-

Rio Tinto and Hydro announce intention to close Aluchemie anode plant

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A strategic review by Aluchemie owners Rio Tinto and Hydro has determined it is not viable to make the ongoing investments needed to continue operating the stand-alone anode production facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands, due to its weak competitive position and challenging market conditions.

As a result, production at Aluchemie is expected to finish at the end of 2021. A consultation process with the relevant European works councils and union representatives will now begin on the planned closure.

Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said: “We have carefully considered options to make Aluchemie competitive, however the investments required to continue operations are not viable. We recognise this will impact employees and the community, and our focus now will turn to supporting the team at Aluchemie as they work with stakeholders to plan a safe and responsible closure.”

Aluchemie was started in the mid 1960s and is jointly owned by global mining and metals company Rio Tinto and global aluminium company Hydro. The plant employs 220 employees and produces 216 000 tonnes of anodes per year, after having discontinued operating four out of a total seven anode baking furnaces.

Contacts

media.enquiries@riotinto.com
riotinto.com

Media Relations, United Kingdom
Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
T +44 20 7781 1623
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas
Matthew Klar
T +1 514 608 4429

Media Relations, Asia
Grant Donald
T +65 6679 9290
M +65 9722 6028

Media Relations, Australia
Jonathan Rose
T +61 3 9283 3088
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
T +61 3 9283 3087
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
T +61 8 6211 6013
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, United Kingdom
Menno Sanderse
T: +44 20 7781 1517
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
T +44 20 7781 2051
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M: +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia
Natalie Worley
T +61 3 9283 3063
M +61 409 210 462

Amar Jambaa
T +61 3 9283 3627
M +61 4 7286 5948

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: General

Industry:

Rio Tinto

LSE:RIO
Release Versions
English

Contacts

media.enquiries@riotinto.com
riotinto.com

Media Relations, United Kingdom
Illtud Harri
M +44 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
T +44 20 7781 1623
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Americas
Matthew Klar
T +1 514 608 4429

Media Relations, Asia
Grant Donald
T +65 6679 9290
M +65 9722 6028

Media Relations, Australia
Jonathan Rose
T +61 3 9283 3088
M +61 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
T +61 3 9283 3087
M +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
T +61 8 6211 6013
M +61 436 653 412

Investor Relations, United Kingdom
Menno Sanderse
T: +44 20 7781 1517
M: +44 7825 195 178

David Ovington
T +44 20 7781 2051
M +44 7920 010 978

Clare Peever
M: +44 7788 967 877

Investor Relations, Australia
Natalie Worley
T +61 3 9283 3063
M +61 409 210 462

Amar Jambaa
T +61 3 9283 3627
M +61 4 7286 5948

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 7, 360 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

Category: General

More News From Rio Tinto

Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation reaches Financial Close on Jinbi Solar Project; signs Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto

PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC), one of Australia’s largest Indigenous-led renewable energy initiatives, will begin construction of the Jinbi Solar Project in the Pilbara after reaching Financial Close and signing a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement with Rio Tinto, marking a major step in delivering renewable energy on Yindjibarndi Ngurra (Country). Financial Close confirms that key funding, contractual arrangements, government approvals and consents requ...

Rio Tinto’s A$100m boost for essential service worker housing in the Pilbara

PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto will invest A$100 million to support the Western Australian Government’s building of more than 500 homes for regional frontline workers, as part of its new Seven Cities Vision for regional WA. The state’s Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) program will deliver new homes to Karratha, where many Rio Tinto employees live and work, as well as the company’s regional fly-in fly-out hubs of Broome, Geraldton and Albany. As the biggest private sector...

Rio Tinto donates A$1.5m to WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services to help with Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle recovery

PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto will donate A$1.5 million to support communities impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle in Western Australia. The contribution to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) will assist with relief and recovery efforts across Western Australian communities impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, while also supporting longer-term preparedness and resilience initiatives. Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle travelled along the Pilbara coa...
Back to Newsroom