Low-Carbon Smelters
Rio Tinto Commissioned Its $1.5 Billion AP60 Smelter Expansion in Quebec
Adam Harrie — June 2, 2026
has commissioned its $1.5 billion smelter expansion at Complexe Jonquière in Quebec, deploying technology that produces roughly one-sixth of the global industry average of greenhouse gas emissions. All 96 new pots are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026, adding approximately 160,000 metric tons of annual production capacity.
The AP60 technology, developed by Rio Tinto's research teams and powered by Quebec hydropower, produces about 1.6 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of aluminum, compared with nearly 11 tonnes for the industry average. The expansion is also expected to reduce fine particulate matter emissions by up to 90%.
As North American demand for cleaner industrial materials grows, Rio Tinto shows how modernizing legacy smelting operations with low-carbon technology can deliver cleaner aluminum production at a commercial scale.
