Rio Tinto fourth quarter operations review 2013

RNS Number : 7793X
Rio Tinto PLC
15 January 2014
 



Rio Tinto announces record production for iron ore, bauxite and thermal coal in 2013

 

16 January 2014

 

Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh said "These are excellent fourth quarter operational results, demonstrating continued delivery on our commitments. We have set new records for iron ore production and shipments as we ramp up our 290 expansion, as well as achieving an impressive recovery in copper volumes and record annual production for both bauxite and thermal coal. We have exceeded our cost cutting targets for the year and announced or completed $3.5 billion of non-core asset sales. These actions, together with lower capital expenditure in 2013 and beyond, will ensure that Rio Tinto is well positioned to deliver greater value to shareholders."

 

Highlights

 

Q4 2013

2013

Global iron ore shipments

mt (100% basis)

72.4

+8%

+6%

259.0

+5%

Global iron ore production

mt (100% basis)

70.4

+6%

+3%

266.0

+5%

Mined copper

kt (RT share)

172.8

+5%

+6%

631.5

+15%

Bauxite

mt (RT share)

11.4

+7%

+2%

43.2

+10%

Aluminium

kt (RT share)

868

-4%

-1%

3,555

+3%

Hard coking coal

mt (RT share)

2.4

+25%

+7%

8.2

+2%

Semi-soft and thermal coal

mt (RT share)

6.5

-9%

-7%

26.8

+12%

Titanium dioxide feedstock

kt (RT share)

361

-20%

-3%

1,622

+2%

 

·      Record quarterly and annual iron ore production, shipments and rail volumes. Shipments from the Pilbara exceeded production by two million tonnes in the fourth quarter, despite impacts from cyclone Christine, which closed the ports for three days at the end of the year and affected the progressive recovery of rail and ports into January. The safe and efficient ramp up to 290 Mt/a nameplate capacity across mines, rail and ports remains on track for completion by the end of the first half of 2014.

·      Mined copper benefited from the ramp up of production at Oyu Tolgoi to full capacity and continued improvement in grades and throughput at Kennecott Utah Copper. The heavy equipment access road at Kennecott was completed in October giving renewed access to the entire open pit earlier than originally scheduled.

·      Record annual production and shipments for bauxite, with production records at both Australian mines and in Guinea.

·      Production of semi-soft and thermal coal improved significantly for the full year due to productivity improvement initiatives and the completion of brownfield mine developments.

·      Over $2 billion of operating cash cost improvements achieved in 2013 compared with 2012.

·      Exploration and evaluation expenditure reduced by over $1 billion in 2013 compared with 2012, exceeding the $750 million target set for the year.

·      Non-core asset divestments totalling $3.5 billion announced in 2013, of which $2.5 billion completed in 2013.

·      On 8 January 2014, Turquoise Hill Resources announced the successful completion of its approximately $2.4 billion rights offering which was fully subscribed. The proceeds of the rights issue will be used to repay loans outstanding to Rio Tinto, and will result in a $1.2 billion reduction in Rio Tinto's consolidated net debt.

 



IRON ORE

 

Rio Tinto share of production (million tonnes)

 

Q4 2013

vs Q4 2012

vs Q3 2013

2013

vs 2012

Pilbara Blend Lump

13.7

+9%

+3%

52.1

+7%

Pilbara Blend Fines

20.5

+16%

+6%

76.5

+9%

Robe Valley Lump

1.6

+1%

-2%

5.9

+6%

Robe Valley Fines

3.0

-10%

-3%

11.7

+2%

Yandicoogina Fines (HIY)

14.5

0%

+5%

53.7

-2%

IOC (pellets and concentrate)

2.3

+1%

-1%

9.0

+9%

 

Global iron ore production for the full year of 266 million tonnes (Rio Tinto share 209 million tonnes) set a new annual record, five per cent higher than in 2012. Fourth quarter global production of 70 million tonnes (Rio Tinto share 56 million tonnes) was six per cent higher than the same period in 2012.

 

Pilbara operations

Fourth quarter production of 66.5 million tonnes (Rio Tinto share 53.2 million tonnes) set a new quarterly record, driven by productivity improvements and continued ramp up of recent mine expansions. Production for 2013 was 250.6 million tonnes (Rio Tinto share 199.9 million tonnes), five per cent higher than in 2012.

 

In the last three days of December, Rio Tinto's Pilbara ports and coastal rail operations were closed due to the adverse weather conditions caused by tropical cyclone Christine.  Rail and port operations continued to be impacted into January but full operations have now resumed.

 

Pilbara marketing

Fourth quarter sales set a new record of 68.8 million tonnes (100 per cent basis) as the expanded Cape Lambert port is progressively commissioned and ramped up.  Shipments exceeded production by 2.3 million tonnes and were nine per cent higher than in the same quarter of 2012. 2013 sales of 244.3 million tonnes (100 per cent basis) were five per cent higher than last year.

 

Slightly more than half of sales were priced on a current month index average price. Approximately 30 per cent were sold with reference to the quarter's average, lagged by one month. The remainder was sold either on a current quarter average or on the spot market. Prices are adjusted for product characteristics and iron and moisture content.

 

Pilbara expansion

Following completion of infrastructure works associated with the 290 Mt/a project, four months ahead of schedule and $400 million under budget, ramp up of shipments to nameplate capacity of 290 Mt/a continued in the fourth quarter of 2013.  This is scheduled to be complete by the end of the first half of 2014.

 

Expansion of the port, rail and power infrastructure to 360 Mt/a is currently underway and is due for completion by the end of the first half of 2015. On 28 November 2013, Rio Tinto set out its breakthrough pathway to optimise the growth of mine capacity towards 360 Mt/a at a capital intensity in the mid-$120s per tonne, significantly lower than originally planned. A series of low-cost brownfield expansions will bring on additional tonnes, with production of 330 million tonnes expected in 2015. Mine production capacity will increase by more than 60 million tonnes between 2014 and 2017.

 

Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC)

Saleable production for 2013 was nine per cent higher than in 2012 due to continued improvement in the expanded mine and concentrator.  Completion of the second phase of the Concentrate Expansion Project to bring total concentrate production capacity to 23.3 Mt/a is expected during the first half of 2014.

 

2013 concentrate sales were 46 per cent higher than in 2012. This is as a result of the additional concentrate volumes from recent expansions and the decision to curtail pellet production to reduce costs.

 

 

COPPER

 

Rio Tinto share of production

 

Q4 2013

vs Q4 2012

vs Q3 2013

2013

vs 2012

Kennecott Utah Copper

 

 

 

 

 

Mined copper (000 tonnes)

64.5

+9%

+9%

211.0

+29%

Refined copper (000 tonnes)

57.7

-4%

+25%

193.6

+19%

Molybdenum (000 tonnes)

1.8

+69%

+49%

5.7

-39%

Mined gold (000 oz)

73.8

+50%

+33%

207.1

+3%

Refined gold (000 oz)

47.8

-39%

+19%

192.3

-31%

Escondida

 

 

 

 

 

Mined copper (000 tonnes)

83.8

-3%

+3%

336.5

+7%

Refined copper (000 tonnes)

23.2

+9%

+6%

91.6

-2%

Grasberg

 

 

 

 

 

Mined copper (000 tonnes)

6.3

n/a

n/a

6.3

n/a

Oyu Tolgoi

 

 

 

 

 

Mined copper (000 tonnes)

11.0

n/a

+8%

25.7

n/a

Mined gold (000 oz)

24.7

n/a

+18%

52.6

n/a

 

Kennecott Utah Copper

Fourth quarter production of copper, gold and molybdenum contained in concentrates improved significantly on the same period in 2012, reflecting higher ore throughput and slightly higher gold and molybdenum grades.

