$3.5 million container terminal for finished goods shipment has been put into industrial operation at Bratsk Smelter OJSC (BrAZ, Irkutsk region, part of Russian Aluminum, RusAl). This information has been provided by the BrAZ's press release. According to the report, the construction of the terminal was one of major investment programs of BrAZ through 2005-2006. Al the works were supervised by engineering-and-technological center of RusAl. According to the plan, the project was to be put into operation before December 2006. However, ITC’s experts managed to finalize the works three months before the schedule. The building was erected in 2005, equipment was assembled in 2006. There are two 42-ton overhead cranes at the terminal. According to Igor Bobkov, acting foundry director of BrAZ, terminal’s commissioning is very important for the company. – Container transportation of products is more convenient and cheap as compared with conventional transportation in wagons. We plan to ship at least 1 thou containers per month, Bobkov said.
Bratsk Smelter is the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter of primary aluminum. The plant’s output capacity is over 970 thou tons. First launch facility of the plant was put into operation in 1966. Since that time BrAZ’s production facilities manufactured over 29 million tons of aluminum. RusAl is one of three world leaders in primary aluminum production.