If Scepter is indeed our upcoming jv partner and so the "Donuts" in the Coffee & Donuts strategy (Rio-Tinto being the Coffee), then this might explain how they ended up getting in touch with PYR.
Read carefully this June 2018 press release. Sounds like Scepter was not able to get rid of the 20% residues left, and through some connections (from Rio-Tinto or Investissement Quebec), they probably got introduced to PYR.
Note that Peter once hinted us on the usage they could do with this 20% left residue; valuable by-products for the cement industry
Note also that Scepter is a US-based company. Peter was once asked if such jv partner they were looking for could be located outside Canada and Peter mentioned "of course".
And Rio-Tinto knows about plasma. Look like they get rid of 60%. But not the rest. Then came PYR to the rescue with another (more advanced) type of plasma technology.
So Rio-Tinto is the Coffee and Scepter the Donuts. And we have a Golden Ticket with Rio Tinto for our torches.
Read carefully.
Rio Tinto renews sustainable aluminium partnership with Scepter June 2018
Rio Tinto has renewed a long term agreement with Scepter, an internationally recognized leader in aluminium dross and scrap recycling, for the treatment of by-product from the aluminium smelting process known as "skims", in the Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean region, Quebec, Canada.
Rio Tinto Aluminium managing director Atlantic Operations Gervais Jacques said: "This partnership demonstrates our commitment to responsible production and to realizing the full environmental benefits from aluminium as a recyclable material. Instead of going to landfill, the by-product from our smelting processes is being recycled and used by Scepter to deliver specialized materials, a win-win outcome. The technology that makes this possible was pioneered by Rio Tinto’s Research and Development Centre here in Saguenay, Quebec."
The companies have been working together since 2002 and this new agreement extends the partnership for another ten years. Scepter will invest approximately three million dollars to further improve the efficiency of their recycling process.
Scepter president and CEO, Garney B. Scott said: "This multimillion dollar investment represents a long-term commitment for Scepter to serve Rio Tinto, while simultaneously growing and securing the jobs we provide in Saguenay. Our company will continue to strive and invest in sustainable solutions like environmentally friendly dross processing that can recycle residual sub products."
The skimming process used by Scepter is entirely free of CO2 emissions, in line with Rio Tinto’s commitment to producing some of the highest quality, lowest carbon footprint aluminium in the world.
The treatment of aluminium skims is executed by a unique electric plasma arc process and allows Scepter to recycle an average of 60% of the aluminium from the skims. The second product generated by the treatment process is upgraded into Noval, used in cement manufacturing and calcium aluminate productions for steel mill use.