QUEBEC – Rio Tinto Alcan of Montreal says the first AP60 cell has arrived at the Arvida AP60 Technology Centre in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. The company believes the AP60 technology will become an aluminum industry benchmark due to its low operating cost, modest energy consumption and exceptional environmental performance.
"This is a momentous day for Rio Tinto Alcan. With the new generation of AP60 cells, metal production per cell will be 40% higher than in other existing smelters", declared COO Étienne Jacques. “First metal is expected at the plant in 2013.”
The AP60 cell was built in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean by CharlPol Saguenay, and the manufacturer plans to offer the technology to customers around the globe.
The first phase of the technology project will see the commissioning of 38 cells in 2013, with a yearly aluminium production capacity of 60,000 tonnes. Construction of the first phase, a US$1.1 billion investment, currently involves 900 employees. Rio Tinto Alcan says it invests one million dollars per day in the project. Production capacity could reach 460,000 tonnes in the upcoming phases, which are currently under study.
Learn about the AP60 technology at RioTintoAlcan.com.
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