Rio Tinto’s Q3 aluminium production marginally higher at 0.8 million tonnes on stable operations across smelter portfolio

Rio Tinto announced production results for the third quarter of 2020. Aluminium production stood at 0.8 million tonnes in Q3, 1% higher than the third quarter of 2019 on stable operations across its smelter portfolio. The output was up by 2% quarter-on-quarter.

“Our aluminium business continues to demonstrate operational stability and performance across the supply chain, despite the continued impact of COVID-19. The Becancour smelter in Quebec, Canada is operating close to full capacity and good progress has been made on the pot relining at the Kitimat smelter in British Columbia, Canada,” Rio Tinto said.

In the nine months period, aluminium production stood at 2.365 million tonnes, down 1% year-on-year.

The company increased the proportion of primary metal being produced as VAP to 45% of primary metal sold in the third quarter of 2020.

The ISAL smelter in Iceland operated at 85% of capacity, and the Tiwai Point smelter in New Zealand (NZAS) operated at around 90% of capacity. Rio’s fourth pot-line remaindc curtailed since 3 April 2020 due to COVID impacts.

“We continue to actively work on enhancing the competitiveness of our smelters, including discussing energy pricing with stakeholders, to ensure the sustainability of our smelters in Australia and Iceland. Discussions continue with the New Zealand Government and Meridian Energy on next steps relating to the wind-down of operations and eventual closure of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, announced in July 2020,” Rio Tinto said.