Completes sale of Brazilian i

RNS Number : 3562Z

Rio Tinto PLC

21 September 2009

 



Rio Tinto completes sale of Brazilian iron ore operations

21 September 2009

Rio Tinto has completed the sale of its Corumbá iron ore mine in Brazil and the associated river logistics operations to Vale S.A. for a cash consideration of US$750 million. 

The Corumbá divestment, which was announced on 30 January 2009, was part of a larger transaction that included the Potasio Rio Colorado potash project in Argentina and the Regina exploration assets in Canada. The potash transaction closed on 5 February 2009 for a cash consideration of US$850 million.

Over the last 18 months, Rio Tinto has announced asset sales of US$6.6 billion including the Corumbá and potash transaction. In addition, Rio Tinto has received a binding offer from Amcor for US$2.025 billion for Alcan Packaging global pharmaceuticals, global tobacco, food Europe and food Asia divisions. During 2008, Rio Tinto announced divestments comprising the Greens Creek mine in Alaska for US$750 million, its interest in the Cortez operation in Nevada for US$1.695 billion and the Kintyre uranium project in Western Australia for US$495 million. Announced transactions in 2009 comprise the Group's interest in the Ningxia aluminium smelter in China for US$125 million, its Jacobs Ranch coal mine in the United States for US$761 million, Alcan Packaging Food Americas to Bemis Inc for US$1.2 billion and 56 per cent of the Alcan Engineered Products cable division to Platinum Equity for an undisclosed amount. 

About Rio Tinto 

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

 For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, London  Nick Cobban Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Christina Mills Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Media Relations, Australia  Tony Shaffer Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Americas  Tony Shaffer Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Media Relations, Canada Stefano Bertolli Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Investor Relations, London David Ovington Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, Australia Dave Skinner Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Simon Ellinor Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]

Email:  [e-mail]

Website:  www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs and media pack available at: http://www.riotinto.com/media/press_kit.asp

 

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