Rusal looks to Indonesia for bauxite and alumina supply for aluminium production

Russian aluminium producer Rusal is working on plans to build a bauxite and alumina complex in Indonesia as it looks to strengthen its raw material supply for aluminium production.

The company mentioned that the Indonesian project is part of its “diversification strategy in the Pacific region”. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia that Rusal planned to build facilities in Indonesia together with the country’s domestic companies.

Rusal, the world’s largest aluminium producer outside China, has explored opportunities in Indonesia before, although earlier projects did not move forward.

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The company has been looking to reduce its reliance on third-party suppliers of alumina, a key raw material for aluminium production. Rusal lost around 40 per cent of its alumina supplies from Ukraine and Australia in 2022, increasing the importance of securing alternative sources.

Rusal produced 6.8 million tonnes of alumina in 2025, representing 4.7 per cent of global alumina output. The company’s own alumina production met around 85 per cent of its requirements during the year.

The Indonesian project is part of Rusal’s wider effort to diversify its raw material sources. The company has previously explored projects in the country, and the latest plans indicate a renewed interest in developing bauxite and alumina production capacity there.

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