Steel and Aluminum · Mining and Uranium

Rio Algom

3 pictures · 1967–1971

Founded: 1960 (amalgamation of Rio Tinto Canadian uranium companies)
Head office then: 120 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Rio Algom was formed in 1960 when Rio Tinto’s Canadian uranium companies amalgamated. It mined uranium at Elliot Lake (Quirke, Panel, Nordic, Pronto and others). In 1963 it bought Atlas Steels, the specialty-steel works at Welland, Ontario.

It was a main producer in the Elliot Lake camp that supplied U.S. and later Ontario Hydro contracts. Through Atlas it was also Canada’s full-line specialty-steel maker.

Why it mattered

Rio Algom was a main producer in the Elliot Lake uranium field that supplied U.S. and later Ontario Hydro contracts and built the town's mining economy. Through Atlas Steels it was also Canada's full-line specialty-steel producer (bars, rods, sheet, plate, strip) in the 1970s.

Now

Rio Tinto sold its controlling stake in 1992. Billiton bought Rio Algom in 2000 and later merged with BHP. Elliot Lake mining ended when Stanleigh closed in 1996.

Sold (2000) · Now: BHP (via Billiton plc)

Still open

Atlas Steels 1963 purchase is stated by the successor Welland plant operator and local press; a contemporaneous circular was not retrieved.
Corporate status of the Rio Algom Limited legal entity inside BHP after 2001 (active miner vs. legacy/environmental vehicle) was not fully mapped.