Blaze at Rusal’s smelter did not disrupt operations
Emergency services in Russia managed to swiftly contain a minor fire at one of Rusal’s significant smelters located in the Krasnoyarsk region of Siberia, as reported by Russian news agencies. This incident, occurring at one of Rusal’s largest production facilities, notably did not disrupt the smelter’s operations.
Rusal, renowned as the world’s largest aluminium producer outside China, refrained from immediate commentary on the event at the Krasnoyarsk smelter. Previously, this same site encountered another fire caused by an electrical transformer just three months prior.
The Krasnoyarsk smelter, contributing 1.0 million metric tons to Rusal’s overall 3.8 million metric tons of aluminium production in 2022, stands as a pivotal asset alongside the Bratsk smelter. These critical smelters heavily rely on a consistent and reliable electricity supply, making even minor fire incidents potentially impactful.
According to reports from the TASS news agency, the fire initiated at an independent electricity substation, covering an area of approximately 50 square meters. However, swift intervention from local emergency ministry officials successfully brought the situation under control. Fortunately, there were no casualties, and the factory’s operations remained unaffected.
Videos circulating on social media depicted thick black smoke rising from the factory premises during the incident.