 

The recovery of the open pit operations following the pit wall slide continues to progress better than originally planned, with completion of the new heavy vehicle access road achieved ahead of schedule enabling further remediation and waste movement to provide additional access to ore. 

 

Waste movement associated with the Cornerstone extension, which involves pushing back the south wall of Bingham Canyon to gain access to additional ore, continued during the quarter.

 

Copper cathode production for 2013 was 19 per cent higher than in 2012, as a result of a planned smelter shutdown in 2012 and the rapid recovery of operations from the April pit wall slide.

 

Escondida

Mined copper production in the fourth quarter decreased three per cent on the same period in 2012 but was up seven per cent for the full year. This increase was driven by higher ore grades and ore throughput rates.

 

Oyu Tolgoi / Turquoise Hill Resources

Production for the fourth quarter was 32,941 tonnes of copper and 73,653 ounces of gold in concentrates (Rio Tinto share 11,047 tonnes and 24,688 ounces).  Concentrate production continues to ramp up with fourth quarter mined copper and gold eight per cent and 18 per cent higher than in the third quarter.

 

Customers began to collect concentrate from the bonded warehouse in China during the fourth quarter and had withdrawn approximately 26,400 tonnes of concentrate by year end.  Initial sales and logistics commissioning issues have been experienced since the start of operations and some sales volumes have been deferred until after the first quarter of 2014. 

 

Grasberg

Freeport is due to release its 100 per cent operating data for the fourth quarter on 22 January 2014.

 

Northparkes

On 29 July 2013, Rio Tinto announced that it had reached a binding agreement for the sale of its 80 per cent interest in Northparkes. The transaction completed on 1 December 2013. Production from Northparkes is therefore only included up to that date.

 

Projects

On 23 December 2013, Rio Tinto announced a strategic review of its approximately 19.1 per cent shareholding in Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd (Northern Dynasty), which owns 100 per cent of the Pebble Project in the Bristol Bay region of western Alaska.

 

 

ALUMINIUM

 

Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes)

 

Q4 2013

vs Q4 2012

vs Q3 2013

2013

vs 2012

Rio Tinto Alcan

 

 

 

 

 

Bauxite (includes Gove mine)

11,432

+7%

+2%

43,204

+10%

Alumina

1,909

-1%

+8%

7,037

+1%

Aluminium

868

+2%

-1%

3,468

+7%

Other operations

 

 

 

 

 

Gove alumina refinery

673

-1%

+27%

2,270

-17%

 

On 29 November 2013, Rio Tinto announced that it intended to suspend alumina production at Gove and focus on its bauxite operations after determining the refinery was no longer a viable business in the current market environment. 

 

The Gove alumina refinery will progressively ramp down each of its three production stages. One stage will ramp down in February, a second stage between April and May and a third stage between June and July.  The refinery will move to care and maintenance from July 2014 to ensure it is prepared for a potential re-start in the future. It will therefore continue to be reported separately from Rio Tinto Alcan.

 

Bauxite

Fourth quarter bauxite production set a new quarterly record and was seven per cent higher than the same period in 2012. Production for 2013 was up ten per cent against 2012. Full year production records were achieved at Weipa, Gove and Sangaredi to take advantage of higher third party demand.

 

Alumina

Fourth quarter Rio Tinto Alcan alumina production was one per cent lower than the same period in 2012. Production for the full year was one per cent higher than in 2012, as tonnes from the Yarwun expansion broadly offset the impacts of ex-tropical cyclone Oswald, which both Queensland refineries experienced in the first quarter of 2013.

 

Aluminium

Fourth quarter aluminium production was two per cent higher than the same period in 2012. Production for 2013 was also higher than in 2012 due to the lockout at Alma which occurred in the first seven months of 2012 and the ramp up of the AP60 plant in Arvida in 2013 which was partially offset by the shutdown of Shawinigan and the sale of St-Jean de Maurienne which completed on

16 December 2013.

 

Ramp up at the new AP60 plant has continued since announcing first metal production on 7 September.  In December 2013, the $1.1 billion plant achieved daily run rates equivalent to nameplate capacity of 60,000 tonnes per annum.

 

 

ENERGY

 

Coal

Rio Tinto share of production (000 tonnes)

 

Q4 2013

vs Q4 2012

vs Q3 2013

2013

vs 2012

Rio Tinto Coal Australia

 

 

 

 

 

Hard coking coal

2,262

+23%

+8%

7,651

-3%

Semi-soft coking coal

922

-4%

+23%

3,859

+17%

Thermal coal

5,497

-9%

-11%

22,485

+10%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique

 

 

 

 

 

Hard coking coal

148

+47%

-9%

564

+200%

Thermal coal

127

-20%

+4%

490

+80%

 

Australian semi-soft and thermal coal production increased significantly during the year compared with 2012, with four mines (Hunter Valley Operations, Mount Thorley Warkworth, Bengalla and Clermont) achieving annual records. The substantial production increase was delivered through a transformation programme of productivity improvements, the completion of brownfield mine developments and the ramp up of the Clermont thermal coal mine.

 

Full year hard coking coal volumes were marginally lower than in 2012.  Coal recovery work at Hail Creek has been successfully completed following a geotechnical low wall failure experienced in July.  The $2 billion extension of the Kestrel mine was officially opened in October, adding 20 years to the life of the operation.

 

On 25 October 2013, Rio Tinto reached a binding agreement for the sale of its 50.1 per cent interest in the Clermont Joint Venture to GS Coal Pty Ltd, a company jointly owned by Glencore Xstrata and Sumitomo Corporation, for $1.015 billion.  The transaction is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2014.

 

Semi-soft and thermal coal production in the fourth quarter was lower than the same period in 2012. This resulted from mine sequencing at Mount Thorley Warkworth and Hunter Valley Operations as well as from the closure of the Blair Athol mine in November 2012, which is now in the process of being sold as announced on 3 October 2013.

 

Hard coking coal production was 23 per cent higher than during the fourth quarter of 2012, with reduced impacts from maintenance and upgrade stoppages.

 

Full year volumes in Mozambique were higher than in 2012 as production at the mine continues to ramp up. 

 

Uranium

Rio Tinto share of production (000 lbs)

 

Q4 2013

vs Q4 2012

vs Q3 2013

2013

vs 2012

Energy Resources of Australia

741

-60%

-15%

4,351

-23%

Rössing

735

-27%

-22%

3,643

-11%

 

Uranium production for the quarter was adversely impacted by the failure of a process plant leach tank at both Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and Rössing in December 2013.

 

Clean-up and recovery operations at ERA's Ranger processing plant are progressing.  Processing operations remain suspended pending completion of a full investigation and regulatory approval to recommence.

 

At Rössing, some processing operations were restarted on 11 January 2014 and will continue to be progressively restored during the first quarter.

 

DIAMONDS & MINERALS

 

Rio Tinto share of production

 

Q4 2013

vs Q4 2012

vs Q3 2013

2013

vs 2012

Diamonds (000 carats)

 

 

 

 

 

Argyle

3,153

+57%

+2%

11,359

+34%

Diavik

1,240

+9%

+24%

4,346

0%

Murowa

105

+7%

+51%

322

+3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minerals (000 tonnes)

 

 

 

 

 

Borates - B2O3 content

121

+22%

-4%

495

+9%

Titanium dioxide feedstock

361

-20%

-3%

1,622

+2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salt (000 tonnes)

1,886

+12%

+19%

6,728

-2%

 

At Argyle, carats recovered were 57 per cent higher than the fourth quarter of 2012 reflecting increased tonnes processed in the period and higher grades following commissioning of the underground operation earlier in the year.

