Rio Tinto has begun commissioning a 1.5 billion dollar expansion at its Complexe Arvida facility in Quebec. The project introduces AP60 smelting technology, which significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter compared to older industry standards. The expansion increases annual production by 160,000 metric tonnes and leverages Quebec's hydropower to lower the carbon footprint of primary aluminum. This project serves as a bridge toward the ELYSIS technology, which aims to eliminate direct emissions from the smelting process entirely.
