Rio Tinto (RIO) Starts Commissioning $1.5B AP60 Aluminum Smelter Expansion in Quebec

Rio Tinto (RIO) on May 30, 2026, began commissioning a $1.5 billion expansion at its AP60 aluminum smelter in Saguenay, Quebec, marking a major step in its drive to supply low-carbon metal to automakers and other industries. The project adds 96,000 metric tons of annual primary aluminum capacity using the proprietary AP60 technology, which produces aluminum with the industry’s lowest carbon footprint at commercial scale. The expansion lifts the smelter’s total capacity and complements Rio Tinto’s existing hydro-powered operations in the region. Commissioning follows several years of construction and comes as demand for green aluminum accelerates, driven by customers seeking to cut supply-chain emissions. Rio Tinto expects the new potlines to ramp up through late 2026 and contribute meaningfully to earnings once fully operational.