 

Carats recovered at Diavik were nine per cent higher than the fourth quarter of 2012 as a result of an increase in tonnes processed as the underground mine ramped up to full production, which was partially offset by lower grades.

 

Titanium dioxide feedstock production was 20 per cent lower than the fourth quarter of 2012 due to a shutdown at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) and the planned rebuild of one of nine furnaces at Rio Tinto Fer et Titane (RTFT). This rebuild has been delayed until market conditions for high grade titanium dioxide feedstock improve. Full year production was marginally higher than in 2012 as the impact of production cuts in response to market conditions was offset by the doubling of the Group's interest in RBM announced in September 2012. The RTFT upgraded slag (UGS) production facility restarted in the fourth quarter but at reduced capacity.

 

Borates production in the fourth quarter increased 22 per cent over the same period of 2012 in response to increased sales during the quarter and in preparation for the launch of the new modified direct dissolving of kernite (MDDK) process plant in 2014.

 

Salt production in the fourth quarter increased 12 per cent compared with the same period in 2012 due to productivity improvements achieved during the quarter and maintenance activities which took place in the fourth quarter of 2012.

 

Constructive discussions to develop the formal investment framework for Simandou continue with the Government of Guinea and Simfer partners.

 

 

CORPORATE

 

On 8 January 2014, Turquoise Hill Resources announced the successful completion of its approximately $2.4 billion rights issue.  Rio Tinto provided a standby commitment for the issue and undertook to exercise all of its rights. Following the transaction, Rio Tinto's shareholding in Turquoise Hill Resources remains unchanged at approximately 50.8 per cent. 

 

Turquoise Hill Resources will use the proceeds of the rights issue to repay the $1.8 billion interim funding facility and the $600 million bridge facility extended by Rio Tinto.  This will result in around a $1.2 billion reduction in Rio Tinto's consolidated net debt.

 

Prior to the announcement of the rights issue, Rio Tinto also secured extensions to the commitment letters received from 15 commercial banks for the Oyu Tolgoi project financing, which now expire on 31 March 2014.

 

 

EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION

 

Pre-tax and pre-divestment expenditure on exploration and evaluation charged to the profit and loss account in 2013 was $948 million compared with $1,971 million in 2012.  Of the 2013 expenditure, approximately 39 per cent was incurred by the Copper Group, six per cent by Iron Ore, 22 per cent by Energy, 13 per cent by Diamonds and Minerals, one per cent by Rio Tinto Alcan and the balance by Central Exploration.

 

Exploration highlights 

 

In the Pilbara (Western Australia), data processing and interpretation of the airborne geophysical surveys continued.  Drilling was completed on the planned 2013 targets.

 

In the Bowen Basin (Queensland, Australia), drilling was completed at the Winchester South, Hillalong and Kemmis Creek projects.

 

In Montana (US) drilling of the 2013 targets was completed at the Copper Cliff porphyry copper project.

 

In Chile, drilling was completed at the Olimpo project, and geophysical surveys were completed at the Queen Elizabeth target (an alliance project with Codelco).

 

In Russia, all field programmes were completed ahead of the onset of winter.  Data compilation, interpretation and target generation work was completed for the Kirganik copper exploration project located in the southern Kamchatka peninsula.

 

In Uzbekistan, geological mapping and ground geophysics targeting copper mineralisation was completed at the Gava prospect.

 

In China CRTX, the Chinalco Rio Tinto Exploration Joint Venture, signed a cooperation agreement in the Heilongjiang Province for copper exploration.

 

At Tamarack (USA) drilling aimed to follow-up significant zones of nickel mineralisation was completed.

 

On the Saskatchewan Potash project in Canada, a joint venture with North Atlantic Potash Inc., a subsidiary of JSC Acron, processing and interpretation of the 2012 3D seismic survey was completed and resource estimation completed.

 

At Rössing (Namibia) resource estimation was completed incorporating the third phase of drilling at the Z20 uranium project.

 

In Brazil in the Amargosa Orbit, field mapping and auger drilling continued across several targets.

 

At the Suriapet diamond project in India, gravel sampling continued, but was hampered by monsoon rains.

 



A summary of activity for the period is as follows:

 

Product Group

Evaluation projects

Advanced projects

Greenfield programmes

Aluminium

Amargosa, Brazil

Amargosa orbit, Brazil

Australia, Brazil, Laos

Copper

Copper/molybdenum: Resolution, US.

Copper: La Granja, Peru

Copper/gold: Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia

Nickel: Tamarack, US.

Copper: Australia, PNG, US, Chile, Peru, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Zambia, China

Diamonds & Minerals

Diamonds: Bunder, India

Lithium borates: Jadar, Serbia

Heavy Mineral Sands: Mutamba

 

Diamonds: Canada, India

Potash: Canada

Heavy Mineral Sands: Gabon

Energy

Coal: Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique

Uranium:  Ranger 3 Deeps, Rough Rider

Coal: Bowen Basin, Australia

Uranium: Canada

Uranium: Canada, US, Namibia, Australia

Iron Ore

Simandou, Guinea

Pilbara, Australia

Pilbara, Australia

Canada, Botswana, India

 

Mine-lease exploration continued at a number of Rio Tinto businesses including, Pilbara Iron, Hail Creek, Rössing, Oyu Tolgoi, Resolution, La Granja, Rough Rider and Sweetwater.

 

About Rio Tinto

 

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and New York Stock Exchange 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, thermal and metallurgical coal, uranium, gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide and salt) and iron ore. Activities span the world and are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.

 

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, EMEA / Americas

Illtud Harri

Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1152

Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 503 600

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Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1623

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Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620
Mobile: +61 (0) 419 850 205

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Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3612

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Investor Relations, EMEA

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Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1178

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Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1262

Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 587 805

Investor Relations, Australia / Asia

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Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3063

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Office: +852 (2839) 9208

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Rio Tinto production summary





















Rio Tinto share of production

























Quarter


Full Year


% Change



2012
Q4

2013
Q3

2013
Q4


2012

2013


Q4 13
vs
Q4 12

Q4 13
vs
Q3 13

2013
vs
2012

Principal Commodities












Alumina

('000 t)

2,617

2,293

2,582


9,710

9,307


-1%

13%

-4%

Aluminium

('000 t)

906

878

868


3,456

3,555


-4%

-1%

3%

Bauxite

('000 t)

10,731

11,250

11,432


39,363

43,204


7%

2%

10%

Borates

('000 t)

100

127

121


453

495


22%

-4%

9%

Coal - hard coking

('000 t)

1,932

2,253

2,410


8,044

8,214


25%

7%

2%

Coal - semi-soft coking

('000 t)

963

750

922


3,286

3,859


-4%

23%

17%

Coal - thermal

('000 t)

6,222

6,321

5,624


20,648

22,975


-10%

-11%

11%

Copper - mined

('000 t)

163.9

162.3

172.8


548.8

631.5


5%

6%

15%

Copper - refined

('000 t)

86.2

68.3

81.0


279.4

300.1


-6%

19%

7%

Diamonds

('000 cts)

3,248

4,158

4,498


13,122

16,027


38%

8%

22%

Iron ore

('000 t)

51,967

53,377

55,510


198,869

208,966


7%

4%

5%

Titanium dioxide feedstock

('000 t)

450

373

361


1,594

1,622


-20%

-3%

2%

Uranium

('000 lbs)

2,853

1,817

1,476


9,760

7,993


-48%

-19%

-18%

Other Metals & Minerals












Gold - mined

('000 oz)

73

97

114


294

340


56%

17%

16%

Gold - refined

('000 oz)

78

40

48


279

192


-39%

19%

-31%

Molybdenum

('000 t)

1.1

1.2

1.8


9.4

5.7


69%

49%

-39%

Salt

('000 t)

1,678

1,586

1,886


6,833

6,728


12%

19%

-2%

Silver - mined

('000 oz)

998

1,345

1,412


3,657

4,765


41%

5%

30%

Silver - refined

('000 oz)

810

395

633


2,451

2,158


-22%

60%

-12%













Throughout this report, figures in italics indicate adjustments made since the figure was previously quoted on the equivalent page. Production figures are sometimes more precise than the rounded numbers shown, hence small differences may result between the total of the quarter figures and the full year figures.

