The Alouette aluminum would invest $ 1.5 billion to modernize its facilities in Sept-Îles, on the North Shore, according to Bloomberg.
Prime Minister François Legault will be visiting Sept-Îles on Friday to participate in the announcement of this investment.
The alumina factory, which partly belongs to Rio Tinto Alcan, has newly signed a supply agreement with Hydro-Québec.
Alouette alumina has refused to comment on the details.
In recent weeks, the aluminum sector has been flayed by the trade war led by US President Donald Trump.
The White House imposed customs duties of 50% on imports of foreign aluminum.
According to Bloomberg, this measure could penalize American companies which will have to pay additional amounts to meet their needs.
Canada is the largest aluminum exporter to the United States.
“The United States needs Quebec in particular to meet their demand while we produce 70% of all aluminum in North America. Our priority remains to protect our economy and our workers, ”said the Minister of the Economy, Christine Fréchette, in X.
Alouette aluminum is a consortium made up of Rio Tinto, which holds 40% of the shares, and other companies. Its Sept-Îles factory in Quebec employs around 900 people.
Since early June, steel and aluminum imported to the United States have been taxed up to 50%. Customs duties “illegal and unjustified,” denounced Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The Minister of Commerce Canada-United States, Dominic Leblanc, had described this measure as unacceptable.
In Quebec, Prime Minister François Legault had briefly reacted. “It is especially very bad for the United States,” he said.
The Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly, has already undertaken to use Canadian steel and aluminum in infrastructure and defense projects.
For his part, Jean Simard, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian aluminum association, has already pointed out that SMEs would be more at risk than large alumina factors in the country.
– With Jean-François Racine.
