MOSCOW, January 12 (RIA Novosti) - Russian metals giant Rusal has brought into operation a new type of electrolysis cell that the company says will increase its production efficiency by 30% and reduce emissions by the same level.

The RA-400 cell, launched at Rusal's Sayanogorsk aluminum smelter in Siberia, is designed to produce three metric tons of aluminum per day, and was the product of $11.3mln of investment, the firm said. Rusal plans to install two more of the cells at Sayanogorsk, and will equip all its new smelters with the new technology, the company said.

"The launch of the RA-400 is yet more proof of our innovative leadership - a strong foundation for our strategy to increase aluminum production to 5 million tons and become one of the world's most environmentally friendly metal producers," Valery Matvienko, director of Rusal's Engineering and Construction Division, said in a statement.

Rusal's aluminum production in 2004 totaled 4.1mln mt.

Rusal is the world's third largest primary aluminum producer. The company accounts for 75% of the aluminum produced in Russia and 10% of world output of the metal.