Rio Tinto Alcan announced today at the TMS 2008 Conference in New
Orleans, USA that it has begun development on the next generation of its AP
Technology series. To be called AP-Xe, this new technology could
potentially lead to a step change in energy consumption of up to 20 per
cent along with a reduced environmental impact and improved full economic
cost.
“In a world increasingly concerned with climate change and the
environmental impact of industrial growth, this new technology promises a
potential breakthrough. The development of a greener, more energy efficient
production process, combined with aluminium’s well-established
attributes such as light weight and recyclability, makes for a winning
combination,” stated Jacynthe C�t�, president, Primary Metal, Rio
Tinto Alcan. “The AP-Xe will provide us with the technology we need
for future generations of greenfield and brownfield expansions,” she
added.
AP-Xe will be developed in phases, including a potentially workable
“drained cathode” that, taken together with other portfolio
technologies under development, could result in a lowering of unit energy
consumption by up to 20 per cent. This technology is designed to be
retrofitted to previous AP series cells. While the maximum energy
consumption savings are expected from greenfield applications, significant
savings could also be achieved in retrofitted cells.
Drained cathode cells are already under test on an industrial scale
and the immediate next phase will be the progressive start-up of a 10-cell
AP30 test section at Rio Tinto Alcan’s site in St-Jean-de-Maurienne,
France. If successful, an industrial scale-up of this aluminium technology
could begin within five years.
“While we continue to develop and improve our highly
successful and environmentally responsible AP30 aluminium technology
platform, and move forward with the recently announced pilot for AP50 in
Quebec, Canada, we are devoting a large portion of our R&D to the
development of future generations of our AP Technology,” continued
C�t�.
This new initiative will be supported by Rio Tinto Alcan’s
global technology and R&D network. “The goal of this AP-Xe
aluminium technology is to significantly reduce and eventually eliminate
emissions while achieving a step change in energy consumption,”
stated Don Macmillan, vice president, Technology and Operational
Excellence, Rio Tinto Alcan Primary Metal. “With the first metal from
the AP50 pilot plant project expected in Quebec in 2010, we are also
looking beyond this to the first AP-Xe proof-of-concept cells to be built
at our centre in St-Jean-de-Maurienne, where initial work is already
underway”, added Mr. Macmillan.
This AP-Xe development clearly manifests Rio Tinto Alcan’s intention
to maintain its leadership in aluminium technology. With approximately
seven and a half thousand AP Technology cells in operation around the world
today, representing some six million tons of installed capacity, AP
Technology is a global leader. Facilities reaching close to a million more
tons are under construction with, in addition, several million tons in
various stages of evaluation, either internal to Rio Tinto Alcan or with
potential partners or licensees.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining
group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE
listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian
Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral
resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and
uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc)
and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in
Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America,
Asia, Europe and southern Africa.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement includes “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included
in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding Rio
Tinto’s financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives
of management for future operations (including development plans and
objectives relating to Rio Tinto’s products and production
forecasts), are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rio Tinto, or
industry results, to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.
Such forward-looking statements are based
on numerous assumptions regarding Rio Tinto’s present and future
business strategies and the environment in which Rio Tinto will operate in
the future. Among the important factors that could cause Rio Tinto’s
actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual
production during any period, levels of demand and market prices, the
ability to produce and transport products profitably, the impact of foreign
currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, operational
problems, political uncertainty and economic conditions in relevant areas
of the world, the actions of competitors, activities by governmental
authorities such as changes in taxation or regulation and such other risk
factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC. Forward-looking
statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors
and undue reliance
should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Rio Tinto
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by
applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Takeover
Code”), the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules
of the Financial Services Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian
Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Rio
Tinto’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Nothing in this announcement should be
interpreted to mean that future earnings per share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio
Tinto Limited will necessarily match or exceed its historical published
earnings per share.
Subject to the requirements of the
Takeover Code, none of Rio Tinto, any of its officers or any person named
in this announcement with their consent or any person involved in the
preparation of this announcement makes any representation or warranty
(either express or implied) or gives any assurance that the implied values,
anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in
forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will be achieved.
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