ENVIRONMENT: Rio Tinto pledges $107 million for improvements at Sorel-Tracy

QUEBEC – Rio Tinto, Fer et Titane (RTFT), a subsidiary of British integrated miner Rio Tinto plc, has announced plans to spend $107 million on two major environmental improvement projects at its metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy.

The first project, to begin in 2013 and be completed in 2014, is a new emissions treatment plant. Emissions from the rotary furnace in the ore pre-treatment plant will be ducted to a central processing system. Sulphur dioxide emissions will be reduced by more than 60%. The SO₂ emissions project will cost $85 million.

The second project involves the installation of new dust collecting systems to reduced particulate emissions. This project will cost $20 million and be completed in the summer of 2013, in time to comply with Quebec's new environmental regulations.

These two projects are part of the five-year, $800-million program announced in May 2011. Since then, RTFT says the work it has started represents an investment of more than $200 million and 81 new jobs.

RTFT produces high quality titanium dioxide feedstock, cast iron, steel and metal powders at its mine and facilities in Quebec. Learn more in French at RTFT.com