Rio Tinto takes first ELYSIS licence for US$285M Arvida demo plant: 10 cells, up to 2,500 t a year by 2027

ELYSIS/ELYSIS inert-anode smelting

Rio Tinto will build a demonstration plant next to its Arvida smelter in Québec with ten ELYSIS cells running at 100 kA, the first licence of the technology. The plant can make up to 2,500 t of commercial-grade aluminium a year with no direct greenhouse gases, with first production targeted for 2027. Meanwhile 450 kA prototype cells were being built at Alma.

• Investment: US$179M from Rio Tinto, US$106M from Investissement Québec
• 10 cells at 100 kA; up to 2,500 t/year
• First production targeted for 2027
• Alcoa has an option to buy the metal from the first four years