Rio Tinto Quietly Shifts Global Metals Game with $2B Smelter Launch

In a move signaling deeper strategic roots in Canada’s aluminum market, Rio Tinto has unveiled a $2 billion smelter upgrade—while CEO Jakob Stausholm silences speculation of internal discord.

Global mining giant Rio Tinto just dropped $2 billion into a new aluminum plant in Quebec’s Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region—its biggest move yet toward cleaner, greener production. This new setup shows Rio’s serious about going low-carbon and adding more tech to how it runs things. Part of its AP60 platform, the plant can pump out 60,000 tons of aluminum a year while cutting emissions by up to 40% compared to old-school smelters.

CEO Jakob Stausholm didn’t dodge the talk—he shut down the exec drama rumors straight-up, saying the leadership team’s locked in and laser-focused. No boardroom drama—just a solid plan and smart moves. With everyone chasing cleaner metals for things like electric cars, planes, and big construction projects, Rio’s new plant hits the mark: it pumps out a lot of aluminum and cuts way back on emissions. But this isn’t just about making more metal—it’s Rio staking its claim in the global race for the materials the future runs on.

This move hits way deeper than just Rio’s bottom line. With ESG rules getting tighter and buyers wanting to track where every ounce of metal comes from, this new plant raises the bar big time. It runs cleaner, faster, and smarter. Plus, teaming up with Hydro-Québec shows how renewables and modern mining can actually work hand in hand. If you’re in the business of metals, energy, or supply chains, Rio’s playbook is one to watch—the AP60 site might quietly change the game for how raw materials are made and moved around the world.