Rio Tinto commissions new alumina conveyor at BC smelter

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has commissioned a new alumina conveyor at its BC Works smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia, as part of a C$135 million investment to improve its operations.

The 1.1-kilometre system is expected to transport 800,000 tonnes of alumina per year, ensuring a steady supply of the raw material used in aluminum production, the Australian miner stated in a press release on Thursday.

Designed with a 50-year operational life, it replaces infrastructure dating back to the 1960s.

Rio Tinto has operated in Kitimat for more than 70 years, and to this day, it continues to invest in the long-term future of its BC-based aluminum operations.

The new conveyor also represents a step change in environmental performance for the management of raw materials at BC Works, Rio said. By using a sealed pipe design, a 40% reduction in particulate emissions can be achieved through containing the transported alumina, reducing the number of transfer points and using high-efficiency dust collectors.

Maintenance and operations are simplified, and the alumina recovered is reintroduced into the process, supporting more efficient material handling, it added.

“This project is a key milestone for Kitimat and a strong signal of our confidence in the future of our operations,” Rio Tinto BC Works general manager Simon Pascoe stated.

“The new alumina conveyor strengthens a critical part of our smelter and is built to support reliable performance for decades to come. It is also a testament to the expertise, rigour and commitment of the teams who delivered this complex project safely and successfully.”