News. Russian non-ferrous metallurgy news. April - Russian Metallurgy news

RUSAL develops aluminum scrap recycling

RUSAL, one of the world's largest primary aluminum producers, has produced a number of slabs intended for manufacturing of aluminum cans using more than 50% scrap. The Krasnoyarsk Aluminum Smelter project was implemented using metal produced using inert anode technology. Primary aluminum from the reduction shop was mixed with pre-treated and melted scrap and cast into slabs in the cast house. This is a non-standard process for a manufacturer of primary aluminum alloys, which requires an innovative ...

25 April 2025., 10:30 comment

RUSAL noted the impact of aluminum structures on the construction industry

Innovative materials, including aluminum structures, are becoming a key factor in the development of Russia's construction industry. This was stated by Evgeny Vasiliev, Director of Market Development at RUSALl, at the XVII Infrastructure Summit “Strong Russia” (InfraSpace). He recalled that in recent years, domestic enterprises that are members of the Aluminum Association have expanded their product range and mastered new alloys. This has contributed to an increase in the use of aluminum in ...

24 April 2025., 11:07 comment

Russia has realized production of new types of titanium tubes for aviation applications

Chepetsk Mechanical Plant (ChMZ, an enterprise of Rosatom's Fuel Division in Glazov, Republic of Udmurtia) has realized production of seven new nomenclatures of titanium alloy pipes for aviation pipeline systems. Such pipes with diameters from 6.35 mm to 31.75 mm and wall thicknesses from 0.4 mm to 1.3 mm were previously purchased by the Russian aviation industry from European suppliers. By 2030, Chepetsk Mechanical Plant plans to produce about 100 kilometers of titanium pipes for hydraulic ...

24 April 2025., 10:40 comment

Russian scientists discovered mineral to study Earth’s core

Scientists at St. Petersburg State University (SPGU) have discovered a new mineral – olgafrankite – in the rocks of Norilsk and the Rumuruti meteorite. For the scientific world, the discovery was a sensation, because this mineral was for decades considered a ‘cosmic calling card’. A new mineral, that consists of nickel and germanium, was discovered in the rocks of the Norilsk Ore region in the Krasnoyarsk Krai. For about 40 years, these samples were kept as museum exhibits, and now scientists ...

24 April 2025., 10:00 comment

Russia sharply increased copper exports to China in March

China's copper imports from the United States fell 1.9 times to $204.8 million in March this year, according to Chinese customs. This was the minimum for bilateral trade since April 2023 and is noticeably less than the average level of purchases for last year (371.9 million dollars, RIA Novosti reported. The main beneficiary of this decline was Russia, which in March became the second major source of copper for China. Russian exports for the year rose by $495.4 million, or 2.7 times, to $790.9 ...

23 April 2025., 11:40 comment

Russian scientists have developed a new method of creating ultra-high-strength coatings for titanium

Scientists of the Saratov State Technical University named after Y. Gagarin have developed a method of creating protective tantalum coatings on titanium, which makes it possible to control the composition, structure and properties of the created layer and achieve its greater mechanical strength. The development can be used in medicine for creation of biocompatible implants, as well as for the protection of titanium components equipment operating in aggressive environments, such as marine vessels ...

23 April 2025., 10:00 comment

Nornickel announces consolidated production results for 1Q 2025

Nornickel, the world’s largest producer of palladium and a major producer of Class I nickel, platinum and copper, announces preliminary consolidated production results for the first quarter of 2025. Senior Vice-President — Operating Director, Alexander Popov commented on the production results, "In 1Q 2025, platinum production increased, whereas the output of other metals was slightly lower than a year ago. The modest decline of nickel production was temporary and due to scheduled short-term ...

22 April 2025., 11:17 comment

The active construction phase of the Baimsky GOK started

The active construction phase of the Baimsky Mining and Processing Plant (Baimsky GOK) was launched in the Chukotka Autonomous District. This is Russia's first mining and processing plant using unmanned technologies and the Internet of Things in copper ore mining. Dmitry Grigorenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government Staff, and Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, familiarized themselves with the construction ...

22 April 2025., 10:40 comment

Rusal's top manager: Almost every aluminum bridge in Russia is unique

Over the past few years, about thirty bridges made of aluminum, a material that until recently was considered exotic in infrastructure projects, have appeared in Russia. The new bridge assembled in St. Petersburg for the Altai region was an impressive technological experiment. Why aluminum may become an important structural material of the near future, how Russian bridges were in demand in Germany and what does the Ministry of Emergency Situations have to do with it - in an interview with “Lenta.ru” ...

18 April 2025., 10:15 comment

Russia accounts for 8.8% of the world's copper reserves

Such data is contained in the State Report on the state and utilization of mineral resources of the Russian Federation, published on the website of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia. Copper belongs to the first group of minerals, the reserves of which, under any scenario of the national economy development, meet its necessary needs until 2035. Russia has a large raw material base of copper and ranks 7th among the largest producers. The basis of the country's raw material base is formed ...

