Rio Tinto is to invest C$160 million in refurbishment work at the Isle-Maligne hydroelectric power station in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean to ensure the continued production of low-carbon aluminium in Quebec, with the majority of the work to be carried out by local businesses.
Saguenay equipment manufacturer Canmec is to play a leading role in the completion of the project, which consists of replacing the valves used to cut off the water flow in the power plant if required. Located in Alma, the Isle-Maligne power station was commissioned 94 years ago and is the oldest in Rio Tinto's hydroelectric network.
The work will be carried out over a period of five years from the second quarter of 2021.