Rio Tinto has committed to investing $1.4 billion to expand its aluminum smelter at Complexe Jonquière in Saguenay and install 96 pots of AP60 low-carbon electrolysis technology.
These new tanks, made in China, should make it possible to reduce by half the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per tonne of aluminum currently produced at the Arvida plant.
Photo QMI Agency, Roger Gagnon
They should also enable an increase in production capacity by 160,000 tons of primary aluminum per year.
.@Rio Tinto announced a $1.4 billion plan to expand and decarbonize its aluminum operations. The government of Quebec will contribute with a loan of US$150 million. We will continue to be the environmental leaders and create prosperity for Quebecers! pic.twitter.com/8ZiPu0kGWv
— Francois Legault (@francoislegault) June 12, 2023
The government will support this project with a US$150 million “forgivable loan” investment. The conditions for the reimbursement (or non-reimbursement) of these public funds by the multinational have yet to be determined, Minister for Economy and Innovation Pierre Fitzgibbon acknowledged.
Furthermore, the details of the anticipated deployment of Elysis, this greenhouse gas-free aluminum electrolysis technology, were not discussed. Quebec and Rio Tinto are finalizing the terms of a partnership.
More details to come.