Cdn. government signs MoU with Rio Tinto for aluminum manufacturing
by CM Staff
Rio Tinto will invest CAD $1.4 billion to expand its aluminum smelter equipped with the company's low-carbon emission AP60 electrolysis technology at the Complexe Jonquière, in Saguenay.
PHOTO: Getty Images
SAGUENAY — On Jun. 12, François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Rio Tinto aiming to implement an agenda for the company to strengthen its position as a leader in the production of green aluminum. This includes the construction of the first Western aluminum smelter in a decade, producing aluminum with some of the lowest carbon emissions in the world, as well as the industrial-scale deployment of its ELYSIS smelting technology across Rio Tinto Aluminium operations in Canada.
Rio Tinto will invest CAD $1.4 billion to expand its aluminum smelter equipped with the company’s low-carbon emission AP60 electrolysis technology at the Complexe Jonquière, in Saguenay. The project will create up to 1,000 jobs during the peak construction period, and about 100 permanent jobs will be maintained thanks to the new aluminum smelter.
The Canadian government says that Canada already produces some of the world’s greenest minerals and metals, in particular steel and aluminum. Canada is positioning itself as a leader in this sector as the global demand for the production of clean metals continues to grow, particularly for aluminum, which is used in the production of innovative technologies in a wide range of sectors, including cleantech, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Through strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Rio Tinto, Canada is establishing itself as the green supplier of choice for sustainably produced aluminum and critical minerals.
The government has invested in ELYSIS Limited Partnership, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Alcoa. Once fully developed and implemented, the ELYSIS technology could eliminate Canada’s aluminum smelting carbon footprint. Another testament to its confidence in Rio Tinto, in October 2022, the government announced up to $222 million in funding to help Rio Tinto Fer et Titane advance its innovative BlueSmelting decarbonization technology and expand its production of critical minerals that are inputs to a range of advanced manufacturing applications, including electric vehicles.
The government’s collaborative agreement with Rio Tinto also supports the objectives of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, as it will explore opportunities for value-added mineral processing and materials manufacturing for Canadian technologies and industries, and also promote circular economy principles by capturing critical minerals from waste streams.
“Canada has all it takes to be the global green supplier of choice. And that is why our government is collaborating with key industry actors like Rio Tinto to produce the world’s greenest aluminum. By supporting the production of green metals, we ensure Canada will remain at the forefront of the economy of tomorrow. When economic benefits are paired with a commitment to developing green solutions, it’s a win for our industry, our cleantech ecosystem and our workers,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
