Rio Tinto enhancing low-carbon aluminium production by installing carbon-free electrolysis tanks with ELYSIS technology

This move will allow the continued development of the new ELYSIS ^MD technology while enabling Rio Tinto to hire expertise for installing and operating the technology. The same technology successfully demonstrated at the ELYSIS Industrial Research and Development Center in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean will be implemented at the plant, offering Rio Tinto a learning opportunity about the full industrialization of ELYSIS ^MD technology. 

Rio Tinto has acquired the authorisation of designing, engineering, and building a demonstration plant equipped with ten tanks operating at 100 kiloamperes. As per the report, Rio Tinto and the government of Quebec will jointly own the plant, investing US$179 million (C$235 million) and US$106 million (C$140 million), respectively. The total investment required for this plant is US$285 million (C$375 million).

Located at the adjacent of the existing Arvida aluminium complex, the plant will operate with a production capacity of up to 2,500 tonnes of commercial-grade aluminium per year without generating direct greenhouse gas emissions. The strategic location next to Arvida will allow the plant accessing to the existing alumina stockpiles and casting centre. The plant’s operation is scheduled to start in 2027.