Alcan To Construct Smelter In Quebec

Alcan Aluminium Ltd., the world’s third-largest aluminum producer, said Thursday it will build a large new smelter in Quebec that will cost $1.6 billion.

The smelter, with an annual capacity of 375,000 tons, will be built in Alma, about 120 miles north of Quebec City. Alcan is already active in the region, operating smelters, hydroelectric facilities, a port and a railway.

Construction will take about three years and will employ up to 2,000.

The smelter will replace a much smaller one in the region, with a capacity of 75,000 tons.

Once in full production, the Alma smelter will employ 650, of which 425 will transfer from the smelter to be closed.