Airbus Senior Vice President for Industrial Strategy in Russia Axel Krein told a news conference that the company intended to sign a contract with the Siberian-Urals Aluminum Company (SUAL) within the next few weeks.
Krein said that first aluminum supplies under the future contract would start in 2009, adding that Airbus already had experience in dealing with Russian metal producers, having worked with Russian titanium suppliers.
Founded in 1996, SUAL Group, is ranked among the world's top ten aluminum producers, with its enterprises in nine Russian regions and Ukraine. The company mines 2.1 million tons of alumina annually, and exports 80% of its production.
Airbus is involved in a comprehensive program of cooperation with Russia, under a partnership agreement signed between the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), a major shareholder of Airbus, and the Russian Aerospace Agency. The program will be worth more than $800 million over the next 10 years.
As part of the program, Russian aviation companies will provide components for Airbus's A-320, A-330/A-340 and A-380 airliners.
