Rio Tinto 1st QPR
Rio Tinto PLC
23 April 2002
Rio Tinto Quarterly Production Report
For the Quarter ending 31 March 2002
* Iron ore production in the first quarter of 2002 was 9% higher than
the same period in 2001. Hamersley set a new first quarter production
record reflecting the strong demand for fines product. Due to softer
demand in some markets, shipments from Hamersley were 14% below the first
quarter record set last year. Shipments from the Robe River joint
venture were 14% higher.
* Australian and Indonesian coal production was 17% higher than the
first quarter of 2001 due to a full quarter contribution from the
acquisitions in the first quarter of 2001 and increased production from
Coal and Allied's Hunter Valley operations. US Coal production was
marginally down on the first quarter of 2001.
* Mined copper production was 16% below the first quarter of last year
reflecting the November 2001 decision to reduce production at Escondida
and the June 2001 closure of the North Concentrator at Kennecott.
Production at Grasberg was adversely affected by lower grades.
* Mined gold production was 23% below the first quarter of last year
and 17% below the last quarter mainly due to lower head grades at
Grasberg.
* Aluminium production was broadly in line with previous quarters.
Alumina production was 25% higher than this first quarter of 2001 due
primarily to the acquisitions of additional equity in Queensland Alumina
in September 2001.
* Diamond production was 21% above the first quarter of 2001 but 22%
below the last quarter of 2001, reflecting the variation in grades at
Argyle.
* Titanium feedstock production was 8% down compared with the
equivalent quarter of 2001; borates production was 12% down due
principally to inventory management and the timing of maintenance.
For further information contact:
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Website: www.riotinto.com
RIO TINTO PRODUCTION SUMMARY
RIO TINTO share
of production
Quarter FULL YEAR % Change
2001 2001 2002 2001 Q1 02 Q1 02
Q1 Q4 Q1 vs vs
Q4 01 Q1 01
Principal Commodities
Alumina
('000 t) 394 519 492 1,761 -5% 25%
Aluminium
('000 t) 188.0 196.3 191.1 765.6 -3% 2%
Borates
('000 t) 148 134 130 564 -3% -12%
Coal - Australian
And Indonesia
('000 t) 9,441 10,311 11,021 42,269 7% 17%
Coal - US
('000 t) 26,407 28,337 25,853 106,661 -9% -2%
Copper - mined
('000 t) 238.1 205.8 200.6 904.1 -2% -16%
Copper - refined
('000 t) 100.5 100.4 104.1 361.2 4% 4%
Diamonds
('000 cts) 5,086 7,950 6,177 26,100 -22% 21%
Gold - mined
('000 ozs) 895 830 686 3,577 -17% -23%
Gold - refined
('000 ozs) 102 112 127 389 13% 24%
Iron ore
('000 t) 20,674 23,462 22,507 90,566 -4% 9%
Titanium dioxide
feedstock
('000 t) 356 341 328 1,427 -4% -8%
Other Metals & Minerals
Bauxite
('000 t) 3,032 2,968 2,881 11,795 -3% -5%
Lead - mined
('000 t) 9.3 9.8 8.4 38.8 -14% -10%
Molybdenum
('000 t) 2.8 1.6 1.7 8.1 5% -42%
Nickel in matte
(tonnes) 2,710 1,984 2,063 10,170 4% -24%
Nickel - refined
(tonnes) 910 892 943 3,719 6% 4%
Salt
('000 t) 899 1,322 1,103 4,248 -17% 23%
Silver - mined
('000 ozs) 4,634 4,272 4,192 17,703 -2% -10%
Silver - refined
('000 ozs) 657 765 790 2,882 3% 20%
Talc
('000 t) 322 315 322 1,267 2% 0%
Tin
(tonnes) 115 72 123 588 71% 7%
Uranium
(tonnes) 1,405 1,252 1,160 4,705 -7% -17%
Zinc - mined
('000 t) 25.3 27.1 22.5 102.5 -17% -11%
Zinc - refined
('000 t) 18.2 - - 20.4 - -
NB Throughout this report, figures in italics indicate adjustments made
since the figure was previously quoted on the equivalent page.
