PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified major Rio Tinto will invest $87-million to increase its low-carbon aluminium production in Canada with 16 new smelting cells at its AP60 smelter, in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec.

The investment will increase production at the smelter by around 45%, or 26 500 t/y of primary aluminium, to a capacity of 86 500 t and provide a secure future for approximately 100 employees who work at the facility.

Rio projects that the global aluminium market will grow at an average rate of 3.3% a year over the next decade with strong demand driven by the energy transition and decarbonisation.

"Rio Tinto is committed to strengthening its position as a leader in low-carbon, hydro-powered aluminium production to meet the clear demand from our customers in North America and Europe,” Rio’s aluminium CEO Ivan Vella said.

"Our AP60 technology is one of the most energy efficient, environmentally friendly and cost effective systems in commercial production today. It produces some of the world’s lowest carbon aluminium with renewable hydropower here in Quebec. We are assessing options for further investments, as we progress development of the ELYSIS zero carbon smelting technology with our partners."

The new pots will be built in the existing building of the Complexe Jonquière’s AP60 technology centre, which currently has 38 pots. Work will begin in the spring of 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Rio will simultaneously study the potential to add more AP60 cells at the site.

The AP60 technology was developed by Rio's research and development teams, including the Arvida Research and Development Centre, and generates seven times less greenhouse gases than the industry average. Since their commissioning in Saguenay in 2013, the initial AP60 technology pots have produced more than 465 000 t of low-carbon aluminium.