demonstrated compliance with the regulatory standards established by the Green Power Aluminum initiative, reflecting a shared commitment to lower emissions and responsible energy use across the production chain.

RUSAL earned the Green Power Aluminum certification as the first international company, underscoring its leadership in low‑carbon aluminum production. Chinese experts confirmed that the certified metal aligns with the highest industry benchmarks. The company’s Taishet and Sayanogorsk smelters are currently pursuing the same certification. Evgeny Nikitin, CEO of RUSAL, announced plans to broaden collaboration with Chinese partners and to bring innovative methods and sustainable practices across the entire value chain, expanding the reach of green aluminum in global markets.

China is pursuing a carbon neutrality objective set for 2060. The 2021 framework outlines three stages toward peak emissions and eventual neutrality. By 2025, the aim is to establish a green, low‑carbon closed‑loop economy with a notable rise in energy efficiency across key industries. By 2030, substantial progress is expected in the green transformation of economic and social development, with energy efficiency reaching international advanced levels in major energy‑intensive sectors. By 2060, a green and low‑carbon circular economic system and a clean, secure, efficient energy framework are to be fully in place, with energy efficiency at or above international standards.

Within this context, China favors green aluminum products. Export regulation and certification greatly facilitate the movement of Russian metal into international markets, ensuring easier access and traceability for buyers in various regions.

chinese market

The certification marks a new phase in the steady expansion of RUSAL’s presence in the Chinese market. The strategy championed by founder Oleg Deripaska centers on premium green aluminum as a key driver in the global shift toward carbon‑neutral technologies. China has emerged as a world leader and the largest consumer of Russian metal, while Europe faces slower growth due to shifts in trade relations with Russian producers.

Industry observers note with approval that RUSAL stands among green aluminum producers and aligns with shared values aimed at environmental responsibility. As a leading finned metal producer, the company plays a crucial role in advancing worldwide environmentally friendly aluminum. Once assessed and certified, the metal can be offered with a clearly traceable carbon footprint to Chinese consumers. Observers anticipate deeper cooperation with China and other industry players to promote green aluminum and broaden its use across sectors, contributing to China’s green and low‑carbon development and high‑quality growth in the market.

Green Power Aluminum certification emphasizes the role of renewable energy sources in primary metal production. RUSAL sources more than 99 percent of its electricity from renewables. The certification process combines a remote analysis of information provided with an on‑site expert evaluation conducted at the production facilities, ensuring rigorous verification without unnecessary delays.

China has led global aluminum production and consumption for two decades, accounting for more than half of world output. The demand for Russian winged metal remains strong due to its use in green construction, electric vehicles, and energy infrastructure such as solar power equipment.

trending

Aluminum is now found in a broader range of applications than ever before, driven by its light weight, durability, environmental friendliness and endless recyclability. As industries push to reduce emissions and fossil fuel use, the role of finned metal in transportation and energy becomes increasingly pivotal. Projections point to about 14 million tonnes of new aluminum demand in the next decade, with roughly half of total demand anticipated in those key sectors. Meanwhile, packaging, consumer goods, electrical and automotive sectors are leading the charge in adopting sustainable technologies, making low‑carbon aluminum an indispensable input for modern products.

Cooperation between Russia and China in high‑value aluminum products centers on downstream projects. China has advanced downstream capabilities in electric vehicle bodies, automotive cast components, aerospace parts, and high‑speed rail components. The push toward greener construction and urban development aligns with national targets to peak carbon emissions, shaping demand for advanced, lower‑emission aluminum.

Decarbonizing supply chains is most visible in the automotive sector, where more than 20 percent of the global industry has committed to zero‑carbon supply chains by 2040. This commitment translates into substantial production goals, including billions of dollars in investment and ambitious vehicle output targets that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across entire lifecycles.

pure aluminum

RUSAL has been at the forefront of decarbonizing its production footprint and helped establish the Russian Climate Protection Partnership. The company updated its Climate Strategy in 2022, setting a goal to cut certain greenhouse gas emissions by at least 47 percent by 2050 through modern technologies and process improvements.

This year, RUSAL underwent another verification of greenhouse gas emissions in the production of its metals, confirming its status as a leading global producer with a notably low carbon footprint. Independent analysis shows that all metal produced meets strict emissions benchmarks for scopes 1 and 2, aligning with international standards for low‑carbon aluminum.

Such results are achieved not only through the use of renewables, particularly hydro power, but also through the scientific and technical base developed by the company and its leadership. The modernization plan includes upgrading electrolyzers, transitioning to pre‑baked anode technology, installing advanced gas treatment facilities, and enhancing air quality monitoring.

In 2026, the company plans to scale up aluminum production using advanced inert anode technology, which releases oxygen during the process. In practical terms, this is described as aluminum photosynthesis, where one electrolyzer can produce oxygen equivalent to the effect of seventy hectares of forest.