Rio Tinto’s BC Works

I had the privilege to visit Rio Tinto’s BC Works Aluminium Smelter and Integrated Operations this week in Kitimat, in the Northwest corner of British Columbia, Canada. This incredible set of assets has the capacity to produce over 430,000 tonnes of the lowest carbon footprint aluminium each year. The aluminium is delivered to customers (in the aircraft, automotive, packaging and other industries), across North America (16 different US states in March alone) and further afield.

The Integrated Operations consist of the 900km2 Nechako Reservoir; the Kemano Powerhouse, where about 100 tonnes of water drop 16x the height of Niagara Falls every second resulting in the generation of about 830 megawatts, the 82km 300KV powerline and the Kitimat Smelter and port facilities.

In the early 1950s, the Aluminium Company of Canada (ALCAN), constructed ten dams to form the Nechako Reservoir; the power station, the 82km power transmission line and the smelter in an incredible feat of engineering – both the vision to see what was possible, and also the ability to complete construction just three years after starting in 1951. Power generation started in 1954 and 70 years later the turbines are still producing power and the smelter is still producing high quality cast aluminium.

Despite the engineering marvel, we must also recognize the significant damage this did to relations with the First Nations and the environment. The rapid development of the reservoir, power station and smelter had a significant detrimental and traumatic impact on First Nations whose territories are in the watershed for the reservoir and in Kitimat where the smelter is located. It was confronting to hear the story of how the company had moved indigenous people from their lands.

Today relations between the company and First Nations are much more respectful and reconciliation efforts are underway – including the 2010 Haisla Legacy Agreement and most recently the 2020 New Day agreement with the Cheslatta Carrier Nation.

I grew up on the banks of the Fraser River near Chilliwack, BC, about 100kms east of Vancouver in British Columbia. Throughout my youth I was not aware of the headwaters of the Fraser- which is over 700kms to the north -past Prince George and linked to the Nechako Reservoir.

It was fascinating to hear the breadth of activity and management roles that are now involved in managing the reservoir- ecologists studying fish (sturgeon, salmon, oolichan) to protect them and ensure their viability for the First Nations; meteorologists forecasting precipitation; hydrologists monitoring and forecasting water flows and temperatures; data scientists dealing with all the big data being collected on the aforementioned topics; and electrical engineers in the power station, and many others.

I was also fortunate to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new alumina conveyor with the Mayor of Kitimat, Phil Germuth and fellow Rio Tinto Colleagues Jérôme Pécresse, Sébastien Ross and Simon Pascoe. The new conveyor will improve the Kitimat operations and better protect the environment from spills and dust emissions.

The final part of the visit was to the reduction and cast house areas where I was able to meet some of Kitimat’s incredible employees- from 20-year veterans managing casting to those training on just their second day with the company.

Thanks to Jérôme Pécresse, Sébastien Ross, Simon Pascoe, Andrew Czornohalan, Brent Volk, Rachel Fournier, Frederic Bonneau and the whole BC Works team for a great visit.