Rio Tinto report that the $1.1 billion AP60 expansion project in Quebec, announced June 2023, remains on schedule.
Construction activities during the quarter included commencement of installation of the silo for the gas treatment centre, busbar and the first floor slabs. Once completed, the project will add 96 new AP60 pots, increasing AP60 capacity by 160,000 tonnes of primary aluminium per year by the end of 2026.
This new capacity, in addition to 30,000 tonnes of new recycling capacity at Arvida expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2025, will offset the 170,000 tonnes of capacity lost through the gradual closure of pot rooms at the Arvida smelter from 2024.
End of Year Results Key Points
Aluminium production was 1% lower than the fourth quarter of 2023.
The Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) production continued to ramp-up following a previous call from Meridian Energy to reduce its electricity usage in August. Rio Tinto were compensated.
Rio Tinto report that energy supply and production at Kitimat was impacted by lower reservoir levels.