December 03, 2008

Rio Tinto Alcan accelerates study of Alma smelter expansion project

Mr Tom Albanese, chief executive of Rio Tinto while speaking at a Canadian Club luncheon at Montreal in Quebec announced that Rio Tinto Alcan will proceed, on an accelerated basis, with a pre feasibility study for an expansion of the Alma smelter in the Saguenay Lac Saint Jean region of Quebec.

The potential expansion would add approximately 170,000 tonnes to the current Alma smelter production of slightly more than 400,000 tonnes.

Mr Albanese said that "I am very pleased to announce another positive step along the way in our ten year, USD 2 billion Quebec investment program. Rio Tinto intends to follow Alcan's lead as a champion of Canada and Quebec and build upon its positive economic and social legacy by continuing with investments that will create value and opportunity."

Mr Jacynthe Côté president & CEO of the Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal business unit said that "Our objective is to complete the various feasibility studies on an accelerated basis. This is another important part of our investment strategy and a further demonstration of our ongoing commitment to the development of the Saguenay Lac Saint Jean region."

Alma is one of Rio Tinto Alcan's most modern and efficient smelters. The expanded smelter would have a capacity of approximately 570,000 tonnes and be one of the largest in North America. The study will evaluate the cost, timetable and conditions for completing the expansion, which is part of Rio Tinto Alcan's Quebec investment program announced in December 2006.