NOVOSIBIRSK, Russia, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Russia has a plan tosupport world No.2 aluminium producer Rusal againstU.S. sanctions put in place in April, including by purchasingthe metal for state stocks, Industry Minister Denis Manturovtold reporters on Tuesday.
The U.S. Treasury Department placed Russian businessman OlegDeripaska and Rusal, which he controls, on a blacklist thatmonth, freezing the bulk of the company's exports, paralysingits supply chain and scaring off many customers.
The sanctions caused major disruptions to global aluminiummarkets, although Rusal's international customers were givenuntil Oct. 23 to wind down business with the company.
En+ Group , Deripaska's holding company, is alsounder sanctions.
Industry sources told Reuters in June that Rusal will take amajor hit if sanctions are not lifted by late August. In July,U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the United Stateswas in productive talks with Rusal to remove it from the list.Manturov, speaking to reporters in the town of Novosibirskin Siberia, said on Tuesday that Moscow had a back-up plan ifsanctions against Rusal persist.
"There might be (aluminium purchases for the state stocks)but for now, there is no such need," he said, providing no otherdetails.
Deripaska controls 66 percent of En+ Group, which in turncontrols 48 percent of Rusal. He has already accepted that hemay have to cede control of En+, if both En+ and Rusal are tosurvive, a source familiar with the matter said in May. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Writing by Katya Golubkova;Editing by Tom Hogue)
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