An examination conducted by the Center for Social Design Platform on the study Environmental activities of Russian industrial enterprises portrays the modernization of the Krasnoyarsk aluminum smelter, owned by Rusal, as a pivotal environmental initiative among Russian companies. The authors place Rusal among leaders in environmental policy, noting that these companies go beyond simply meeting legal requirements and help shape the countrywide environmental agenda.
Following the modernization, hydrogen fluoride emissions are expected to drop by about two thirds, and tar compounds as well as benzopyrene emissions into the atmosphere are projected to be eliminated. This forward-looking assessment is presented as part of the CSP study’s conclusions.
Sergei Shakhmatov, co-chairman of the Russian Greens party, points to Rusal as implementing a multi-year modernization program. “The old plant produced significant pollutants from benzopyrene, which is a class one hazard. Two-stage gas cleaning has now been introduced and wet cleaning has been added. Emissions have decreased significantly”, he remarked.
In scope, the project covers nearly 120 main and auxiliary production facilities along with engineering and transportation infrastructure that will be built or reconstructed, according to the CSP study.
Beyond the Krasnoyarsk plant, the report notes the modernization of the Bogoslovsky Rusal aluminum plant, where a new cyclone-vortex calcining furnace was commissioned. This advancement is expected to cut natural gas consumption by about 30 percent and reduce atmospheric emissions by roughly tenfold.
The authors also highlight Rusal’s landscaping and volunteer efforts, including the EcoGeneration expedition and the River Day eco-action. As part of the Green Wave initiative, the Ural and Bogoslovsky aluminum plants along with the North Ural bauxite mine planted about 400 saplings in 2023.
Separately, experts acknowledge Rusal’s biodiversity monitoring project within the Altai-Sayan ecoregion’s system of specially protected natural areas. The work, they note, uses bioindicators and protected areas to gauge environmental health, though it does not guarantee immediate or unequivocally positive results. Still, the initiatives demonstrate the company’s proactive stance on environmental responsibility.
The study concludes that the current state of the environment in Russia is perceived by society as neutral, scoring 6.3 out of 10, with a slight tilt toward a more favorable outlook. Youth opinions, however, show a different nuance: respondents aged 18 to 34 rate the environment at 4 out of 10, and 37 percent say their regional situation has worsened over the last five years, underscoring ongoing public concern alongside progress.