HSP mine, RTIT Quebec Operations

Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Quebec Operations

Québec

Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) Quebec Operations have been processing ore from northern Quebec for more than 70 years. They are a world leading producer of high-grade titanium dioxide feedstock, a product commonly used as a pigment to whiten a range of products such as paint, textiles and paper. They also produce iron and steel used in specialised applications such as the automotive industry and wind turbines.

  • HSP mine, RTIT Quebec Operations

    Mine at Lac Tio

    Our mine at Lac Tio is located 43 kilometres north-east of Havre-Saint-Pierre on the largest solid ilmenite deposit in the world.
  • Metallurgical Complex, RTIT Quebec Operations

    Metallurgical Complex, RTIT Quebec Operations

    The RTIT Quebec Operations Metallurgical Complex is composed of 6 interrelated plants and represents 100 football fields.

Innovation at RTIT Quebec Operations

Throughout our history, we have continually improved the processes at RTIT Quebec Operations. After first pioneering a new technique for processing ilmenite, we took on the challenge of diversifying our product line as RTIT Quebec Operations targeted the metal powder and steel markets.

Several technological breakthroughs then sharpened the competitive edge of our products. In the last decade, we have focused on developing, marketing and fine-tuning the UGS process, which produces slag with a very high titanium dioxide content. By developing UGS™, an enriched titanium slag sold to pigment producers that use the chloride process, and RTCS (Rio Tinto chloride slag) a slag made from Madagascar mineral sand, RTIT Quebec Operations have secured a strong position in a flourishing market.

RTIT Quebec Operations
Inside the UGS Plant. UGS™ is an enriched titanium slag containing 94.5% titanium dioxide, sold to pigment producers that use the chloride process.

Research & development

RTIT Quebec Operations were founded on research and development and they continue to drive our growth strategy. The founding of our Technology and Critical Minerals Centre in 1967 underlined the strategic role that research and development plays and their mission is to develop and improve processes and build the value of our products to expand our markets. Our team of specialists in a wide range of fields of science and technology is a key strength for our business. Today, RTIT Quebec Operations are among the 100 most active Canadian companies in research and development.

Research has an impact on all areas of activity at our RTIT Quebec Operations, from mining to the finished products. Strong links between research staff and operations personnel guarantee the continual improvement of our processes. Whether at the laboratory, the pilot plant or the production facilities, all research is conducted on site. The Technology and Critical Minerals Centre features state-of-the-art equipment and highly specialised instruments, such as inductively coupled plasma spectrometers, X-ray spectrometers, atomic absorption units, image analysers and scanning electron microscopes.

Latest RTIT Quebec Operations releases

03 April 2023

Rio Tinto starts BlueSmelting demonstration plant to validate decarbonisation technology

SOREL-TRACY, Canada - Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) has started its BlueSmeltingTM demonstration plant at its metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy as part of the process to validate the BlueSmeltingTM technology, which aims to decarbonise RTIT's Quebec Operations.  The BlueSmeltingTM project involves an ilmenite reduction technology that could generate 95% less greenhouse gas emissi

12 October 2022

Rio Tinto partners with Government of Canada to decarbonise RTFT and boost critical minerals processing

MONTREAL, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto is partnering with the Government of Canada to invest up to C$737 million (US$537 million) over the next eight years to decarbonise its Rio Tinto Fer et Titane (RTFT) operations in Sorel-Tracy, Québec, and to position the business as a centre of excellence for critical minerals processing. The partnership will support technological innovations tha

29 September 2022

Rio Tinto starts demonstration plant for lithium concentration in Quebec

SOREL-TRACY, Quebec--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto has started producing spodumene concentrate, a mineral used in the production of lithium for batteries, at a demonstration plant in its Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) Quebec Operations in our metallurgical complex in Sorel-Tracy, Canada. The plant will demonstrate at industrial scale a new spodumene concentration process that provides lithi

RTIT Quebec downloads

RTIT Quebec sustainability reports
RTIT Sustainability Report 2021
PDF
2.22 MB
RTIT Sustainability Report 2021 [FR]
PDF
1.48 MB
RTIT Quebec donations & partnerships
RTIT Donations & Partnership 2021 [FR]
PDF
1.06 MB
RTIT Donations & Partnerships 2020
PDF
2.19 MB
RTIT Donations & Partnerships 2020 [FR]
PDF
1.01 MB
RTIT Quebec scorecards
RTIT Havre-Saint-Pierre Sustainability Scorecard 2019
PDF
3.55 MB
RTIT Havre-Saint-Pierre Sustainability Scorecard 2019 [FR]
PDF
3.54 MB
RTIT Sorel-Tracy Sustainability Scorecard 2019
PDF
3.1 MB
RTIT Sorel-Tracy Sustainability Scorecard 2019 [FR]
PDF
3 MB
RTIT Quebec quality policy
RTIT Quality Policy
PDF
113 KB
RTIT Quality Policy [FR]
PDF
178 KB
RTIT CO Gas Recovery System
RTIT Information Sheet - CO Gas Recovery System
PDF
181 KB
Fiche d’information RTIT - Système de récupération du gaz CO [FR]
PDF
186 KB
RTIT SO2 Recovery Plant Data Sheet
PDF
3.49 MB
RTIT BNQ Certification
PDF
162 KB
RTIT BNQ Certification [FR]
PDF
236 KB
RTIT Revue Ilménite, édition Décembre 2022 [FR]
PDF
4.58 MB
RTIT Bulletin aux parties prenantes – édition Mai 2023
PDF
3.8 MB
RTIT Bulletin aux parties prenantes – édition Décembre 2022
PDF
2.23 MB
Invested in Canada: Quebec
Invested in Canada: Quebec
PDF
1.32 MB
Investis au Canada: Quebec [FR]
PDF
1.28 MB

Contact RTIT

RTIT Quebec Operations

Sorel-Tracy

1625, Marie-Victorin Road
Sorel-Tracy Quebec J3R 1M6
Canada

E: RTIT Enquiries
T: +1 450 746 3000

Jetty, Havre-Saint-Pierre

RTIT Havre-Saint-Pierre

951, de l’Escale Road
Havre-Saint-Pierre Quebec G0G 1P0
Canada

T: +1 418 538 2400