The figures shown for production 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
FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
Interest 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
ALUMINA
Production
('000 tonnes)
Eurallumina
56% 137 142 127 151 141 557
Queensland
Alumina (a)
39% 257 271 308 368 352 1,204
Rio Tinto total
alumina production 394 413 435 519 492 1,761
ALUMINIUM
Refined production
('000 tonnes)
Anglesey
51% 18.0 18.2 17.4 17.5 18.2 71.0
Bell Bay
100% 39.3 39.8 41.3 40.4 40.3 160.8
Boyne Island
54% 66.2 67.3 70.6 73.4 67.0 277.5
Tiwai Point
79% 64.4 64.4 62.4 65.0 65.6 256.2
Rio Tinto total
aluminium production 188.0 189.7 191.7 196.3 191.1 765.6
BAUXITE
Production
('000 tonnes)
Boke 4% 119 120 175 55 122 469
Weipa 100% 2,913 2,820 2,680 2,913 2,759 11,326
Rio Tinto total
bauxite production 3,032 2,940 2,855 2,968 2,881 11,795
BORATES
Borates
('000 tonnes B2O3 content)
Rio Tinto total
borate production
100% 148 139 142 134 130 564
Coal
COAL Type
Australian coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Coal & Allied Industries(b):
Bengalla (c)
29% S 269 414 312 423 275 1,418
Hunter Valley
Operations
73% S 1,067 1,031 1,914 1,933 1,419 5,945
73% M 888 705 687 633 767 2,913
Mount Thorley
Operations
58% S 283 341 373 376 362 1,373
58% M 226 313 403 313 327 1,255
Moura (c)
40% S 145 330 208 184 268 867
40% M 261 290 282 247 323 1,080
Narama (c)
0% S 142 280 205 162 135 789
Ravensworth
East (c)
0% S 126 357 281 332 281 1,096
Warkworth (c)
40% S 388 635 584 463 647 2,070
40% M 68 76 21 57 72 221
Pacific Coal:
Blair Athol Coal
71% S 2,160 2,057 2,000 1,329 2,130 7,546
Kestrel Coal
80% S 179 250 348 185 259 962
80% M 327 468 572 287 505 1,654
Tarong Coal
100% S 1,293 1,396 1,253 1,333 1,314 5,276
Total Australian coal 7,822 8,942 9,443 8,256 9,083 34,464
Indonesian coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Kaltim Prima
Coal (d) 50% S 1,619 1,869 2,263 2,055 1,938 7,806
US coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Kennecott Energy
Antelope
100% S 5,426 5,355 5,525 6,038 5,335 22,344
Colowyo (e)
100% S 1,276 1,334 1,350 1,271 1,177 5,231
Cordero Rojo
100% S 9,702 9,621 9,676 10,453 9,100 39,452
Decker 50% S 1,155 975 993 1,133 1,072 4,255
Jacobs Ranch
100% S 7,003 7,138 5,404 7,067 6,869 26,612
Spring Creek
100% S 1,845 2,362 2,185 2,375 2,300 8,767
Total US coal 26,407 26,785 25,133 28,337 25,853 106,661
Rio Tinto total
coal production 35,848 37,595 36,839 38,648 36,874 148,930
Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal
produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these
products are then refined on-site.
Key to coal type: S = Steaming/thermal coal, M = Metallurgical/coking coal.
See footnotes on page 6.
FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
Interest 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
COPPER
Mine production
('000 tonnes)
Alumbrera
25% 11.2 12.4 12.0 12.3 12.8 47.9
Bingham Canyon
100% 80.0 92.4 73.1 67.2 62.5 312.7
Escondida
30% 64.1 55.9 59.2 53.2 48.7 232.4
Grasberg -
FCX (f)
15% 25.3 24.1 22.9 21.2 21.0 93.5
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (f
40% 27.1 25.1 23.0 19.1 28.4 94.4
Neves Corvo (g)
49% 11.2 10.6 8.4 10.5 9.0 40.6
Northparkes
80% 10.9 10.7 11.4 11.0 9.5 44.1
Palabora (h)
49% 8.2 6.4 12.5 11.2. 8.6 38.4
Rio Tinto total
mine production 238.1 237.6 222.7 205.8 200.6 904.1
Refined production ('000 tonnes)
Atlantic Copper (f)
17% 10.1 7.8 10.5 10.7 10.3 39.1
Escondida
30% 10.9 11.5 11.4 11.4 11.0 45.3
Kennecott Utah Copper
100% 67.0 56.3 43.7 67.3 74.9 234.3
Palabora (h)
49% 12.4 9.2 9.9 11.0 8.0 42.5
Rio Tinto total
refined production 100.5 84.8 75.5 100.4 104.1 361.2
At the end of the periods, the Group had provisionally priced sales of copper
in concentrates and intermediate product as follows:
Million lbs of payable copper:
Alumbrera
25% 20 29 27 24 13 24
Escondida
30% 126 141 121 110 97 110
Grasberg (f)
15% 50 54 44 40 40 40
Kennecott Utah Copper
100% 20 10 0 0 0 0
Neves Corvo (g)
49% 13 25 12 5 6 5
Northparkes
80% 13 29 19 19 9 19
Rio Tinto total 241 289 223 198 165 198
Priced at US
c/lb average 77 72 65 67 74 67
DIAMONDS
Production ('000 carats)
Argyle
99.8% 5,072 5,012 8,032 7,929 6,143 26,045
Merlin 100% 15 7 13 20 34 55
Rio Tinto
total diamond
production 5,086 5,019 8,045 7,950 6,177 26,100
GOLD
Mine production ('000 ounces)
Alumbrera
25% 34 44 44 47 51 168
Barneys Canyon
100% 37 30 32 41 27 140
Bingham Canyon
100% 151 179 142 120 125 592
Cortez/Pipeline
40% 118 122 118 118 111 475
Escondida
30% 7 7 7 8 8 30
Grasberg -
FCX (f)
15% 108 111 99 70 52 388
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (f)
40% 222 238 220 199 86 880
Greens Creek
70% 16 15 15 15 17 62
Kelian
90% 94 87 117 110 103 408
Lihir
16% 30 26 29 20 24 105
Morro do Ouro
51% 24 23 23 24 28 95
Northparkes
80% 7 10 7 9 9 33
Peak
100% 20 29 28 25 27 101
Rawhide
51% 13 14 13 12 12 52
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
56% 11 10 9 8 6 38
Others - 3 2 2 3 2 10
Rio Tinto total
mine production 895 946 906 830 686 3,577
Refined production
('000 ounces)
Kennecott
Utah Copper
100% 102 87 88 112 127 389
Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal
produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these
products
are then refined on-site.
