Case study - Do-it-yourself power

The Russian aluminium giant RUSAL aims to achieve 50% energy self-sufficient by 2013. It is partnering with governments and large players on hydro-projects in eastern Europe and central Asia and wants to move forward as both an energy and a metals company, writes Pavel Ulianov

Volatile energy prices and on-going instability in energy producing regions make the issue of electricity costs and security of supply more urgent than ever for the aluminium industry and the metallurgy sector more widely. Electrical power makes up 25-40% of aluminium production costs, and increasing energy costs have proven to be a fundamental obstacle to the growth of the global majors.

During the last four years, the average power tariff growth rate for aluminium companies worldwide amounted