Rusal Amplifies Scandium Production Amid Global Rare-Earth Competition

Rusal announces a new facility to produce the rare-earth metal scandium, responding to President Putin's call to enhance Russia's output. The project involves a 500 million rouble investment and aims to produce 1.5 metric tonnes annually, with potential to scale up.

Russian aluminium giant Rusal has unveiled plans to boost its production of the rare-earth metal scandium, establishing a facility with an initial output of 1.5 tonnes per year, expandable to 19 metric tonnes annually. This move aligns with President Vladimir Putin's recent call for increased production of rare-earth elements.

The investment in this project is estimated at 500 million roubles, which translates to approximately $5.73 million. Located at the Bogoslovsky Aluminium Plant near the Urals, production is slated to commence this year. Scandium is renowned for enhancing aluminium alloys, offering benefits like reduced weight, augmented strength, and thermal shock resistance.

Rusal foresees applications of these alloys in sectors such as shipbuilding, aviation, railway car production, and 3D-printed high-tech prosthetics. With only 20-25 tons of global scandium oxide production each year, Rusal intends to manufacture it from red mud, a by-product of alumina production, utilizing proprietary technology. This initiative could elevate Russia's position in the rare-earth metals market and foster economic ties with the U.S. as proposed by Putin.