 



 

Rio Tinto share of production















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










ALUMINA









Production ('000 tonnes)









Rio Tinto Alcan









  Jonquière (Vaudreuil)

100%

363

362

346

353

378

1,397

1,439

  Queensland Alumina

80%

714

593

697

695

722

2,954

2,707

  São Luis (Alumar)

10%

82

83

84

85

91

341

343

  Yarwun

100%

750

523

620

608

696

2,175

2,446

  Jonquière (Vaudreuil) specialty alumina plant

100%

25

25

30

25

23

101

103

Rio Tinto Alcan total


1,934

1,587

1,776

1,764

1,909

6,968

7,037

Other Aluminium - Gove refinery (a)

100%

683

599

470

528

673

2,742

2,270

Rio Tinto total alumina production


2,617

2,186

2,246

2,293

2,582

9,710

9,307










ALUMINIUM









Production ('000 tonnes)









Rio Tinto Alcan









  Australia - Bell Bay (b)

100%

47

46

47

47

47

185

187

  Australia - Boyne Island (b)

59%

85

83

83

84

83

338

333

  Australia - Tomago (b)

52%

71

68

69

71

72

281

281

  Cameroon - Alucam (Edéa)

47%

7

5

8

11

11

24

35

  Canada - seven wholly owned (c) (d)

100%

318

329

338

335

331

1,103

1,333

  Canada - Alouette (Sept-Îles)

40%

59

59

58

57

59

237

233

  Canada - Bécancour

25%

27

27

27

28

27

107

109

  France - Dunquerque

100%

65

64

60

66

68

256

258

  France - St-Jean-de-Maurienne (e)

0%

22

22

23

24

16

93

85

  Iceland - ISAL (Reykjavik)

100%

48

49

50

49

49

190

197

  New Zealand - Tiwai Point (b)

79%

64

65

62

64

66

258

257

  Norway - SØRAL (Husnes)

50%

12

11

11

11

12

46

45

  Oman - Sohar

20%

18

18

18

18

17

72

71

  UK - Lochaber

100%

11

12

11

11

11

45

44

Rio Tinto Alcan total


854

856

866

878

868

3,236

3,468

Other Aluminium - two smelters (f)

 

52

52

35

-

-

220

87

Rio Tinto total aluminium production


906

907

901

878

868

3,456

3,555










BAUXITE









Production ('000 tonnes) (g)









Rio Tinto Alcan









   Gove (b)

100%

2,068

1,918

1,857

1,983

2,271

7,944

8,029

   Porto Trombetas

12%

481

384

473

506

525

1,861

1,887

   Sangaredi

   (h)

1,663

1,477

1,831

1,790

1,848

6,301

6,947

   Weipa

100%

6,518

5,783

6,800

6,971

6,787

23,257

26,341

Rio Tinto total bauxite production


10,731

9,562

10,960

11,250

11,432

39,363

43,204



 

Rio Tinto share of production















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










BORATES









Production ('000 tonnes B2O3 content)









  Rio Tinto Minerals - borates

100%

100

111

137

127

121

453

495










COAL - hard coking









Rio Tinto Coal Australia ('000 tonnes)









  Hail Creek Coal

82%

1,588

1,217

1,373

1,483

1,536

5,882

5,608

  Kestrel Coal

80%

244

321

387

608

726

1,974

2,043

Total Rio Tinto Coal Australia hard coking coal


1,832

1,539

1,759

2,091

2,262

7,857

7,651

Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique









  Benga (i)

65%

100

111

143

162

148

188

564

Rio Tinto total hard coking coal production


1,932

1,650

1,902

2,253

2,410

8,044

8,214










COAL - semi-soft coking









Rio Tinto Coal Australia ('000 tonnes)









  Hunter Valley

80%

461

651

463

466

527

1,695

2,107

  Mount Thorley

64%

344

271

364

241

305

1,014

1,182

  Warkworth

44%

158

117

320

43

90

576

569

Rio Tinto total semi-soft coking coal production


963

1,039

1,147

750

922

3,286

3,859










COAL - thermal









Rio Tinto Coal Australia ('000 tonnes)









  Bengalla

32%

662

565

721

710

638

2,248

2,634

  Blair Athol Coal (j)

71%

497

-

-

-

-

1,843

-

  Clermont (k)

50%

1,416

1,130

1,524

1,753

1,496

4,103

5,903

  Hail Creek Coal (l)

82%

-

-

-

21

136

-

157

  Hunter Valley

80%

2,395

1,893

2,553

2,330

2,026

7,869

8,802

  Kestrel Coal

80%

67

169

89

53

60

280

371

  Mount Thorley

64%

420

483

413

263

350

1,598

1,508

  Warkworth

44%

607

704

547

1,069

791

2,435

3,110

Total Rio Tinto Coal Australia thermal coal


6,063

4,943

5,846

6,198

5,497

20,376

22,485

Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique









  Benga (i)

65%

160

109

132

122

127

272

490

Rio Tinto total thermal coal production


6,222

5,052

5,978

6,321

5,624

20,648

22,975



 

Rio Tinto share of production















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










COPPER









Mine production ('000 tonnes) (g)









  Bingham Canyon

100%

59.3

48.2

39.2

59.1

64.5

163.2

211.0

  Escondida

30%

86.8

85.6

85.6

81.5

83.8

314.2

336.5

  Grasberg - Joint Venture (m)

40%

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

6.3

0.0

6.3

  Northparkes (n)

0%

10.8

10.6

11.2

11.4

7.2

43.1

40.4

  Oyu Tolgoi (o)

34%

-

-

4.4

10.3

11.0

-

25.7

  Palabora (p)

0%

7.0

5.8

5.8

-

-

28.3

11.6

Rio Tinto total mine production


163.9

150.2

146.2

162.3

172.8

548.8

631.5

Refined production ('000 tonnes)









  Escondida

30%

21.3

22.6

23.8

22.0

23.2

93.1

91.6

  Kennecott Utah Copper

100%

59.9

50.4

39.2

46.3

57.7

162.7

193.6

  Palabora (p)

0%

5.1

7.5

7.4

-

-

23.6

14.9

Rio Tinto total refined production


86.2

80.5

70.4

68.3

81.0

279.4

300.1










DIAMONDS









Production ('000 carats)









  Argyle

100%

2,010

1,990

3,130

3,085

3,153

8,471

11,359

  Diavik

60%

1,141

1,167

936

1,003

1,240

4,338

4,346

  Murowa

78%

98

79

69

70

105

313

322

Rio Tinto total diamond production


3,248

3,236

4,135

4,158

4,498

13,122

16,026










GOLD









Mine production ('000 ounces) (g)









  Barneys Canyon

100%

0.8

0.0

0.4

0.0

0.0

1.2

0.4

  Bingham Canyon

100%

48

46

31

56

74

200

207

  Escondida

30%

7

7

7

7

7

29

28

  Grasberg - Joint Venture (m)

40%

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

  Northparkes (n)

0%

14

14

14

14

8

58

49

  Oyu Tolgoi (o)

