Reuters reported that Russia's UC RUSAL might cut its 2011 metal output forecast by less than 0.5% this year due to supply problems at two Siberian smelters.

The company said that in connection with the collapse of the railway bridge over the Abakan River in Khakas region that was used to deliver raw materials to Sayanogorsk and Khakas aluminum smelters. The company decided to reduce production at both smelters.

The volume of the production reduced is expected to near 20,000 tonnes, which the company will seek to reallocate to other smelters. It said that after the bridge collapsed on May 7, the smelters started to use trucks to transport raw material until the recovery of rail transport.

This means of supply proved to be insufficient and RUSAL decided to cut temporarily output at both plants. Although local authorities have started to build a temporary rail bridge on the spot of the collapsed one which is expected to be rebuilt in June, RUSAL warned it might lower its aluminum production forecast for 2011.