Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
We produce materials essential for human progress
We are the largest mining and metals company operating in Canada today
We work hard to leave a lasting, positive legacy everywhere we work
Get the latest news, stories and updates
Discover more about life at Rio Tinto
Our BC Works operation, in Kitimat, British Columbia, comprises a modernised aluminium smelter and the Kemano Powerhouse, a hydropower facility supplied by the Nechako reservoir. From Canada’s west coast, we transport our products by ship and rail, primarily to customers in Japan, South Korea and the United States.
With a total contribution of more than C$660 million to the British Columbia economy in 2025, we are one of the largest single contributors to the province’s manufacturing GDP.
When BC Works opened in 1954, it was the world’s largest smelter powered by hydroelectricity. Today, following a C$6 billion investment to modernise the smelter, the aluminium we produce has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. The upgrade, completed in 2016, included installing our state-of-the-art AP Technology smelting equipment, making BC Works not only more efficient and commercially competitive but also cleaner: we now produce twice as much aluminium, with half the greenhouse gas emissions.
Benefits of the modernised smelter, one of the largest private construction projects in British Columbia’s history, include:
Our Kemano Powerhouse receives water from the Nechako Reservoir via a single tunnel that is more than 70 years old, and still today is the largest high-pressure hydropower generation facility in North America. In 2017, we announced a C$600 million investment in a second tunnel at Kemano to ensure the power to our smelter remains secure and sustainable.
A tunnel boring machine, named tl’ughus by the Cheslatta Carrier Nation after a legendary giant monster snake, cut 7.6 kilometres through the rock in remote mountains over 30 months, completing the route for a 16 kilometre tunnel that was started in the early 1990s. The project was completed in May 2022.
In 1999, BC Works became the first industrial facility in British Columbia to obtain what is called a “multi-media environmental permit” from the provincial government. This permit sets standards of operation and requires annual reporting on a variety of performance measures: air emissions, ambient air quality, effluents, groundwater, vegetation and waste management. The yearly performance of the smelter is published in our operation’s Annual Environmental Report.
We are focused on minimising the impacts of our operation on the environment. Our Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program, which is based on an Adaptive Management Approach that commits us to extensive monitoring, regular reporting and taking measurable actions, as needed, monitors and reports on sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from our smelter.) emissions from our smelter.
We also host a consultation community group, the Kitimat Public Advisory Committee (KPAC), which meets on a semi-annual basis and reviews BC Works’ environmental performance and business operations.
Since 2019, we have partnered with the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) to establish the NSERC/Rio Tinto Senior Industrial Research Chairs in Climate Change and Water Security, and Climate Change and Fish Ecology. This project has advanced research programs in the region and provided first-hand learning opportunities for students. It includes water temperature monitoring in regulated and unregulated sites across the Nechako Watershed and a comprehensive weather station in place to monitor storms, and record the temperature, humidity, snow depth, wind speed and direction, solar radiation and barometric pressure. Effects on fish health, migration patterns, and reproduction are examined in relation to changing conditions in the watershed.
Monthly report
In 2026, Rio Tinto BC Works will be conducting a scientific review of the Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program third phase. Launched in 2014, the SO2 EEM Program is designed to measure the amount of SO2 being produced by the smelter, monitor potential effects on human health, soil, vegetation, and lakes, and applies adaptive management to prevent harm to the environment. The comprehensive review will evaluate the compliance KPIs, evaluate the monitoring data, assess the monitoring program’s effectiveness, and provide recommendations for monitoring programs next phase.
Questions or concerns about the SO2 EEM Program or the consultation? Reach out to us at BCWorksInfo@riotinto.com.
KITIMAT, Canada – Rio Tinto has commissioned a new alumina conveyor at its BC Works smelter in Kitimat, marking a key milestone in its CAN$135 million investment to strengthen the reliability of its operations. The 1.1-kilometre system will transport approximately 800,000 tonnes of alumina per year, ensuring a steady supply of the raw material used in aluminium production. Designed with a 5
PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The University of Northern British Columbia and Rio Tinto have expanded a partnership to advance vital research into the impacts of climate change on water security and freshwater fishes in the Nechako Watershed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115183770/en/ The $
Kitimat, CANADA – Rio Tinto is marking the 70th anniversary of its BC Works operation, celebrating seven decades of significant contributions to the aluminium industry and the Kitimat community. As the only aluminium smelter operator in British Columbia, Rio Tinto has established itself as a cornerstone of the local economy and a leader in responsible high-quality aluminium production.Rio Tinto BC
PO Box 1800 1 Smeltersite Road Kitimat BC V8C 2H2, Canada
E: BC Works Enquiries T: +1 250 639 8383
PO Box 936 Unit 3B, 321 Highway 16 Evergreen Mall BC VOJ 1E0 Canada
E: Nechako Reservoir Enquiries T: +1 250 692 9618
PO Box 25 158 Stewart Street Vanderhoof BC V0J 3A0, Canada
T: +1 250 639 8601 T: +1 250 639 8446
+1 250 639 8273