Rio Tinto Invests $179 Million in Carbon-Free Aluminum Smelting in Quebec

Rio Tinto has announced an investment of US$179 million to install carbon-free aluminum smelting cells at its Arvida plant in Quebec, Canada. The initiative, which includes a pilot plant co-funded by the Quebec government with an additional US$106 million, brings the total investment to US$285 million.

The pilot plant will utilize the first technology license from the Elysis joint venture, formed by Rio Tinto and Alcoa. This groundbreaking technology eliminates all direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the aluminum smelting process, instead producing oxygen as a by-product.

According to Rio Tinto, this pilot operation is a crucial step towards the large-scale industrialization of the Elysis technology. The plant will have the capacity to produce up to 2,500 tons of commercial-grade aluminum annually without direct GHG emissions. The first production is slated for 2027. The facility will be located adjacent to the Arvida smelter, leveraging the existing alumina supply and infrastructure.