REG - Rio Tinto - Rio Tinto's Kitimat smelter begins production <Origin Href="QuoteRef">RIO.L</Origin>

Rio TintoAnnouncement

16/07/2015 14:28

RNS Number : 4452S
Rio Tinto PLC
07 July 2015
Rio Tinto's modernised Kitimat smelter begins production
7 July 2015
Rio Tinto is preparing its first shipments of metal from its world-class Kitimat aluminium smelter in Canada following an extensive modernisation of the facility.
The modernisation of the aluminium smelter will increase production capacity by 48 per cent and result in Kitimat becoming one of the lowest cost smelters in the world. Rio Tinto is now focused on safely ramping up towards its annual production rate of 420,000 tonnes.
The modernised smelter, which was delivered in line with the revised schedule and budget, is powered exclusively by Rio Tinto's wholly owned hydro power facility and uses the company's proprietary AP40 smelting technology which will effectively halve the smelter's overall emissions.
Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said "The modernisation of Kitimat will fundamentally transform its performance, moving it from the fourth quartile to the first decile of the industry cost curve. At full production, Kitimat will be one of the most efficient, greenest and lowest-cost smelters in the world.
"Positioned in British Columbia on the west coast of Canada, Kitimat is well placed to serve rapidly growing demand for aluminium in the Asia-Pacific region and to serve the North American market."
Contacts
media.enquiries@riotinto.com
www.riotinto.com 
 Follow @RioTinto on Twitter 
Media Relations, EMEA/Americas
Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600
David Outhwaite
T +44 20 7781 1623
M +44 7787 597 493
David Luff
T + 44 20 7781 1177
M + 44 7780 226 422

Investor Relations, EMEA/Americas
John Smelt
T +44 20 7781 1654
M +44 7879 642 675
David Ovington
T +44 20 7781 2051
M +44 7920 010 978
Grant Donald
T +44 20 7781 1262
M +44 7920 587 805
Media Relations, Australia/Asia
Ben Mitchell
T +61 3 9283 3620
M +61 419 850 212
Bruce Tobin
T +61 3 9283 3612
M +61 419 103 454
Matthew Klar
T +61 7 3625 4244
M +61 457 525 578
Investor Relations, Australia/Asia
Natalie Worley
T +61 3 9283 3063
M +61 409 210 462
Rachel Storrs
T +61 3 9283 3628
M +61 417 401 018
Galina Rogova
T +86 21 6103 3550 
M +86 152 2118 3942
Media Relations, Canada
Bryan Tucker
T +1 514 848 8151
M +1 514 825 8319

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James's Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England 
No. 719885
Rio Tinto Limited
120 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia 
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
  END
STRLFFIFDFIDIIE