Rio Tinto plans to invest $818m. to extend mine life and increase processing capacity at its titanium dioxide (TiO2) feedstock operations in Quebec, Canada. The mining group’s subsidiary Rio Tinto Fer et Titane (RTFT) will boost extraction at the Lac-Tio ilmenite mine from five to seven days a week, while extending its mine life to 2050.
At the same time, Rio Tinto plans increase ilmenite processing capacity at the Sorel-Tracy metallurgical complex by 30% through upgrades to equipment and systems. The Sorel-Tracy plant converts ore from the Lac-Tio mine into high quality TiO2 feedstock, cast iron, steel and metal powders.
The capacity increase will be a welcome addition for TiO2 pigment producers, which have been hit by tight supply and rising prices for feedstock such as ilmenite.
Price hikes and projected supply shortages have led to a wave of investment in the...