13 January 2011
Rio Tinto Alcan today gave notice to its affected customers of a force majeure event impacting the supply of aluminium from Boyne Smelters Limited near Gladstone as a result of the severe flooding across Queensland.
The floods have cut road and rail access between Gladstone and Brisbane and the Brisbane port is closed, preventing deliveries to some domestic and international customers.
Rio Tinto Alcan is investigating alternative arrangements for customers, including shipping aluminium directly out of the Gladstone port.
Rio Tinto Alcan is currently unable to provide an estimate of the full impact of the disruption to the supply of aluminium from Boyne Smelters Limited or the duration of the force majeure declaration.
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, EMEA / Americas Illtud Harri Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1152 Mobile: +44 (0)7920 503 600 Tony Shaffer Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1138 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Christina Mills Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1154 Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605 |
Media Relations, Australia / Asia David Luff Karen Halbert Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627 Mobile: +61 (0) 412 119 389 Bruce Tobin Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3612 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 103 454 |
Media Relations, Canada Bryan Tucker Office: +1 (0) 514 848 8151 Mobile: +1 (0) 514 825 8319 |
|
Investor Relations, London Mark Shannon Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1178 Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 576597 David Ovington Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 2051 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978
|
Investor Relations, Australia Dave Skinner Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 Simon Ellinor Office: +61 (0) 7 3361 4365 Mobile: +61 (0) 439 102 811 Christopher Maitland Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3063 Mobile: +61 (0) 459 800 131 |
Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office: +1 (0) 801 204 2919 Mobile: +1 (0) 801 558 2645 |
|
Website: www.riotinto.com
Email: media.enquiries@riotinto.com / enquiries.mediaaustralia@riotinto.com
High resolution photographs and media pack available at: http://www.riotinto.com/media