Oxygen-evolving, non-consumable anodes are being developed for use in industrial aluminum production. Ceramic-type electrodes dissolve slowly into the electrolyte, a process governed by mass transport conditions. For achievable anode life, factors determining mass transfer rates at the cathode are generally more important than those at the anode. This is discussed by means of model calculations and using experimental results. The roles of incomplete alloying of anode constituents with the aluminum upon reduction at the cathode and of metal dissolution from the cathode are also treated.