Innovative Battery Manufacturing Facilities Construction management consultancy for building innovative battery manufacturing facilities in the United States. Bechtel is at the forefront of constructing innovative battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S. Our expert team ensures compliance with local codes and…
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The Bechtel-built mine, one of the largest copper resources, features a first-of-its-kind desalination plant and will operate on 100% renewable energy by 2025.
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Bechtel is delivering one of Australia’s largest infrastructure projects — a state-of-the-art airport designed to handle 10 million passengers annually.
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Projects
When Rio Tinto undertook the modernization of its Kitimat aluminum smelter in British Columbia, the goal was not only to increase production, but also to create an environmentally superior and safer facility.
The result? Kitimat is now one of the world’s most efficient and lowest-cost smelters.
Bechtel partnered with Rio Tinto to upgrade the facility, which originally began production in 1954, in one of the largest private construction projects in British Columbia’s history. The modernization employed the latest evolution in our customer’s state-of-the-art AP40 technology. In addition to creating a more energy efficient facility, we helped implement digital monitoring and computer control systems, more advanced cleaning systems, higher levels of material recovery to maximize raw material yield and recycling opportunities.
As a result, production was increased to 420,000 metric tons per year, while the smelter’s overall emissions were cut by nearly 50 percent, including approximately 500,000 metric tons per year of greenhouse gases.
The operation subsequently received the Canadian American Business Council’s Corporate Leadership Award and has been certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative for producing metal that meets the highest internationally recognized standard for responsible environmental, social and governance practices.
Kitimat’s new potline consists of 360 pots housed in six buildings, compared to the pre-modernized smelter’s 900 smaller pots in 15 buildings.
Aluminum smelters require massive amounts of electricity and Kitimat is powered exclusively by clean, renewable hydropower generated by its own power system in nearby Kemano (tunnels for which were also built by Bechtel).
During construction, the project brought major economic benefits to Kitimat and the surrounding region. Thanks to the efforts of more than 2,000 workers, the modernized smelter produced first aluminum in 2015 and reached full production the following year.
Québec, Canada
2000
The Alma Aluminum Smelter, built by Bechtel and Alcan, established Québec’s “Aluminum Valley,” boosting production efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Chile
2024
At Los Pelambres copper mine, Bechtel is helping to sustain production levels while reducing environmental impact and supporting economic development.
Chile
2024
The Bechtel-built mine, one of the largest copper resources, features a first-of-its-kind desalination plant and will operate on 100% renewable energy by 2025.
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