Minister Blackburn Announces R&D; Investment in Alcan Waste Treatment Project

VILLE SAGUENAY, Quebec, September 29, 2006 – The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry, a research and development (R&D) investment of $19.1 million in Alcan Primary Metal's Jonquière facility in Quebec. The funding is part of a $242 million pilot project to process and recycle waste material created by the aluminum smelting process, promoting a cleaner environment with innovative technology.

"This pilot project is important because it will ensure that the waste will no longer pose a threat to the bodies of water in our region, including groundwater, nearby creeks and the Saguenay River," said the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

"Canada's new government is keeping its promises when it comes to cleaning up the environment and protecting the health of Quebecers," said Minister Bernier. "By developing environmentally responsible ways to deal with waste, Alcan is helping to make a cleaner Canada."

Alcan will design, construct, test and optimize a treatment plant with a capacity to process 80,000 tonnes of industrial waste per year. The plant will use a chemical process developed by Alcan, called "Low Concentration Caustic Leaching and Liming" that will enable the company to convert SPL into a non-hazardous waste.

"We are happy to partner with the Government of Canada on this important project. This investment will help us to reduce the environmental impacts of our activities, while also creating employment opportunities and contributing to the local economy, " said Cynthia Carroll, President and CEO of Alcan Primary Metal.

This investment is being made through Technology Partnerships Canada, an agency of Industry Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Isabelle Fontaine
Office of the Honourable Maxime Bernier
Minister of Industry
(613) 995-9001

Media Relations
Industry Canada
(613) 943-2502

Roxane Marchand
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
(819) 953-5646 (office)
(613) 816-5094 (cellphone)

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