Canadian Federal Government grants $193M to modernise two aluminium smelters
2026-10-27 10:50:59 [Print]
Following Industry Minister Melanie Joly's announcement last week of a $193-million investment in the aluminium sector under the Strategic Response Fund, federal department Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) says the two targeted projects will help maintain about 6,000 full-time jobs in Quebec and across Canada, support 65 co-op student placements, and strengthen collaborations with Canadian research institutions, post-secondary institutions, and small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The first investment comprises $164 million for Rio Tinto's aluminium value chain in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean as part of an $818-million strategy to strengthen production capacity and decarbonise the diversified miner's regional operations.
Rio plans to construct a new billet casting centre at the Alma smelter to support the production of value-added aluminium products, and to modernise anode baking furnaces at the Grande-Baie smelter through major infrastructure upgrades and equipment refurbishment.
The second investment allocated by Joly is for Aluminerie Alouette. About $28 million will support the company's $135-million project to modernise and optimise its electrolysis operations.
Rio Tinto is the largest producer of primary aluminium in Canada, with its Canadian hub in Montreal. The company employs about 4,300 people in Quebec alone, with an estimated 14,000 employees across its aluminium and mining segments in Canada.
Aluminerie Alouette, in turn, is the largest aluminium smelter in North America, producing about 633,000 tonnes of primary aluminium every year.
Canada has nine primary aluminium smelters, the majority of which are in Quebec, with one other in British Columbia.
The first investment comprises $164 million for Rio Tinto's aluminium value chain in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean as part of an $818-million strategy to strengthen production capacity and decarbonise the diversified miner's regional operations.
Rio plans to construct a new billet casting centre at the Alma smelter to support the production of value-added aluminium products, and to modernise anode baking furnaces at the Grande-Baie smelter through major infrastructure upgrades and equipment refurbishment.
The second investment allocated by Joly is for Aluminerie Alouette. About $28 million will support the company's $135-million project to modernise and optimise its electrolysis operations.
Rio Tinto is the largest producer of primary aluminium in Canada, with its Canadian hub in Montreal. The company employs about 4,300 people in Quebec alone, with an estimated 14,000 employees across its aluminium and mining segments in Canada.
Aluminerie Alouette, in turn, is the largest aluminium smelter in North America, producing about 633,000 tonnes of primary aluminium every year.
Canada has nine primary aluminium smelters, the majority of which are in Quebec, with one other in British Columbia.
Aluminum Ingot 99.7%min IW Gongyi
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China primary aluminum producers' operating rate statistics by province by month
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