Citizens’ associations in Saguenay want the old Arvida plant, the worst aluminum smelter in the country, to close its doors by 2026. This is all the more necessary in light of the revelations of our Bureau of Investigation, they believe.
“This is another example that Rio Tinto is making fun of us and the protection of health and the environment,” reacted Alix Ruhlmann, spokesperson for the Fjord Coalition.
The Journal revealed on Thursday that the Ministry of the Environment has opened a criminal investigation into particulate and fluoride overruns at the aluminum smelter in April 2022. We also discovered that it has not reduced its emissions by 10%, as she affirms it.
The government must consider its elements when it will have to decide on the future of the plant by 2026, believes the spokesperson for the Coalition of citizens concerned by the environment in Arvida, Mélanie Minier.
Our Bureau of Investigation has, in fact, calculated that the reductions in fine particles (PM 2.5) were rather around 4 to 7.8%, depending on the reference years. The company later acknowledged that “after verification, the reduction is 7.83%.”
“Already 10%, we didn’t find that minimal,” laments Ms. Minier.
Closure postponed for 10 years
Under an agreement with the government in 2006, Alcan (then Rio Tinto) had until 2015 to close its old factory and modernize its facilities. It has since obtained, three times, a postponement of the closure and the tightening of standards, despite public health concerns.
“Various options are being considered, but we plan to start the closure process from 2024,” Rio Tinto spokesperson Malika Cherry told the Journal.
However, a request for an extension beyond December 31, 2025 has nevertheless been submitted to the ministry and the latter ministry the question, as reported by Radio-Canada.
“We are completely outraged that they are asking for an extension. It’s as if they hadn’t seen it coming, but they’ve known it since 2006, that’s what is revolting,” said Ms. Minier.
As for the ongoing criminal investigation, Ms. Minier hopes that it will lead to significant fines.
Remember that in 2017, Rio Tinto had to pay $10,000 in penalties for not respecting the monthly particle limits.
“We see that the [amendes et sanctions] are not so dissuasive, so what we want is that their permit to pollute is not renewed, insists Ms. Ruhlmann. At the last renewal, they said: ‘extend our pollution permit and we will improve’. But they are not improving so we have to get tough.
For its part, the regional public health directorate of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean says it is “aware of the concerns” of the population with regard to air quality in connection with industrial activity in Arvida. She is working on an update of the air quality portrait and says she is monitoring the situation closely.
Reactions from ministers
In Quebec City, Environment Minister Benoit Charrette, when asked about a possible tightening of standards, as was the case for the Horne smelter recently, declared: “Rouyn-Noranda is a good example of how proactive we have been in the file , we do not intend to be less so for the other factories in Quebec”.
Economy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, for his part, added that the issue of standards should be part of a possible renewal plan. “They’re going to do the best they can in the meantime,” he said.
-with the collaboration of Patrick Bellerose
In connection with the investigation into exceedances of particulate and fluoride standards in April 2022, Rio Tinto explained that the dust emissions from two out of six potrooms at the Arvida plant were indeed higher than the monthly standard for the Minister of the Environment.
“The teams immediately mobilized to put in place a plan and corrective actions to control and monitor the situation, in order to prevent it from happening again. As we usually do, we quickly notified the ministry of the situation and informed its representatives of the actions taken,” explained spokesperson Ms. Cherry.