PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining giant Rio Tinto has renewed its partnership with the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), in Canada, for another three years.
The miner this week said that it would commit more than $2-million over the next three years to continue research and development (R&D) in bauxite and tailings processing technologies.
The partnership has been going for 25 years, specifically in the area of bauxite and tailings treatment technologies and alumina manufacturing.
In addition to ensuring the continuity of its collaboration until 2023, this partnership allows UQAC to strengthen its position and that of the region among the world leaders in aluminium research and development.
“We are very pleased to be renewing this exclusive R&D partnership with the UQAC, which has been a source of great achievements for almost 25 years. The alumina manufacturing process and the reclamation of by-products are essential to the production of low-carbon aluminium in Quebec. Our partnership allows us both to continually improve our techniques and equipment used in this process, and to train the next generation of researchers,” director of Rio’s Arvida Research and Development Centre, Josette Ross, said.