Name of the Project
Alma smelter capacity expansion.

Location
Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada.

Project Owner/s
Rio Tinto.

Project Description
The project will increase production capacity for low-carbon, high-value aluminium billets at the Alma smelter to 202 000 t.

The existing casting centre will be expanded to accommodate new, state-of-the-art equipment, including a casting pit and furnaces, allowing for a larger portion of the aluminium produced to be converted to higher-value billets.

Aluminium billets are extruded through a die and the resulting profiles are used to make various products, such as bumpers and roof rails for cars, as well as doors and window frames.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to generate an estimated economic impact of more than $200-million for Quebec, create an estimated 40 new permanent jobs and help support the 770 existing jobs at the Alma smelter. 

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
C$240-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Construction will begin in May 2023, after completing detailed engineering and preliminary work, and commissioning is expected in the first quarter of 2025.

Latest Developments
Rio Tinto has begun construction on the expansion of its Alma smelter.

The C$240-million investment will allow for more of the company’s aluminium production to be used to make billets from renewable hydroelectric power. This will enable Rio to be more agile and flexible in meeting the anticipated growing demand from North American extruders for a variety of high value-added products, primarily for the automotive and construction industries. 

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Rio Tinto media relations, email media.enquiries@riotinto.com.