Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said "This investment will extend operations at the Vaudreuil refinery beyond 2022.

"The high quality, cost competitive alumina from the Vaudreuil plant will continue to support our world class, low carbon aluminium smelting operations in the region to deliver a range of products that meets our customers' needs."

The project includes the construction of a filtration plant and the optimisation of the Jonquière complex bauxite residue site.

Operations at the Vaudreuil plant support over 1,000 jobs in the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region and generate annual regional economic benefits of around C$135 million.