[Al] Rio Tinto Slow Down Its Expansion Project in Kitimat Aluminum Smelter

SHANGHAI, Jan. 12 (CBI China) -- Union officials said on 9th that mining company Rio Tintohas almost stopped its expansion project with the value of USD 2.5 billion Kitimat aluminum smelter in Columbia, Canada.  

    Rio Tinto announced to lay off 14,000 in December in order to cut expenditure, to sell assets in order to repay its debts, and hinted that Canada smelter expansion plans may be affected.  

    But union officials said that in the past month, the expansion project in Kitimat smelter was almost stagnant, the project contractor Bechtel Corp has evacuated most of the equipments from building site.  

    Rick Belmont from Canadian Auto Workers Association said, "the expansion project has been ceased due to sluggish prospects."  

    Belmont said that Rio Tinto has issued a statement that it would slow down local expenditures.  

    "Rio Tinto does not want to publicly acknowledge the expansion project suspension, but the signs show that clearly."  

    He said the smelter was still functioning.  

    The expansion project aims to improve the smelting production capacity by 40% to 400 kt/yr.

    (Edited by CBI China)