Rio Tinto's $1.5B AP60 smelter expansion in Quebec starts commissioning, cuts emissions by 290,000 tonnes per year

Rio Tinto has begun commissioning its $1.5 billion AP60 smelter expansion at Complexe Arvida in Quebec, adding 160,000 metric tonnes of annual low-carbon aluminium capacity. The project uses AP60 technology, which produces one-sixth the greenhouse gas emissions of the industry average when powered by hydropower, and cuts fine particulate matter by up to 90%. Once all 96 pots are operational by end of 2026, the smelter will produce 220,000 tonnes annually, reducing emissions by about 290,000 tonnes per year compared to the older Arvida facility. The expansion supports 100 permanent jobs and generated over 1,500 construction roles, contributing $1 billion in economic benefits to Quebec. It also positions Rio Tinto to supply North American customers with low-carbon aluminium for transportation, construction, and consumer goods. The AP60 technology is a stepping stone toward the ELYSIS carbon-free aluminium electrolysis demonstration plant, which aims to eliminate direct emissions entirely. This project marks the first major primary aluminium facility built in the West in over a decade.