It reached an agreement with West Fraser Timber Co to buy its former wharf and said the acquisition would secure more wharfing space ahead of the Kitimat aluminium smelter modernisation.
It means it can accommodate more raw materials shipped in and out of Kitimat and extra aluminium production.The deal is expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
Last December, Rio said it would spend $300M on expanding the Kitimat smelter by 48% to 420kt/y.
The new site will be powered exclusively by hydroelectricity and use Rio’s AP Technology which it said would reduce emission intensity by more than 50%/y.