$1.5B Rio Tinto AP60 expansion in Quebec adds 160,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminum capacity

Rio Tinto is spending $1.5 billion to expand its AP60 smelter at Complexe Arvida in Quebec, adding around 160,000 tonnes of primary aluminum capacity. The project will lift total AP60 output to about 220,000 tonnes per year and is expected to cut emissions by roughly 290,000 tonnes annually compared with older Arvida technology. The smelter runs on hydropower, which is central to its low-carbon positioning. The expansion reflects a broader shift in the aluminum market. Buyers in automotive, packaging, construction, and electrical infrastructure are increasingly asking for verified carbon intensity, recycled content, and traceable supply. Producers without access to renewable electricity, efficient smelting technology, or product-level carbon documentation could face more pressure as demand for low-carbon metal grows. The article also notes developments in the US and Japan, including inert-anode aluminum used in data center cables and renewed interest in domestic smelting capacity.