“RA-550 technology is a great contribution in our pursuit for more efficient and more environmentally friendly aluminium production”- Mr. Viktor Mann, Technical Director, UC RUSAL

UC RUSAL, the global leader in aluminium production, recently launched the first RA-550 pot of new generation running at over 550 kA at the Sayanogorsk aluminium smelter. According to design documents, an RA-550 cell of the energy-efficient new pot consumes around 12 kW*h/kg of aluminium- around 10-15% less than previous generations, and one pot can produce 4.21 tonnes of aluminium per day, which is about twice as much as the daily output of a RA-300 pot currently used at SAZ. Mr. Victor Mann, the Technical Director of UC RUSAL, who had termed the launch of RA-550 as 'a technical and engineering breakthrough’, shared with AlCircle the key benefits of the new pot in terms of energy-efficiency. He also answered queries regarding RUSAL's other upcoming projects.

Mr. Mann has been heading RUSAL's Technical division since 2005. His accountabilities span R&D, engineering and design capabilities, developing and introducing new innovative technologies, modernization of production facilities, and start-up and commissioning of green-field and upgraded capacities. Here is an excerpt from his interview with AlCircle:

AlCircle: In-house R&D and design resources have always been the key competitive advantage of RUSAL. Now, that you’ve launched the first RA-550 pot of new generation at the Sayanogorsk aluminium smelter, what do you aim to achieve through it in terms of productivity increase, and how?