34%

-

-

7

21

25

-

53

  Palabora (p)

0%

2.2

1.6

1.5

-

-

6.3

3.1

Rio Tinto total mine production


73

69

61

97

114

294

340

Refined production ('000 ounces)









  Kennecott Utah Copper

100%

78

60

44

40

48

279

192



 

Rio Tinto share of production















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










IRON ORE









Production ('000 tonnes) (g)









  Hamersley - six wholly owned mines

100%

33,022

30,774

32,946

33,707

35,868

126,630

133,295

  Hamersley - Channar

60%

1,833

1,743

1,742

1,528

1,615

6,568

6,628

  Hamersley - Eastern Range

   (q)

2,424

2,508

2,460

2,571

2,513

9,303

10,052

  Hope Downs

50%

3,683

3,869

3,965

4,504

4,556

15,396

16,894

  Iron Ore Company of Canada

59%

2,298

2,009

2,341

2,353

2,321

8,267

9,024

  Robe River

53%

8,707

7,347

8,375

8,714

8,637

32,705

33,073

Rio Tinto total iron ore production


51,967

48,250

51,829

53,377

55,510

198,869

208,966

Breakdown:









  Pilbara Blend Lump


12,580

11,997

13,217

13,269

13,665

48,927

52,148

  Pilbara Blend Fines


17,717

18,181

18,572

19,237

20,480

69,861

76,470

  Robe Valley Lump


1,620

1,252

1,387

1,658

1,631

5,589

5,928

  Robe Valley Fines


3,280

2,661

3,039

3,066

2,960

11,532

11,726

  Yandicoogina Fines (HIY)


14,472

12,150

13,272

13,795

14,453

54,693

53,670

  IOC Concentrate


844

797

1,086

1,048

1,057

2,578

3,988

  IOC Pellets


1,453

1,212

1,255

1,305

1,264

5,689

5,036










MOLYBDENUM









Mine production ('000 tonnes) (g)









  Bingham Canyon

100%

1.1

1.8

0.9

1.2

1.8

9.4

5.7










SALT









Production ('000 tonnes)









  Dampier Salt

68%

1,678

1,585

1,670

1,586

1,886

6,833

6,728










SILVER









Mine production ('000 ounces) (g)









  Bingham Canyon

100%

624

663

431

852

930

2,086

2,876

  Escondida

30%

251

261

306

305

337

1,050

1,210

  Grasberg - Joint Venture (m)

40%

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

  Oyu Tolgoi (o)

34%

-

-

28

66

70

-

164

  Others

-

123

136

181

122

76

521

515

Rio Tinto total mine production


998

1,061

946

1,345

1,412

3,657

4,765

Refined production ('000 ounces)









  Kennecott Utah Copper

100%

810

672

457

395

633

2,451

2,158










TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK









Production ('000 tonnes)









  Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium (r)

100%

450

427

461

373

361

1,594

1,622



 

Rio Tinto share of production















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










URANIUM









Production ('000 lbs U3O8)









  Energy Resources of Australia

68%

1,840

1,351

1,391

869

741

5,679

4,351

  Rössing

69%

1,013

983

976

948

735

4,081

3,643

Rio Tinto total uranium production


2,853

2,334

2,366

1,817

1,476

9,760

7,993










Production data notes:

(a) On 29 November 2013, Rio Tinto announced plans to close the Gove refinery in 2014; the Gove refinery has been transferred from 'Rio Tinto Alcan' to 'Other Aluminium'.

(b) On 8 August 2013, Rio Tinto announced that Pacific Aluminium, including the Gove mine, Bell Bay, Boyne Island, Tomago and Tiwai Point smelters, would be reintegrated in Rio Tinto Alcan.

(c) The Shawinigan smelter ceased production on 29 November 2013.

(d) Rio Tinto started production at the Arvida AP60 Technology Centre in the fourth quarter of 2013.

(e) Rio Tinto sold its 100% interest in the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne smelter with an effective date of 16 December 2013. Production is shown up to that date.

(f) Rio Tinto sold its 100% interest in the Sebree aluminium smelter with an effective date of 1 June 2013. Production is shown up to that date. The wholly owned Lynemouth smelter was closed in March 2012.

(g) Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal produced in concentrates, leach liquor or doré bullion irrespective of whether these products are then refined onsite, except for the data for bauxite and iron ore which represent production of marketable quantities of ore plus concentrates and pellets.

(h) Rio Tinto has a 22.95% shareholding in the Sangaredi mine but benefits from 45.0% of production.

(i) Benga moved to commercial production during the third quarter of 2012.

(j) Blair Athol closed in the last quarter of 2012. Rio Tinto agreed the sale of its 71.2% interest in Blair Athol in October 2013.

(k) In October 2013, Rio Tinto announced that it had reached a binding agreement for the sale of its 50.1% interest in the Clermont Joint Venture.

(l) Hail Creek started a trial of thermal coal production, reprocessed from coking coal reject, in the third quarter of 2013.

(m) Through a joint venture agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX), Rio Tinto is entitled to 40% of additional material mined as a consequence of expansions and developments of the Grasberg facilities since 1998. According to current estimates, the 4Q 2013 production from Grasberg did not exceed the metal attributable to PT Freeport Indonesia per the joint venture agreement for gold and silver for the quarter. Accordingly, Rio Tinto's share of joint venture production of gold and silver was zero for 4Q 2013.

(n) Rio Tinto sold its 80% interest in Northparkes with an effective date of 1 December 2013. Production is shown up to that date.

(o) Rio Tinto owns a 33.52% indirect interest in Oyu Tolgoi through its 50.79% interest in Turquoise Hill Resources. Production included in the table is from 1 May 2013.

(p) The sale of Rio Tinto's 57.7% interest in Palabora Mining Company was completed on 31 July 2013; production data have been reported up to 30 June 2013.

(q) Rio Tinto's share of production includes 100% of the production from the Eastern Range mine. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Hamersley Iron manages the operation and is obliged to purchase all mine production from the joint venture.

(r) Quantities comprise 100% of Rio Tinto Fer et Titane and Rio Tinto's share of Richards Bay Minerals (RBM). Rio Tinto's share of RBM production reflects increased ownership from 37% to 74% in early September 2012.










The Rio Tinto percentage shown above is at 31 December 2013.

















Rio Tinto's interests in the Beyrède, Gardanne, La Bâthie and Teutschenthal specialty alumina plants and Borax Argentina were sold in 2012. No data for these operations are included in the Share of Production table.

 



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










ALUMINIUM









Rio Tinto Alcan - Bauxite









Bauxite production ('000 tonnes)









Australia









  Gove mine - Northern Territory (a)

100.0%

2,068

1,918

1,857

1,983

2,271

7,944

8,029

  Weipa mine - Queensland

100.0%

6,518

5,783

6,800

6,971

6,787

23,257

26,341

Brazil









  Porto Trombetas (MRN) mine

12.0%

4,010

3,198

3,941

4,214

4,376

15,512

15,729

Guinea









  Sangaredi mine (b)

23.0%

3,696

3,282

4,070

3,978

4,107

14,001

15,437










Rio Tinto Alcan share of bauxite shipments









Share of bauxite shipments ('000 tonnes)


10,244

9,381

11,148

11,166

11,268

39,238

42,962


(a) On 8 August 2013, Rio Tinto announced that Pacific Aluminium, including the Gove mine, would be reintegrated in Rio Tinto Alcan.
(b) Rio Tinto has a 22.95% shareholding in the Sangaredi mine but benefits from 45.0% of production.

