Vaudreuil Plant improves safety and efficiency

Rio Tinto is improving employee safety and operational efficiency by upgrading facilities at its Vaudreuil Plant, an alumina refinery in Saguenay, Quebec.

The safety and efficiency investment of USD51m includes three new energy-efficient buildings currently under construction as well as existing facilities, which will be rearranged to provide around 400 employees with a centralized control room, offices and common areas once complete in early 2021. The upgrades will move employees away from industrial processes and bring six separate control rooms into one centralized location with advanced reporting technologies, improving the efficiency of operations, communications and decision-making.

Rio Tinto executive director Quebec Operations, Sébastien Ross, said: “This investment will provide our employees with an even safer and more modern work environment, as we optimize our operations at the Vaudreuil Plant. We’re pleased to be partnering with union representatives and contractors to ensure this project not only delivers a more efficient operation, but also generates significant economic benefits in the region.”

More than half of the investment has already been awarded to companies in the Saguenay – Lac-St-Jean region such as Proco, with more contracts to be granted in the coming months.  Proco general manager Jean-Denis Toupin said: “We are extremely proud to contribute to this innovative project that demonstrates Rio Tinto's commitment to the safety of workers and its operations in Saguenay – Lac-St-Jean. We are drawing on a network of partners showing the world class services on offer here in the region, to help build a strong future for Vaudreuil.”