TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Diversified-miner Rio Tinto will spend an additional $300-million to expand and modernise its Kitimat aluminium smelter, in British Columbia, Canada, the group announced on Wednesday.

Rio Tinto has now committed more than $500-million to increase capacity at the smelter by 63%, to 400 000 t/y of aluminium.

“This investment continues construction and maintains critical paths for the project, while we seek opportunities to reduce capital costs in the currently challenging economic climate,” said Rio Tinto Alcan CE Dick Evans.

The $300-million will be used for an anode baking furnace, a substation, a cast house, and construction workers' camp, as well as ancillary services.

Rio Tinto bought Canadian aluminium producer Alcan for $38-billion last year.

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