Lefebvre Industri-AL has been granted a CAD$1.7mn ($1.3mn) interest-free loan from the Canadian government to expand an innovative, eco-friendly aluminum recovery program.
The Baie-Comeau, Quebec company, which started in 2014 , has developed a non-polluting process to recover 100pc of aluminum dross that is slated for implementation this year. In total, the process will recover an additional 1,500mt of aluminum while eliminating over 11,600mt of CO2 and 750mt of polluting salts per annum. Dross is typically recovered through a complex and pollutant-rich process, and under 50pc of the processed dross is reusable.
The interest-free loan from the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions will help Lefebvre Industri-AL expand its factory, buy new technology to produce low-carbon emitting aluminum, and create 10 new jobs. In addition to recycling residue, the company manages Alcoa’s alloy products.
Quebec smelters have 2.9mn mt of annual production capacity. By using hydroelectricity and other emergent technologies, Canadian aluminum production has the world’s lowest carbon footprint.