Jérôme Pécresse appointed head of Rio Tinto’s global aluminium activities

Rio Tinto has chosen Jérôme Pécresse to lead the decarbonization of its aluminum sector in Quebec, marking its commitment to reducing carbon emissions. The group is also investing $1.1 billion in the ecological expansion of its plant, underlining the growing importance of sustainability in the aluminum industry.

Share:

Rio Tinto chooses Jérôme Pécresse to steer the decarbonization of its aluminum sector

Jérôme Pécresse to lead Rio Tinto’s transformation towards sustainable Quebec aluminum

Rio Tinto has appointed Jérôme Pécresse as General Manager of its Quebec-based aluminum operations, with responsibility for overseeing decarbonization. Mr Pécresse, 56, will take up his new post on October 23.
Its role will be to lead the decarbonization agenda for this sector, which is a major emitter of greenhouse gases. Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm praised his experience in renewable energy and the mining industry, calling him the ideal leader to shape a low-carbon future for Rio Tinto’s Aluminium group.
Mr. Pécresse was previously CEO of General Electric (GE) Renewable Energies. He also worked for the Imerys group, a producer of industrial minerals, and began his career at Credit Suisse First Boston. He is a graduate of the Ecole Polytechnique and the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées.

Rio Tinto invests $1.1 billion in green expansion of its Quebec aluminum smelter

Aluminium is Rio Tinto’s second largest business, employing 15,000 people in 7 countries. In June, the Group announced a $1.1 billion investment to expand and green its aluminum plant in Quebec, the first major aluminum production project in North America in a decade.

At the end of July, Rio Tinto acknowledged that it was unlikely to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by 2025. However, the Group is committed to promoting decarbonization across its global operations with a view to achieving “carbon neutrality” by 2050.

Why does it matter?

Rio Tinto’s appointment of Jérôme Pécresse to lead decarbonization efforts in its aluminum sector reflects the company’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions. As aluminum production is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, this initiative is of great importance in the context of sustainability and environmental concerns.

Rio Tinto’s investment in the greening of its aluminum smelter in Quebec is also indicative of a broader industry movement towards more environmentally-friendly practices.

Iberdrola strengthens its financial position with a new five-year credit facility, signed with 32 banks, to support investments in power grids and renewable energy, particularly in the United States.
Kinder Morgan, Inc. reports strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, with net profit up 24% and a project backlog boosted by major new investments in natural gas transportation.
CenterPoint Energy remains vigilant as Invest 93L approaches, deploying emergency plans and pursuing upgrades to its electrical infrastructure across the Greater Houston area.
The Georgia Public Service Commission approves the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, which includes major investments in generation, storage and the grid to address the strong rise in electricity demand.
Norwegian industrial group Aker ASA achieved a strong surge in its share price in the first half, expanded its diversification into real estate, and executed major transactions despite global energy market volatility.
ADNOC announces the transfer of 24.9% of its shares in OMV to its subsidiary XRG, continuing the streamlining of its international assets and preparing the creation of Borouge Group International.
The SMI China Forum brings together international and Chinese leaders for dialogue on supply chains, investment and energy innovation, marking a major step in public-private sector cooperation.
Mining group BHP sees low-emission iron production in Australia as unprofitable, just as Canberra and Beijing announce closer cooperation to decarbonise the global steel industry.
Aker Carbon Capture distributed $162mn in dividends to its shareholders, a direct consequence of significant asset disposals and a substantial restructuring of its balance sheet in the second quarter of 2025.
Equinor ASA acquired 2.1 mn of its own shares on the Oslo Stock Exchange for a total of $201 mn between July 7 and 11, continuing the second phase of its 2025 buyback programme.
Norwegian group Aker Horizons transfers all its activities to a subsidiary of Aker ASA, sells major assets and prepares its new strategy after a half-year net loss of $220mn.
South Texas Electric Cooperative is seeking proposals for the acquisition or purchase of energy for 500 MW of dispatchable capacity, aiming to strengthen long-term supply security in the ERCOT region.
A federal funding package of $16mn aims to accelerate grid modernisation, renewable energy development and carbon capture in Canada’s Maritime provinces.
RTE and Nexans announce the creation of a recycling chain dedicated to aluminium from electrical cables, targeting 600 tonnes annually and covering the entire industrial cycle from collection to production.
Three scientists from China, the United States and Russia are laureates of the 2025 Global Energy Prize, honoured for their work on high-voltage power lines, fuel-cell catalysts and pulsed energy technologies.
Rio Tinto’s new CEO inherits a significant stock market discount and will need to overcome major regulatory, operational, and financial hurdles to swiftly restore the company's appeal to international investors, according to a Wood Mackenzie analysis.
Westbridge Renewable Energy enters digital infrastructure market with Fontus, a 380 MW data centre campus in Colorado, positioned to meet strong growth in US cloud and artificial intelligence services.
Offshore drilling company Borr Drilling Limited announced the completion of an initial tranche issuance of 30 million ordinary shares out of the planned 50 million, raising $61.5mn towards the total goal of $102.5mn.
EDF announces a new internal organization with key executive appointments to enhance decision-making efficiency and expedite the revival of nuclear and hydroelectric projects central to its industrial strategy.
Rubis announces half-year results of its liquidity agreement managed by Exane BNP Paribas, totalling 241,328 shares exchanged for an aggregate amount of €6.5mn in the first half of 2025.