A gas cleaning unit for cleaning an effluent gas of at least one aluminium production electrolytic cell comprises a contact reactor in which the effluent gas is brought into contact with alumina, and a dust removal device for removing at least a portion of the alumina. The gas cleaning unit further comprises a wet scrubber in which the effluent gas is brought into contact with an absorption liquid containing water for removing further pollutants from the effluent gas. The wet scrubber is positioned at a point vertically higher than that of the dust removal device.