In 2008, Rio Tinto inaugurated a new plant in Jonquière (Québec) for the treatment of 80 kt of SPL annually, based on the low-caustic leaching and liming process (LCL&L) developed at Arvida Research and Development Centre in the early 1990s. LCL&L process characteristics are described, including valorisation routes for its by-products and some recent improvements of the process to reduce treatment costs with better energy efficiency