On Monday, the “Kremlin” factory in Shelehov, Irkutsk region – owned by the company “Rusal” – announced that it will suspend its operations starting from January 1, 2026. According to the statement given to RIA Novosti agency by the company’s press service, the main reason is the lack of demand: imported silicon is considerably cheaper than the Russian one, and imports are constantly increasing. On the international market, the Russian product is no longer competitive, claim the representatives of “Rusal”.
The factory is the largest silicon producer in the Russian Federation. The management has already informed the regional authorities about the suspension decision, expressing their hope that they will receive support to mitigate the social consequences of the production halt.
Another factory of the company, “Ural Silicon”, will continue to operate, but at a reduced capacity. Previously, “Rusal” had announced that it intends to reduce silicon production by 35% in 2025, reaching 35,000 tons, due to competition from China. In 2024, the total production was 53,400 tons.
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