Aluminum producer Rusal can now produce the primary aluminum with the lowest carbon (CO2) footprint in the world and has begun test shipments of the new product, the company said in a statement.
The aluminum is produced using technology on inert anode cells in the electrolysis process makes it possible to almost eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
The company can produce 1mt of low carbon footprint aluminum per day with the new cells.
Inert anodes replace standard carbon anodes with inert non-consumable materials (ceramics or alloys), thereby greatly reducing carbon emissions in the smelting process. Compared with the volume, the carbon footprint of metallic aluminum produced with inert anodes has been reduced by 85pc, the company said.
The company said that it has already submitted this new product to companies that use aluminum in production and are focused on reducing their carbon footprint along the entire production value chain.
Rusal aims to expand the use of aluminum produced using inert anode technology to demonstrate the benefits of decarbonization and to stimulate manufacturers to implement carbon-free technologies.
The new product launch comes after the company had in Jan 2021 announced its decision to reduce 35pc of its carbon emissions by 2020 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.