Abstract Based upon the equations of irreversible thermodynamics, and assuming local equilibrium, expressions are developed for the current efficiency, anode gas composition and voltage for the production of aluminum by the electrolytic process.A fundamental assumption of the model is that the electrolyte is a partial electronic conductor by virtue of the solubility of metal in the electrolyte. An estimate of the electronic conductivity is obtained from published data for various metal-metal halide systems.The model predicts that the current efficiency, CO2 content of the anode gas and cell voltage increase with increasing current density and increasing inter-electrode distance. The calculated quantities show satisfactory agreement with published performance data. Resume En se basant sur des equations de la thermodynamique irreversible, et en supposant un equilibre local, des expressions sont developpees pour le rendement du courant, la composition des gaz a l'anode et le voltage pour la production de l'a...