Rio Tinto alumina conveyor for its BC Works smelter

Rio Tinto has commissioned an alumina conveyor at its BC Works smelter in Kitimat, Canada. The 1.1-kilometre system will transport approximately 800,000 tonnes of alumina per year, to ensure a steady supply of the raw material used in aluminium production.

Designed with a 50-year operational life, it replaces infrastructure dating back to the 1960s.

The new conveyor represents a step change in environmental performance for the management of raw materials at BC Works. By using a sealed pipe design, a 40% reduction in particulate emissions has been achieved through containing the transported alumina, reducing the number of transfer points and using dust collectors.

Maintenance and operations are simplified and the alumina recovered is reintroduced into the process, supporting more efficient material handling. To mark the occasion, Rio Tinto held a ceremony in Kitimat yesterday to inaugurate the new conveyor, attended by employees, project partners, and community leaders and elected officials.

Rio Tinto BC Works General Manager Simon Pascoe said: “This project is a key milestone for Kitimat and a strong signal of our confidence in the future of our operations.

“The new alumina conveyor strengthens a critical part of our smelter and is built to support reliable performance for decades to come.

“It is also a testament to the expertise, rigour and commitment of the teams who delivered this complex project safely and successfully.”

Rio Tinto has operated in Kitimat for more than 70 years.