Rio Tinto Alcan - Smelter Grade Alumina









Alumina production ('000 tonnes)









Australia









  Queensland Alumina Refinery - Queensland

80.0%

893

741

872

868

903

3,693

3,384

  Yarwun refinery - Queensland

100.0%

750

523

620

608

696

2,175

2,446

Brazil









  São Luis (Alumar) refinery

10.0%

820

833

836

848

908

3,409

3,425

Canada









  Jonquière (Vaudreuil) refinery - Quebec (a)

100.0%

363

362

346

353

378

1,397

1,439


(a) Jonquière's (Vaudreuil's) production shows smelter grade alumina only and excludes hydrate produced and used for specialty alumina.

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










ALUMINIUM (continued)









Rio Tinto Alcan - Specialty Alumina









Specialty alumina production ('000 tonnes)









Canada









  Jonquière (Vaudreuil) plant - Quebec

100.0%

25

25

30

25

23

101

103

Rio Tinto Alcan - Primary Aluminium









Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes)









Australia









  Bell Bay smelter - Tasmania (a)

100.0%

47

46

47

47

47

185

187

  Boyne Island smelter - Queensland (a)

59.4%

143

139

140

142

139

569

561

  Tomago smelter - New South Wales (a)

51.6%

137

133

134

139

139

546

545

Cameroon









  Alucam (Edéa) smelter

46.7%

16

11

16

24

24

52

75

Canada









  Alma smelter - Quebec

100.0%

90

106

110

111

113

208

440

  Alouette (Sept-Îles) smelter - Quebec

40.0%

149

146

146

143

147

593

582

  Arvida smelter - Quebec

100.0%

44

43

44

45

43

177

175

  Arvida AP60 smelter - Quebec (b)

100.0%

-

-

-

-

9

-

9

  Bécancour smelter - Quebec

25.1%

106

107

108

110

109

429

435

  Grande-Baie smelter - Quebec

100.0%

56

55

56

56

56

223

224

  Kitimat smelter - British Columbia

100.0%

46

45

44

42

40

182

172

  Laterrière smelter - Quebec

100.0%

58

56

60

62

61

233

239

  Shawinigan smelter - Quebec (c)

100.0%

23

23

24

20

7

81

74

France









  Dunkerque smelter

100.0%

65

64

60

66

68

256

258

  Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne smelter (d)

0.0%

22

22

23

24

16

93

85

Iceland









  ISAL (Reykjavik) smelter

100.0%

48

49

50

49

49

190

197

New Zealand









  Tiwai Point smelter (a)

79.4%

80

82

78

81

83

325

324

Norway









  SØRAL (Husnes) smelter

50.0%

23

22

22

22

23

92

89

Oman









  Sohar smelter

20.0%

90

89

91

89

85

360

354

United Kingdom









  Lochaber smelter

100.0%

11

12

11

11

11

45

44

Rio Tinto Alcan share of metal sales









Share of primary aluminium sales ('000 tonnes)


969

920

989

1,024

991

3,643

3,924


(a) On 8 August 2013, Rio Tinto announced that Pacific Aluminium, including the Bell Bay, Boyne Island, Tomago and Tiwai Point smelters, would be reintegrated in Rio Tinto Alcan.
(b) Rio Tinto started production at the Arvida AP60 Technology Centre in the fourth quarter of 2013.
(c) The Shawinigan smelter ceased production on 29 November 2013.
(d) Rio Tinto sold its 100% interest in the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne smelter with an effective date of 16 December 2013. Production is shown up to that date.

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










ALUMINIUM (continued)









Other Aluminium - Smelter Grade Alumina









Alumina production ('000 tonnes)









Australia









  Gove refinery - Northern Territory (a)

100.0%

683

599

470

528

673

2,742

2,270

Other Aluminium - Specialty Alumina









Specialty alumina production ('000 tonnes)









France









  Beyrède plant (b)

0.0%

-

-

-

-

-

16

-

  Gardanne plant (b)

0.0%

-

-

-

-

-

284

-

   La Bâthie plant (b)

0.0%

-

-

-

-

-

15

-

Germany









  Teutschenthal plant (b)

0.0%

-

-

-

-

-

16

-

Other Aluminium - Primary Aluminium









Primary aluminium production ('000 tonnes)









United Kingdom









  Lynemouth smelter (c)

100.0%

-

-

-

-

-

15

-

USA









  Sebree smelter - Kentucky (d)

0.0%

52

52

35

-

-

205

87


(a) On 29 November 2013, Rio Tinto announced plans to close the Gove refinery in 2014; the Gove refinery has been transferred from 'Rio Tinto Alcan' to 'Other Aluminium'.
(b) Rio Tinto sold its interest in these specialty alumina assets with an effective date of 1 August 2012. Production is shown up to that date.
(c) Rio Tinto closed the Lynemouth aluminium smelter on 29 March 2012.
(d) Rio Tinto sold its 100% interest in the Sebree smelter with an effective date of 1 June 2013. Production is shown up to that date.

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










BORATES









Rio Tinto Minerals - borates

100.0%








US and Argentina









  Borates ('000 tonnes) (a) (b)


100

111

137

127

121

463

495


(a) Production is expressed as B2O3 content.
(b) Rio Tinto sold its interest in Borax Argentina with an effective date of 21 August 2012. Production is included up to that date.










COAL









Rio Tinto Coal Australia









Bengalla mine

32.0%








New South Wales









  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes)


2,068

1,765

2,254

2,220

1,992

7,026

8,232

Blair Athol Coal mine (a)

71.2%


             






Queensland



             





             

  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes)


697

-

-

-

-

2,587

-

Clermont Coal mine (b)

50.1%








Queensland









  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes)


2,826

2,256

3,041

3,499

2,986

8,189

11,782

Hail Creek Coal mine

82.0%








Queensland









  Hard coking coal ('000 tonnes)


1,937

1,485

1,674

1,808

1,873

7,174

6,839

  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes) (c)


-

-

-

25

166

-

191

Hunter Valley Operations

80.0%








New South Wales









  Semi-soft coking coal ('000 tonnes)


576

814

579

582

659

2,119

2,634

  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes)


2,993

2,366

3,191

2,912

2,533

9,836

11,002

Kestrel Coal mine

80.0%








Queensland









  Hard coking coal ('000 tonnes)


304

402

483

760

908

2,468

2,553

  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes)


83

211

111

66

75

350

463

Mount Thorley Operations

64.0%








New South Wales









  Semi-soft coking coal ('000 tonnes)


537

424

569

377

477

1,584

1,846

  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes)


657

754

645

411

547

2,497

2,357

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










COAL (continued)









Warkworth mine

44.5%








New South Wales









  Semi-soft coking coal ('000 tonnes)


355

263

719

96

202

1,296

1,281

  Thermal coal ('000 tonnes)


1,365

1,583

1,229

2,403

1,779

5,477

6,995

Total hard coking coal production ('000 tonnes)


2,242

1,886

2,157

2,568

2,780

9,642

9,392

Total semi-soft coking coal production ('000 tonnes)


1,468

1,501

1,867

1,055

1,338

5,000

5,761

Total thermal coal production ('000 tonnes)


10,689

8,936

10,472

11,537

10,078

35,963

41,023

Total coal production ('000 tonnes)


14,399

12,323

14,496

15,161

14,196

50,605

56,176










Total coal sales ('000 tonnes)


14,757

12,259

14,056

14,481

15,027

50,050

55,823

Rio Tinto Coal Australia share (d)









Share of hard coking coal sales ('000 tonnes)


1,841

1,535

1,776

1,846

2,289

8,210

7,445

Share of semi-soft coal sales ('000 tonnes) (e)


882

1,115

981

806

1,048

3,194

3,950

Share of thermal coal sales ('000 tonnes) (e)


6,236

4,931

5,682

5,952

5,750

19,754

22,316


(a) Blair Athol closed in the last quarter of 2012. Rio Tinto agreed the sale of its 71.2% interest in Blair Athol in October 2013.
(b) In October 2013, Rio Tinto announced that it had reached a binding agreement for the sale of its 50.1% interest in the Clermont Joint Venture.
(c) Hail Creek started a trial of thermal coal production, reprocessed from coking coal reject, in the third quarter of 2013.
(d) Kestrel produces hard coking coal and thermal coal through its mining operations. These coals may be blended at ports.
(e) Sales relate only to coal mined by the operations and exclude traded coal.

