Premier François Legault Directs $280 Million for Zero-Carbon Elysis Aluminum Smelting in Saguenay

ALMA, Que. — Quebec Premier François Legault and Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy Pierre Fitzgibbon announced on Monday a $280 million provincial financial participation through Investissement Québec to construct commercial-scale industrial smelting cells deploying breakthrough Elysis inert anode technology at Rio Tinto's Alma smelter in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

The revolutionary metallurgical technology, developed in a joint venture between Alcoa, Rio Tinto, and the governments of Quebec and Canada, eliminates all direct greenhouse gas emissions from traditional aluminum electrolysis, replacing carbon anodes that produce carbon dioxide with proprietary ceramic inert anodes that emit pure, breathable oxygen during smelting.

Leading the Global Revolution in Low-Carbon Heavy Metallurgy Global automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics brands (including Apple and BMW) are increasingly requiring certified zero-carbon aluminum for vehicle frames, aircraft wings, and electronics enclosures to meet international supply chain carbon border adjustments.

"Quebec produces the cleanest aluminum in the world thanks to our renewable hydroelectricity, and today we are leading the next technological revolution in heavy industry," Premier François Legault said in Alma. "Elysis is a Quebec-born scientific breakthrough that changes metallurgy forever by producing pure oxygen instead of greenhouse gases. This $280 million investment builds the first commercial-scale zero-emission aluminum smelting cells right here in Saguenay, creating hundreds of high-wage industrial jobs and solidifying Quebec as the green aluminum capital of the planet."

Commercial Smelting Specifications The $280 million commercial demonstration finances:

• Commercial 450-kA Inert Anode Smelting Pots: Constructing a commercial demonstration potline capable of producing 30,000 metric tons of zero-carbon aluminum annually.
• 100% Hydro-Powered Operation: Integrating continuous zero-emission power from Hydro-Québec's regional hydroelectric generating stations.
• Saguenay Metallurgy Research & Training Institute: $20 million partnering with Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) to train 400 specialized clean metallurgy engineers.

Industrial union leaders, regional mayors, and clean technology federations commended the provincial investment, highlighting that domestic zero-carbon smelting protects Quebec aluminum exports from international carbon tariffs.