RUSAL says has nothing to do with beer can initiative of govt

MOSCOW, Oct 1 (PRIME) -- Russian aluminum giant UC RUSAL has nothing to do with the government’s initiative to expand the sales of beer in aluminum cans and called the suggestion absurd, the company said in a statement on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Kommersant business daily reported that the Industry and Trade Ministry had prepared a bill to lift a 2013 ban on the sales of beer and alcoholic drinks in aluminum cans through stands and kiosks and cancelling a prohibition on the sales of beer at night to help the sanction-hit business of tycoon Oleg Deripaska.

“RUSAL has nothing to do with the initiative described by Kommersant. In search for a sensation that attracts attention to their stories, some media use any ways to mention RUSAL, even when the described situation is an absurd from the point of view of both the economy and common sense,” the company said.

Vadim Drobiz, head of the Research Center for Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets, told PRIME that the initiative would not help RUSAL, as only about 20% of all beer is sold in aluminum cans. “Even if they ban sales in plastic bottles, even if they ban tap beer, these volumes will switch into glass bottles,” he said.

On April 6, the U.S. imposed sanctions against 38 Russian tycoons, officials and companies, including En+ Group, GAZ Group, Basic Element, and RUSAL.

End