Rio Tinto opens the doors of its modernised smelter to the Kitimat community

KITIMAT, BC, Sept. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Rio Tinto welcomes employees and community members of all ages to visit its modernised Kitimat smelter. Throughout the day, interactive exhibits, family activities and bus tours of the new state-of-the-art facilities are planned.

Gareth Manderson, general manager of Rio Tinto BC Works says: "This smelter represents the next chapter built on our 60 year legacy as a leading aluminium producer here in Kitimat. The modernisation project was the largest private infrastructure investment in BC's history. It has doubled the production of the smelter while reducing overall emissions by nearly 50 percent. Our leading-edge facility is now one of the greenest in the world and produces aluminium with one of the lowest-carbon footprints supporting the rapidly expanding Pacific Rim and North American markets."

Mr. Manderson continues: "It is an honour to share this achievement with the people who made it possible – our employees, their families, our local communities, suppliers, contractors and our customers. We are now ready to evolve on the foundation we have created and build a successful and competitive business that will support our employees and communities for years to come."

The modernised smelter clearly illustrates Rio Tinto's commitment to projects that increases our competitiveness through productivity and leverages our unparalleled hydro power position, further reducing our environmental footprint.

Kitimat Modernisation Project

Rio Tinto has been present in British Columbia for over 60 years. Kitimat works is one of the largest manufacturing complexes in the province of BC and is a significant contributor to economic and community sustainability in northern BC. Our aluminium smelter is located alongside a deep-water port immediately south of the community of Kitimat. It has an annual nameplate production capacity of 420,000 tonnes of value-added primary aluminum products.

SOURCE RIO TINTO GROUP