PFC emissions increased considerably at the Baie-Comeau Smelter’s prebake plant due to significant instabilities following a lightning strike at one of the transformers. On the other hand, progress continued at the Söderberg potrooms to reduce anodic effects, which generate emissions. Since 2001, the intensity of PFC emissions has decreased by 81% at the Söderberg potrooms.
PFC emissions increased at the Bécancour and Deschambault smelters in 2011. In Bécancour, the increased emissions are linked to an electrical power outage and to shut-downs in the potrooms at the beginning of the year. Later, delays in siphoning metal from the pots also caused blockages in the alumina feeders. For the Deschambault Smelter, this increase is attributable to difficulties related to the implementation of a new control software for the pots, as well as a problem with compressed air that affected alumina supply to the pots.
Since 2001, PFC emissions for the region have decreased by 82%
