Rio Tinto is working to up anode production at its Grande-Baie smelter in Canada, investing $US165 million to refurbish two anode baking furnaces.
The major miner will also carry out feasibility studies for the eventual replacement of the scrubbers and overhead bridge cranes at the anode production centre.
Rio will carry out this work over the next two years, with the new equipment ensuring a competitive supply of anodes to the Grande-Baie and Laterriére plants.
‘‘The refurbishment of the Grande-Baie smelter’s anode baking furnaces is a major investment that will ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of responsible aluminium production in the region for decades to come and will generate significant economic benefits,” Grande-Baie and Laterrière operations director Martin Lavoie said.
‘‘We are very happy to be completing this project over the next years in collaboration with our employees and local business partners.”
Rio will offset the carbon emissions related to the construction project through various initiatives like planting trees near the aluminium smelter.
Most of the economic benefits associated with the project will be generated in Quebec. At the peak of the project, about 185 workers should be on site.