The two modernisation projects will cost around $US617 million. Both constructing a new baking furnace and replacing the overhead crane and crane runway will take about three years.
According to Rio Tinto, the new baking furnace will reduce the smelter’s greenhouse emissions from the carbon bake by around 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The open bake furnace will replace two existing carbon bake furnaces.
The crane upgrade will replace runways, install modernised cell tending assemblies and introduce a new alumina distribution system. The new system will supply each cell independently of crane operations.
According to the company, the crane optimisation project will improve the safety of the work environment.