Wedoany.com Report-Jun 20, Rio Tinto has committed C$7.6 million (£4.12 million) to an industrial demonstration project at its Lac Tio mine in Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec, Canada. The initiative will test ore sorting technology to separate titanium and scandium content, aiming to improve efficiency in distinguishing valuable ore from waste. The Government of Quebec is supporting the project with a C$2.5 million contribution.

The technology could enhance the efficiency of separating commercially viable rock from waste.

The technology is designed to reduce the volume of material transported for processing, potentially lowering greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs. The project is expected to enhance ore pre-treatment at the Sorel-Tracy plant, optimize resource use, and enable access to previously uneconomical parts of the deposit.

Sophie Bergeron, managing director of Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium and Diamonds, stated: “The use of ore sorting technology represents a tangible opportunity to optimise our processes right from the extraction stage, allowing us to maximise value from our resources, while reducing the emissions associated with transporting and processing ore. The support from the Government of Quebec highlights the key role that Rio Tinto plays in the critical and strategic minerals production essential to the energy transition. It is also a unifying project for our employees, the community of Havre-Saint-Pierre and the community of Ekuanitshit, with whom we share a desire to evolve our practices in a responsible manner.”

The project will proceed in two phases. In 2025, efforts will focus on engineering and technological validation, followed by the integration of automation equipment in 2026 to produce enriched ore batches.

Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Quebec’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, said: “Our government is proud to support Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium in its ore valorisation project. In addition to encouraging innovation through the creation of new processes or the improvement of existing ones, this type of initiative helps accelerate the transformation of critical and strategic minerals in Quebec, reinforcing the province’s position as a global leader. In a complex geopolitical context and growing global demand for minerals, we must seize these opportunities to advance Quebec’s mining projects.”

The initiative underscores Rio Tinto’s commitment to sustainable mining practices and supports Quebec’s role in supplying critical minerals for the energy transition.