Canada wants to be “the global green supplier of choice” for aluminum.
In this vein, the federal government has unveiled a $100 million investment with an eye toward a lower-emission metals sector.
Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly recently announced $100M for the ELYSISTM technology deployment project from Rio Tinto Alcan.
Headquartered in Montréal, RTA is a Canadian subsidiary of the Rio Tinto Group, a British-Australian multinational.
The project from RTA involves designing and building a demonstration plant for ELYSISTM aluminum electrolysis technology, a breakthrough carbon-free aluminum smelting process that eliminates direct greenhouse gas emissions.
Aluminum is a strategic sector for Canada, according to Joly, underpinning industries such as energy, automotive, and defence.
“Aluminum is a strategic industry that is critical to sectors like defence, aerospace, and automotive, supporting workers and communities across the country,” she stated.
By investing in this project, Joly remarked that “we are bringing world-leading, sustainable technology to markets here at home, strengthening our competitiveness abroad, and ensuring Canadian workers lead in the industries that will shape our future.”
The capital, which hails from Canada’s Strategic Response Fund, will help Rio Tinto advance and eventually commercialize its emissions-free technology.
The SRF supports large-scale, transformative projects that build strengthen supply chains and protect jobs in key sectors.
The support builds on a 2021 investment of $20-million investment in the ELYSIS Limited Partnership, which followed a $60-million contribution when the joint venture launched in 2018.