17 April 2025., 10:15 comment

Rhenium extraction from Kuril volcano gas may start in 24 months

Pilot-scale extraction of rhenium and other rare metals for subsequent refinement and separation from concentrate may begin in Russia within two years at the world’s only commercial rhenium deposit — the Kudryavy Volcano on Iturup Island (Kuril Islands), one of investors in the Russian Rhenium project Maxim Korobov said. "The project is currently in the research and development phase, which has intensified since 2015. We hold several patents based on the selected technologies and our findings, ...

17 April 2025., 10:08 comment

Ministry for the Development of Russian Far East: Russia can offset up to 7% of global lithium deficit

According to forecasts, the global market could face a lithium shortage of approximately 1.3 million tons and a rare-earth metals deficit of 66,000 tons by 2040. Lithium is critical for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. In a report by Alexey Chekunkov, head of the Ministry for the Development of Russian Far East, Russia’s domestic production development could offset up to 7% of the global lithium deficit (around 91,000 tons). Additionally, the country ...

15 April 2025., 14:30 comment

Lithium and tantalum production plant design launched in Murmansk Region

JSC "Arkmineral – Resource" in the Murmansk Region is developing the Afrikanda rare-earth metals deposit, has begun designing a processing plant. Construction of the complex, capable of processing approximately one million tons of ore annually, is set to begin in 2026–2027, according to a TASS report citing the company’s General Director Andrey Trenin. He emphasized that key technical solutions for the plant are already finalized. This year, the company plans to register the reserves on the ...

15 April 2025., 12:54 comment

Pushilin: DNR and Rosnedra preparing mechanism for lithium deposit development

The authorities of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR), together with Russia’s Federal Agency for Mineral Resources (Rosnedra), are developing a mechanism to transfer the Shevchenkivske lithium deposit in the DNR—liberated by Russian forces—for development, DNR head Denis Pushilin told TASS. "The Shevchenkivske lithium deposit, whose territory was liberated by Russian units, is still too close to the frontline to begin work. <...> Together with Rosnedra, we are working out a mechanism to transfer ...

14 April 2025., 13:43 comment

Gold futures surge above $3,200 for the tirst time since April 2

The price of gold futures for June 2025 delivery on Comex (a division of the New York Mercantile Exchange) has risen above $3,200 per troy ounce, according to exchange data. At 01:33 Moscow time, the precious metal was trading at $3,209.7 per troy ounce (+2.17%). By 01:48 Moscow time, gold accelerated its gains, reaching $3,212 per ounce (+2.24%). Gold futures previously hit a historic high on April 2, surpassing the $3,200 mark. At 23:29 Moscow time that day, the price rose 1.12% to $3,201.6 ...

14 April 2025., 11:31 comment

Rare-earth metals developing project will become a driver for new industries in the Krasnoyarsk Region

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev has instructed the formation of an expert group to determine the economy’s long-term demand for rare and rare-earth metals and to outline a list of products that could be produced in Siberia. The development project for the Chuktukon rare-earth metals deposit in the Krasnoyarsk Region is set to drive the growth of new industries in the region. This was stated in a press release from the Governor’s office following a meeting chaired by Russian Deputy Prime ...

04 November 2025., 10:48 comment

Mr. Deripaska (founder of RUSAL) condition for sharp increase in Russia-China trade volume

The trade volume between Russia and China could surge sharply to $400 billion, but this would require a significant increase in Chinese investments in Russia. RUSAL outlined this condition in his Telegram channel. According to him, many economists are currently assessing the potential for expanding mutual trade between the two countries. "To achieve this, a substantial increase in direct Chinese investments into Russian projects and enterprises is necessary — at least 160 billion yuan ($21.77 ...

04 October 2025., 10:57 comment

Nornickel presented its strategy for the Center for Palladium Technologies (CPT) at the international PGMs Industry Day conference in South Africa

The company’s experts shared early-stage technological developments that could redefine the use of platinum group metals (PGMs), including applications in Africa’s priority sectors like energy, water purification, and electronics. The goal of the Johannesburg event was to initiate dialogue with potential partners across the continent: research institutions, industrial firms, and tech startups. “We aim to share expertise and collaborate with those who, like us, see palladium as a metal of the ...

04 October 2025., 09:56 comment

Russian Minister of Industry and Trade visits SKT Group plant in Pskov

Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov and Governor of the Pskov Region Mikhail Vedernikov visited the SKT Group plant in Pskov. SKT Group LLC is an industrial manufacturing company established in 2018 as part of Akron Holding. It consolidated the former plants Pskovgeokabel, Pskovelektrosvar, and Sevkabel. Representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Pskov Region toured the plant’s production lines and workshops and reviewed samples of finished products, including ...

04 September 2025., 10:29 comment

Rosatom launches pilot production line for beryllium-containing materials with annual capacity of 300 kg

The Rosatom State Corporation is launching a pilot production line in Russia for berillium-containing materials, with a capacity of up to 300 kg of processed beryllium per year. This information was provided by the press service of Rosatom’s scientific division. The country’s first experimental facility, designed to test the full technological cycle of producing beryllium-containing components—from ore concentrate to finished metal—will be deployed at Luch NPO Research Institute. Beryllium development ...

04 August 2025., 12:10 comment