Climate Changed
Apple Backs Alcoa, Rio Tinto to Develop Carbon-Free Metal Making
- Aluminum smelting process said to eliminate greenhouse gases
- Joint venture between Alcoa and Rio to commercialize in 2024
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Apple Inc. is backing a joint venture between metal producers Alcoa Corp. and Rio Tinto Group to develop a new aluminum-making process that eliminates greenhouse gases.
The Alcoa-Rio joint venture, which will get initial funding of C$188 million ($147 million), will be based in Montreal and have a research facility in Quebec’s Saguenay region, the aluminum makers said Thursday in a statement. The announcement was made with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on hand along with executives from the three companies. While Alcoa and Rio are developing the technology, which they plan to put on sale beginning in 2024, Apple said it “helped facilitate” the collaboration and will provide technical support.