Rio Tinto in Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec

Last updated: 12 June 2023

We are proud of our long-standing partnership with the community of Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean in Quebec.

Our Rio Tinto family

Employees at the Complexe Jonquière in Saguenay — Lac-Saint-Jean include fourth- and even fifth-generation members of our Rio Tinto family. We actively engage with local communities and are committed to our continued partnership and providing quality, well-paying jobs for generations yet to come.

We are further deepening our connection to this vibrant community with the construction of our new CAN$1.4 billion aluminium smelter. This next phase will see the addition of up to 1,000 construction jobs at peak, and once the plant is operational, will maintain approximately 100 permanent roles added to the over 4,000 employees already working with us in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean.

Our community engagement

Part of our mission in Quebec is not only to be a good neighbor, but to proactively help improve the communities in which we are privileged to work and live.

Lac-Saint-Jean environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of this engagement. The lake is a vital asset for local communities, and a favourite spot for fishing, canoeing and sightseeing. It is also a source of hydropower for the surrounding communities and our smelters.

Because of rising water levels combined with wind and waves, erosion has been problematic, especially for the 5,000 residents who live along the shoreline. For more than 30 years, we have been working to mitigate erosion, through our Shoreline Stabilization Programme. The programme includes a Sustainable Management Council where stakeholders collaborate on addressing environmental, social and technical issues.

We are also committed to fostering collaborative relationships with the Mashteuiatsh community. We were honored to sign a mutual respect agreement with the Mashteuiatsh council, also known as the Pekuakamiulnuatsh Takuhikan, representing the Innu Nation.

We look forward to further engagement with the First Nations and wider communities as we enter this exciting new chapter of Rio Tinto in Quebec.

Our shared future

Our expanded state-of-the-art aluminium smelter will help Quebec enhance its position as a world leader in responsible aluminium production, a key part of the transition to a low-carbon economy.

We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Quebec government and the citizens of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean and surrounding communities to provide good jobs, industrial capacity and a responsible low-carbon offering for our customers.

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