(Montreal) Despite the technical challenges related to the marketing of green aluminum production in Quebec, the Minister of the Economy and the Unifor union do not seem worried about the development of this sector.
The chief executive of Rio Tinto’s aluminum division, Ivan Vella, said Quebec smelters were too old to implement new green aluminum production technology, according to remarks made in November, which resurfaced in The Press1.
Mr. Vella’s statements did not deter the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Pierre Fitzgibbon, a big supporter of technology. He says he spoke to the leader after the article was published and sees no reason to worry.
“It’s a technology that will be very promising for Quebec,” he replies in a scrum. They have to look at how they are going to execute it. Everything I’ve said in the past still holds true. »
At Unifor, which represents workers at Rio Tinto, the statements don’t seem to worry the union either. The Quebec director of Unifor, Daniel Cloutier, says he met with the company’s senior management in December, after Mr. Vella’s remarks.
“The discussions we had, without saying to each other: ‘Don’t be afraid. The investment will be made in Saguenay and everyone will be happy”. They told us a lot about the competitive and comparative advantages of the region and the factories. They also spoke to us about the interest in implementing the new technology in Quebec. »
The leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ), Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, believes that taxpayers are entitled to expect that Elysis technology will be implemented in Quebec because of the significant financial support from the State and advantageous electricity rates from which the company benefits.
“I expect the government and Minister Fitzgibbon to be firm on the legitimate expectations of citizens, pleads the leader of the PQ. The economic nationalism claimed by the CAQ cannot tolerate that a multinational still raises scarecrows of this kind. »
Too old ?
In November, Mr. Vella explained to investors the technical challenges that the company will have to overcome to implement Elysis technology in Quebec.
The Elysis industrial research and development centre, a company jointly owned by Alcoa and Rio Tinto, is working on the development of carbon-free aluminium.
Mr. Vella reiterated that he sees the development of new technology as an avenue for growth. Finding a smelter for commercial production would be no small feat, however, according to a recording of the event viewed by The Canadian Press. “I think it’s going to be tough,” he said. There are several issues. One of the most important is that foundries are aging. »
He pointed out that the Alma plant is “one of the best of our facilities,” but is over 20 years old. “Making a large investment in these foundries, in terms of renovation, raises some questions about the expected profitability. »
Labor is also an issue. “The other challenge is, ‘what do you do with the employees while you’re closing the plant? [pour la rénover] ?” It’s hard to plan. We’re not saying we can’t do it. »
Rio Tinto had not reacted to the words of its leader at the end of the afternoon.