The nationalized Mykolaiv alumina plant, which was owned by the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska before the full-scale war, is currently unable to fully resume operations. This was reported by the Head of the State Property Fund, Vitalii Koval.
“The nationalized plant is under the management of the State Property Fund. We are maintaining its operational status. Currently, its activities are suspended due to the blockade of Mykolaiv’s seaports and the risk of shelling. These conditions make it impossible for the plant to function fully at this time,” Koval said.
The Mykolaiv plant is the only alumina producer in Ukraine.
Restoring its operations is necessary for the resumption of aluminum production at the Zaporizhzhia Aluminum Plant, which is currently up for privatization.
“Restoring aluminum production, while requiring significant investment, is quite feasible. It is clear that for full restoration of aluminum production, a stable raw material base is necessary. This involves creating vertically integrated supply chains, including the resumption of operations at the Mykolaiv alumina plant and ensuring the supply of bauxite from Ukrainian mines,” he added.
Aluminum does not occur in pure form in nature. Its production begins with the extraction of bauxite—the aluminum ore in which it is found as aluminum oxide. Bauxite is processed into alumina, a gray-white powder, at specialized plants like the one in Mykolaiv. Bauxite for the Mykolaiv plant was imported from tropical countries such as Guinea, Guyana, and Brazil.
The alumina is then sent to aluminum plants where it is converted into aluminum via electrolysis. Primary aluminum is cast into ingots, which are sold to consumers and used to produce alloys for various purposes.
About the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant: The Mykolaiv Alumina Plant is one of the largest color metallurgy enterprises in Europe. Deripaska gained control of the plant in the early 2000s.
Russian oligarch Deripaska controlled the Mykolaiv alumina plant from the 2000s. The plant is one of the largest color metallurgy facilities in Europe and has been inactive since 2022.
In February 2023, the High Anti-Corruption Court ruled to confiscate the assets of Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska in Ukraine, including the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, which accounted for 20% of the company's alumina production.
