Rio Tinto is investing about A$177 million at its Alma smelter in Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec to increase the production capacity for low-carbon, high value aluminium billets by 202,000 metric tonnes.
According to Rio’s statement, the existing casting center at its Alma factory will be expanded to make room for brand-new, cutting-edge machinery, including a casting pit and furnaces, enabling a larger percentage of the produced aluminum to be turned to higher-value billets.
Sébastien Ross, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Aluminium’s Atlantic operations, said the investment would strengthen the supply chain in North America and allow Rio Tinto to support the critical growth of North American manufacturers for a variety of high value-added products, “primarily in the automotive and construction industries”.
“This expansion of our low carbon aluminium billet production capacity in Quebec will allow us to better meet our customer’s growing demand for high quality alloys and value-added products made with renewable hydroelectricity,” he said.
“This new capacity will help to strengthen the position of our Alma smelter and we are proud to work with our employees, clients, Quebec equipment manufacturers and partners to bring this much-anticipated project to fruition.”
Construction will begin in May 2023, with commissioning expected in the first quarter of 2025.