Rio Tinto Coal Mozambique









Benga mine (a)

65.0%








Hard coking coal production ('000 tonnes)


154

171

219

249

228

289

867

Thermal coal production ('000 tonnes)


246

168

202

188

196

419

754


(a) Benga moved to commercial production during the third quarter of 2012.

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










COPPER & GOLD









Escondida

30.0%








Chile









Sulphide ore to concentrator ('000 tonnes)


18,796

18,964

19,295

18,276

19,584

70,736

76,119

  Average copper grade (%)


1.39

1.44

1.42

1.37

1.30

1.31

1.38

Mill production (metals in concentrates):









  Contained copper ('000 tonnes)


216.6

229.3

231.9

210.6

214.4

766.6

886.2

  Contained gold ('000 ounces)


24

24

24

22

24

98

94

  Contained silver ('000 ounces)


836

870

1,021

1,017

1,124

3,501

4,032

Recoverable copper in ore stacked for leaching ('000 tonnes) (a)


72.7

55.9

53.5

61.0

64.9

280.8

235.3

Refined production from leach plants:









  Copper cathode production ('000 tonnes)


70.9

75.3

79.3

73.2

77.5

310.3

305.3


(a) The calculation of copper in material mined for leaching is based on ore stacked at the leach pad.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold









Grasberg mine (a)

0.0% (b)








Papua, Indonesia









Ore treated ('000 tonnes)


16,424

17,943

10,403

18,235

17,935

60,379

64,516

Average mill head grades:









  Copper (%)


0.66

0.66

0.73

0.74

0.79

0.62

0.73

  Gold (g/t)


0.59

0.52

0.53

0.65

0.81

0.59

0.64

  Silver (g/t)


2.43

2.15

3.65

2.68

2.52

1.98

2.64

Production of metals in concentrates:









  Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes)


94.1

103.0

65.2

119.2

125.0

326.9

412.4

  Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces)


227

218

135

306

370

888

1,030

  Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces)


865

812

509

1,069

854

2,591

3,244

Sales of payable metals in concentrates: (c)









  Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes)


92.3

89.8

71.6

107.5

124.9

325.6

393.9

  Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces)


224

192

150

278

367

919

988

  Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces)


670

563

452

761

700

2,071

2,475


(a) Through a joint venture agreement with Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX), Rio Tinto is entitled to 40% of additional material mined as a consequence of expansions and developments of the Grasberg facilities since 1998. The 4Q 2013 results show the forecast from FCX's most recent five-year plan, because FCX is not releasing its actual 100% operating data for 4Q 2013 until the release of its 2013 fourth-quarter results on 22 January 2014.
(b) Rio Tinto share of Grasberg production is 40% of the expansion.
(c) Net of smelter deductions.

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










COPPER & GOLD (continued)









Kennecott Utah Copper









Barneys Canyon mine (a)

100.0%


             


             

             



Utah, US



             


             

             



  Gold produced ('000 ounces)


0.8

0.0

0.4

0.0

0.0

1.2

0.4

Bingham Canyon mine

100.0%








Utah, US









Ore treated ('000 tonnes)


11,001

11,733

8,192

10,593

13,088

44,131

43,606

Average ore grade:









  Copper (%)


0.60

0.47

0.54

0.62

0.56

0.42

0.55

  Gold (g/t)


0.19

0.18

0.15

0.22

0.28

0.20

0.21

  Silver (g/t)


2.34

2.42

2.18

4.16

3.12

2.19

3.01

  Molybdenum (%)


0.027

0.033

0.022

0.034

0.032

0.040

0.031

Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes)


267

223

170

235

257

753

885

  Average concentrate grade (% Cu)


22.1

21.7

23.0

25.2

25.1

21.6

23.8

Production of metals in copper concentrates:









  Copper ('000 tonnes) (b)


59.3

48.2

39.2

59.1

64.5

163.2

211.0

  Gold ('000 ounces)


48

46

31

56

74

200

207

  Silver ('000 ounces)


624

663

431

852

930

2,086

2,876

Molybdenum concentrates produced ('000 tonnes):


2.2

3.5

1.7

2.4

3.5

18.2

11.1

  Molybdenum in concentrates ('000 tonnes)


1.1

1.8

0.9

1.2

1.8

9.4

5.7


(a) Mining operations ceased in the first quarter of 2002. Gold continues to be recovered from leach pads.
(b) Includes a small amount of copper in precipitates.

Kennecott smelter & refinery

100.0%








Copper concentrates smelted ('000 tonnes)


285

245

123

256

266

830

890

Copper anodes produced ('000 tonnes) (a)


63.3

50.6

30.1

54.3

56.9

167.7

192.0

Production of refined metal:









  Copper ('000 tonnes)


59.9

50.4

39.2

46.3

57.7

162.7

193.6

  Gold ('000 ounces) (b)


78

60

44

40

48

279

192

  Silver ('000 ounces) (b)


810

672

457

395

633

2,451

2,158


(a) New metal excluding recycled material.
(b) Includes gold and silver in intermediate products.

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










COPPER & GOLD (continued)









Northparkes Joint Venture (a)

0.0%








New South Wales, Australia









Ore treated ('000 tonnes)


1,393

1,419

1,542

1,528

989

5,651

5,478

Average ore grade:









  Copper (%)


1.09

1.06

1.02

1.04

1.03

1.07

1.04

  Gold (g/t)


0.52

0.49

0.47

0.45

0.44

0.53

0.47

Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes)


39.1

39.7

42.8

44.2

27.1

155.8

153.6

Contained copper in concentrates:









   Saleable production ('000 tonnes)


13.5

13.3

14.0

14.3

9.0

53.8

50.6

   Sales ('000 tonnes) (b)


12.1

10.7

11.3

8.9

11.6

43.8

42.5

Contained gold in concentrates:









   Saleable production ('000 ounces)


18

17

17

17

10

72

62

   Sales ('000 ounces) (b)


16.3

14.9

13.4

11.0

14.1

60.3

53.4


(a) Rio Tinto sold its 80% interest in Northparkes with an effective date of 1 December 2013. Production is shown up to that date.
(b) Rio Tinto's 80% share of material from the Joint Venture.

Turquoise Hill Resources


             

             




             


Oyu Tolgoi mine (a)

33.5%








Mongolia


             

             




             


Ore Treated ('000 tonnes)


-

-

4,430

8,052

7,835

-

20,317

Average mill head grades:



             




             


  Copper (%)


-

-

0.42

0.47

0.49

-

0.47

  Gold (g/t)


-

-

0.27

0.36

0.41

-

0.36

  Silver (g/t)


-

-

1.31

1.39

1.44

-

1.39

Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes)


-

-

50.2

110.3

129.5

-

290.0

  Average concentrate grade (% Cu)


-

-

26.1

27.7

25.4

-

26.4

Production of metals in concentrates:


             

             




             


  Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes)


-

-

13.1

30.6

32.9

-

76.7

  Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces)


-

-

21

62

74

-

157

  Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces)


-

-

85

196

208

-

489

Sales of metals in concentrates:


             

             




             


  Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes)


-

-

-

-

6.1

-

6.1

  Gold in concentrates ('000 ounces)


-

-

-

-

10

-

10

  Silver in concentrates ('000 ounces)


-

-

-

-

36

-

36


(a) Rio Tinto owns a 33.52% indirect interest in Oyu Tolgoi through its 50.79% interest in Turquoise Hill Resources. Production included in the table is from 1 May 2013.

