Rio Tinto BC Works Marine Terminals (Kitimat)

Kitimat, BC · Private · Rio Tinto · Douglas Channel (Kitimat Arm)

Rio Tinto BC Works operates a private, ice-free deep-sea port with two marine terminals at Kitimat on the Douglas Channel (Kitimat Arm) serving its aluminium smelter. The terminals import alumina, anodes and other raw materials and export low-carbon aluminium (about 419 kilotons of annual production, 2024) shipped primarily to customers in Japan, South Korea and the United States. Terminal A was extended in 2021 with a 20,000 m3 concrete deck on more than 400 steel piles plus a deep-sea hydraulic barge ramp, enabling vessels of 200-250 metres; the extension was built by LNG Canada to replace facilities it had leased from Rio Tinto since 2018. Rio Tinto owns 100% of BC Works, which is powered by its own Kemano hydroelectric facility.