A voltage probe was used to determine the current distribution along the sides of the anodes in commercial Soderberg aluminium cells. The current density decreased in the upward direction along the side of the anode from 0.8 A cm(-2) on the working face to 0.15-0.28 A cm(-2) near the surface of the bath. It was estimated that only 5%-10% of the carbon dust formed in Soderberg cells was generated at the side of the anode, and the rest came from the working face of the anode. About 5% of the total anode consumption took place on the side of the anode, of which similar to 3% was caused by air-burning above the bath (electrolyte) level.