Fives, Aluminium Dunkerque, Trimet and Rio Tinto invest in carbon capture
Fives, Aluminium Dunkerque, Trimet and Rio Tinto are collaborating to develop a CO₂ capture solution. The project, titled C4Capture, has seen its consortium partners meet on 14th of January 2026 at the Aluminium Dunkerque site to start the pilot tests.
These trials, which will take place throughout the year in both Dunkerque and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, will mark a decisive step in confirming the technical and economic feasibility of the solution and guiding decisions for the industrial phases.
The consortium have the ambitious goal of contributing to a 50% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions (excluding energy) from Aluminium Dunkerque primary aluminium production by 2030.
The project faced several major challenges with the development of an innovative CO₂ pre-concentration system using mini hoods, aimed at achieving levels close to gas industry standards, as well as a testing system based on amine absorption technology adapted to the specific characteristics of gases produced by aluminium electrolysis pots.
This project is supported by the French Government as part of the France 2030 plan and was selected as a winner of the DEMIBaC call for projects, led by ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition.
This recognition confirms the relevance and ambition of the consortium’s approach to accelerating the decarbonisation of the aluminium industry. Aluminium plays a central role in light-weighting vehicles and its share in automotive applications is expected to rise by 13% between 2014 and 2050.
Primary aluminium production accounts for 2% of the global emissions of greenhouse gases, with an average of 16,1t CO₂ emitted per tonne produced.
The French producers are already well below this average (4t CO₂/t) but are now aiming for net zero emissions. Aluminium Dunkerque and Trimet at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne have combined their expertise to help develop this technology at their respective sites.
Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, brings expertise in the electrolysis process. Fives brings more than 60 years of experience in capturing and treating gas emissions from primary aluminium production.
