Rio Tinto Alcan Closing Potlines at Quebec Smelter

Rio Tinto Alcan, a London-based global metals firm, is idling 288 of its 432 reduction cells at its Alma smelter in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. At full capacity the aluminum smelter can produce 438,000 metric tons of aluminum per year.

During the temporary shutdown, Rio Tinto Alcan says it will keep one-third of its production going while a labor disruption at the facility continues.

According to a company statement, Rio Tinto Alcan locked out employees after the aluminum workers’ union rejected the company’s final proposal for an agreement. Rio Tinto Alcan had been bargaining with the union since Oct. 4, 2011.