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Rio Tinto has commissioned a new 1.1-kilometer alumina conveyor system at its BC Works smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia.

Part of a C$135 million investment, the infrastructure replaces equipment from the 1960s and has a 50-year operational lifespan. The system will transport roughly 800,000 tons of alumina annually for aluminum production.

The sealed pipe design improves environmental performance by reducing particulate emissions by 40% compared to previous methods. This facility contains raw materials, minimizes transfer points, and utilizes high-efficiency dust collectors. Recovered alumina is reintroduced into the smelting process to increase efficiency.

According to Simon Pascoe, General Manager BC Works at Rio Tinto, the project secures a critical component of the plant’s long-term reliability and performance.