Aluminum Scrap Markets
June 1, 2026
Rio Tinto begins commissioning AP60 expansion at Arvida
Written by Nicholas Bell
Rio Tinto has started commissioning its AP60 expansion at the Arvida smelter in Québec, bringing a major primary aluminum modernization project into its startup phase.
The company said commissioning began in March and is expected to continue through the end of 2026 as all 96 new AP60 pots enter operation.
Once fully ramped up, the project will increase AP60 production capacity by 160,000 metric tons per year, bringing total AP60 capacity at the site to 220,000 metric tons annually.
The project is also tied to the development of a 30,000-metric-ton-per-year recycling facility at the site, which is scheduled to open in Q4 2026.
Rio Tinto reported project costs of $1.5 billion in its first-quarter 2026 production results, up from $1.3 billion reported in its fourth-quarter 2025 production results, primarily because of construction productivity challenges.
Rio Tinto said the AP60 expansion and recycling facility will offset roughly 170,000 metric tons of capacity losses associated with the closure of older Arvida potrooms.
Lower-emissions technology
The AP60 technology produces about 1.6 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions per metric ton of aluminum.
The company said that compares with about 3.2 metric tons of CO2 emissions per metric ton of aluminum with the older Arvida pot technology and 10.9 metric tons of CO2 emissions per metric ton of aluminum for the industry average.
The expanded smelter will reduce carbon emissions by about 290,000 metric tons annually compared with the older Arvida configuration and could reduce fine particulate matter emissions by as much as 90%.
