Rio Tinto to Add New Remelt Furnace at Quebec Aluminum Plant

The new remelt furnace is expected to become operational by the end of 2021.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Global mining and metals firm Rio Tinto announced its decision to add a remelt furnace at its Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec aluminum production plant. The upgrade will be carried out at an investment of approximately $6.6 million.

The company noted that the new remelt furnace will be added at the plant’s casting center. The furnace will help to recycle aluminum cuttings from the company’s own operations as well as scrap obtained from its rolling mill customers, who mainly serve automotive and packaging sector. The investment will lead to significant expansion of recycling capacity at the site, it added.

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The new remelt furnace is expected to become operational by the end of 2021. It will have an initial capacity of nearly 22,000 metric tons per year, which will be increased at a later stage of expansion.

Tolga Egrilmezer, Rio Tinto vice president of sales and marketing commented that the new furnace will allow the company to provide a recycling service to its customers for scrap. The innovative step will add to its responsible production in Quebec. The investment demonstrates Rio Tinto’s focus on enhancing recycling solutions, thereby supporting the transition to a circular economy, he added.