Business Issues: Reduce Environmental Impacts;
Stakeholder Engagement; Maximizing Value
Kitimat wharf investments reduce environmental impact

Investments over the last two years in specialized wharf equipment at our operations in Kitimat, British Columbia, have improved working conditions for employees in addition to reducing our impact on the environment.

At an estimated cost of CAN$17 million, a state-of-the-art K3 alumina unloader was commissioned in March 2001 and has since unloaded all alumina vessels in port. The unloader replaces the two 50-year-old Simons unloaders and the Kangaroo crane for unloading alumina. The Kangaroo crane continued in use for unloading green coke shipments until March 2002, at which time a new mobile harbour crane and hopper were commissioned.

The alumina unloader is computer controlled and operates automatically, as opposed to the fully manual Simons unloaders. At its peak, the K3's two blowers draw 40,000 cubic feet of air per minute, allowing it to unload 600 tonnes of alumina per hour. In comparison, the two Simons unloaders and Kangaroo crane unloaded about 500 tonnes per hour. The major benefit of the new unloader, however, is in reducing alumina losses, estimated at 4,000 - 4,300 tonnes per year. This demonstrates a 'win-win-win' situation, by conserving resources, improving the working conditions for wharf employees and reducing the smelter's impact on the environment.

The new mobile harbour crane and hopper went into operation on March 3, 2002, at an estimated cost of about $4 million. Both the custom-made hopper and the harbour crane are unique to the wharf's needs as they are mobile and operate in tandem to unload green coke using a "clam" bucket.

Improved operational control of the new crane minimizes spillage from the bucket and the small amount of spillage that does occur is caught by the integral spill skirt and collector mechanism on the hopper.

Unlike the old Kangaroo Crane, these two pieces of equipment can be driven off the wharf when barge or ship unloading is completed, thus increasing the amount of usable space for wharf operations. The Kangaroo crane will be de-commissioned later this year, freeing up valuable space and leaving the wharf area unobstructed.