The Canadian aluminium smelter Alouette, 20 percent owned by Hydro, and the Québec government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire energy for a potential expansion project.
CANADA: The Alouette aluminium plant in Sept-Îles, Quebéc.
Alouette has announced the signing of an MoU for long-term energy supplies, which will support the smelter's technological growth and development projects.
Under terms of the agreement, Québec government is authorizing Hydro-Québec to provide Aluminerie Alouette with 500 MW of energy, which is required for the expansion project known as Phase III.
The expansion would increase Alouette's production from 575,000 to about 930,000 metric tons of primary aluminum per year.
Alouette's Phase III project is currently being developed and will be based on research and development programs, equipment improvement and process optimization targeting the implementation of a new energy-efficient potline.
The MoU signed today will be instrumental in realizing the potential expansion of Alouette. The Phase III project is pending engineering and feasibility studies, which are not yet completed.
About Aluminerie Alouette
Founded in 1992, Aluminerie Alouette is an independent aluminum producer. With 1,000 employees and an annual production capacity of 575,000 metric tons of primary aluminium, it is the leading employer of Sept-?les and the biggest aluminum smelter in North America. Alouette is a world leader in energy efficiency and is also in the forefront in technology.