Rio Tinto Invests $1.5 Billion to Expand Quebec AP60 Smelter

According to reports on October 9, Rio Tinto’s $1.5 billion expansion of the AP60 smelter in Quebec will add approximately 160,000 tonnes per year of primary aluminum capacity by the time it becomes fully operational in late 2026. This project will raise the total AP60 output at Complexe Arvida to around 220,000 tonnes while supplying low-carbon aluminum to customers in the transportation, construction, electrical, and consumer goods sectors. Compared to older Arvida technology, the expansion is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 290,000 tonnes annually, further strengthening the case for energy-efficient, hydropower-based primary aluminum production.