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










COPPER & GOLD (continued)









Palabora (a)

0.0%








Palabora Mine









South Africa









Ore Treated ('000 tonnes)


2,434

2,139

2,221

-

-

9,225

4,360

   Average ore grade: copper (%) (b)


0.57

0.56

0.58

-

-

0.59

0.57

Copper concentrates produced ('000 tonnes)


43.7

35.5

47.7

-

-

170.2

83.2

   Average concentrate grade: copper (%)


27.8

28.4

25.3

-

-

28.8

26.7

   Copper in concentrates ('000 tonnes)


12.1

10.1

12.1

-

-

49.1

22.2

Palabora smelter/refinery









New concentrate smelted on site ('000 tonnes)


43.6

54.2

57.1

-

-

157.0

111.3

New copper anodes produced ('000 tonnes)


10.9

14.1

13.2

-

-

40.6

27.3

Refined new copper produced ('000 tonnes)


8.8

13.0

12.9

-

-

40.9

25.8

Gold in Anode Slimes ('000 tonnes)


3.8

2.8

2.6

-

-

10.9

5.5

By-products:









   Magnetite concentrate ('000 tonnes)


1,428

1,146

1,482

-

-

5,280

2,628

    Nickel contained in products (tonnes)


3

6

11

-

-

32

17

Vermiculite plant









   Vermiculite produced ('000 tonnes)


30

32

41

-

-

133

73


(a) The sale of Rio Tinto's 57.7% interest in Palabora Mining Company was completed on 31 July 2013; production data have been reported up to 30 June 2013.
(b) Includes some higher grade slag processed in 3Q 2012.










DIAMONDS









Argyle Diamonds (a)

100.0%








Western Australia









  AK1 ore processed ('000 tonnes)


1,822

1,533

1,929

2,088

1,728

7,011

7,278

  AK1 diamonds produced ('000 carats)


2,010

1,990

3,130

3,085

3,153

8,471

11,359


(a) Rio Tinto officially opened the Argyle underground mine on 30 April 2013.

Diavik Diamonds

60.0%








Northwest Territories, Canada









  Ore processed ('000 tonnes)


466

503

526

548

539

2,058

2,116

  Diamonds recovered ('000 carats)


1,901

1,946

1,559

1,672

2,066

7,230

7,243

Murowa Diamonds

77.8%








Zimbabwe









  Ore processed ('000 tonnes)


154

153

122

145

144

542

564

  Diamonds recovered ('000 carats)


126

101

88

90

135

403

414

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










IRON ORE









Rio Tinto Iron Ore









Western Australia









Pilbara Operations









Saleable iron ore production ('000 tonnes)









  Hamersley - Paraburdoo, Mt Tom Price, Marandoo,









  Yandicoogina, Brockman and Nammuldi

100.0%

33,022

30,775

32,945

33,707

35,868

126,630

133,295

  Hamersley - Channar

60.0%

3,055

2,905

2,904

2,546

2,692

10,947

11,047

  Hamersley - Eastern Range

   (a)

2,424

2,508

2,460

2,571

2,513

9,303

10,052

  Hope Downs

50.0%

7,367

7,737

7,932

9,007

9,112

30,793

33,788

  Robe River - Pannawonica (Mesas J and A)

53.0%

9,246

7,383

8,352

8,912

8,661

32,304

33,308

  Robe River - West Angelas

53.0%

7,183

6,479

7,451

7,528

7,635

29,404

29,093

Total production ('000 tonnes)


62,297

57,787

62,044

64,271

66,481

239,380

250,583

Breakdown of total production:









  Pilbara Blend Lump


15,748

15,099

16,641

16,845

17,374

62,251

65,959

  Pilbara Blend Fines


22,831

23,154

23,780

24,719

25,993

90,133

97,646

  Robe Valley Lump


3,057

2,363

2,616

3,129

3,076

10,545

11,184

  Robe Valley Fines


6,189

5,021

5,735

5,783

5,585

21,758

22,124

  Yandicoogina Fines (HIY)


14,473

12,150

13,272

13,795

14,453

54,693

53,670

Breakdown of total sales:









  Pilbara Blend Lump


13,740

12,472

13,356

14,408

15,628

53,069

55,864

  Pilbara Blend Fines


25,157

22,753

23,437

26,177

28,999

93,692

101,366

  Robe Valley Lump


2,651

2,019

1,982

2,794

3,096

9,099

9,891

  Robe Valley Fines


6,707

4,645

5,637

6,298

6,592

23,000

23,172

  Yandicoogina Fines (HIY)


14,668

12,833

12,056

14,576

14,504

53,847

53,969

Total sales ('000 tonnes) (b)


62,923

54,722

56,468

64,253

68,819

232,707

244,262


(a) Rio Tinto owns 54% of the Eastern Range mine. Under the terms of the joint venture agreement, Hamersley Iron manages the operation and is obliged to purchase all mine production from the joint venture and therefore all of the production is included in Rio Tinto's share of production.
(b) Sales represent iron ore exported from Western Australian ports.

Iron Ore Company of Canada

58.7%








Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec in Canada









Saleable iron ore production:









  Concentrates ('000 tonnes)


1,438

1,357

1,849

1,785

1,801

4,391

6,792

  Pellets ('000 tonnes)


2,475

2,064

2,138

2,222

2,152

9,688

8,576

Sales:









  Concentrates ('000 tonnes)


1,316

939

2,245

1,481

1,530

4,237

6,195

  Pellets ('000 tonnes)


2,517

1,648

2,582

2,289

2,064

9,884

8,583

Global Iron Ore Totals









Iron Ore Production ('000 tonnes)


66,210

61,209

66,030

68,278

70,434

253,459

265,951

Iron Ore Sales ('000 tonnes)


66,756

57,310

61,294

68,023

72,414

246,828

259,041

Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.



 

Rio Tinto operational data















Rio Tinto
interest

4Q
2012

1Q
2013

2Q
2013

3Q
2013

4Q
2013

Full Year
2012

Full Year
2013










SALT









Dampier Salt

68.4%








Western Australia









  Salt production ('000 tonnes)


2,454

2,319

2,444

2,320

2,759

9,996

9,841










TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK









Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium

100.0%








Canada and South Africa (a)









  (Rio Tinto share) (b)









  Titanium dioxide feedstock ('000 tonnes)


450

427

461

373

361

1,594

1,622


(a) On 7 September 2012, Rio Tinto increased its stake in Richards Bay Minerals from 37% to 74% through the acquisition of BHP Billiton's interest in RBM.
(b) Quantities comprise 100% of Rio Tinto Fer et Titane and Rio Tinto's share of Richards Bay Minerals' production. Ilmenite mined in Madagascar is being processed in Canada.










URANIUM









Energy Resources of Australia Ltd









Ranger mine

68.4%








Northern Territory, Australia









  U3O8 Production ('000 lbs)


2,690

1,974

2,034

1,270

1,083

8,304

6,361

Rössing Uranium Ltd

68.6%








Namibia









  U3O8 Production ('000 lbs)


1,477

1,434

1,423

1,383

1,072

5,950

5,312










Rio Tinto percentage interest shown above is at 31 December 2013. The data represent full production and sales on a 100% basis unless otherwise stated.

 


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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