See footnotes on page 6.
FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
Interest 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
IRON ORE
Production ('000 tonnes)
Channar
60% 1,472 1,630 1,622 1,929 1,517 6,653
Corumba
100% 156 116 206 164 104 642
Hamersley
100% 13,579 14,352 15,748 15,149 14,653 58,828
Iron Ore Company
Of Canada (i)
56% 1,874 2,426 2,028 1,841 1,815 8,169
Robe River
53% 3,594 3,694 4,607 4,379 4,418 16,274
Rio Tinto
total mine production 20,674 22,218 24,212 23,462 22,507 90,566
LEAD
Mine production
('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek
70% 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.7 3.7 14.3
Zinkgruvan
100% 5.7 6.9 5.8 6.1 4.7 24.5
Rio Tinto
Total mine
Production 9.3 10.3 9.5 9.8 8.4 38.8
MOLYBDENUM
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Bingham Canyon
100% 2.8 2.2 1.5 1.6 1.7 8.1
NICKEL
Nickel in matte (tonnes)
Fortaleza
100% 2,710 2,487 2,989 1,984 2,063 10,170
Toll refined metal production (tonnes)
Rio Tinto
Zimbabwe - Empress
56% 910 925 992 892 943 3,719
SALT
Production ('000 tonnes)
Dampier
65% 899 1,020 1,007 1,322 1,103 4,248
SILVER
Mine production ('000 ounces)
Bingham Canyon
100% 1,029 1,328 1,076 1,042 1,032 4,475
Escondida
30% 255 266 227 212 209 959
Grasberg - FCX (f)
15% 213 183 162 141 151 700
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (f)
40% 76 193 178 193 115 641
Greens Creek
70% 2,285 1,795 1,814 1,809 1,960 7,703
Zinkgruvan
100% 347 396 326 427 324 1,496
Others - 429 456 396 447 401 1,729
Rio Tinto total
mine production 4,634 4,618 4,180 4,272 4,192 17,703
Refined production ('000 ounces)
Kennecott
Utah Copper
100% 657 834 626 765 790 2,882
TALC
Production ('000 tonnes)
Luzenac Group
99.9% 322 318 311 315 322 1,267
TIN
Mine production (tonnes)
Neves Corvo (g)
49% 115 210 192 72 123 588
TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK
Production
('000 tonnes)
Rio Tinto Iron &
Titanium
100% 356 371 359 341 328 1,427
Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal
produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these
products are then refined on-site, except for the data for iron ore which
represent production of saleable quantities of ore plus pellets. The nickel in
matte production reflects the contained tonnage of nickel.
See footnotes on page 6.
Rio Tinto
Share of Production
FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
Interest 2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
URANIUM
Production (tonnes U3O8)
Energy Resources
of Australia
68% 903 648 540 790 650 2,880
Palabora (h) 49% 6 5 4 - - 15
Rossing 69% 497 308 544 462 510 1,811
Rio Tinto total
uranium production 1,405 960 1,087 1,252 1,160 4,705
ZINC
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek
70% 10.0 9.7 10.6 10.5 11.4 40.7
Zinkgruvan
100% 15.3 14.8 15.1 16.6 11.1 61.8
Rio Tinto total
mine production 25.3 24.5 25.7 27.1 22.5 102.5
Refined production ('000 tonnes)
Norzink (j)
0% 18.2 2.3 - - - 20.4
(a) Comalco increased its holding in Queensland Alumina Limited from 30.3% to
38.6%, with effect from September 2001.
(b) During March 2001, Rio Tinto increased its stake in Coal & Allied from
70.9% to 72.7%.
(c) Production data are shown from 29 January 2001, the effective date of
Coal & Allied's acquisition of the Australian coal businesses of the Peabody
Group. Effective on the same date, Coal & Allied acquired an additional 11.8%
interest in the Warkworth mine. In February 2002, Coal & Allied conditionally
agreed to sell its interest in the Moura coal mine in Queensland. On 14 March
2002, Coal & Allied completed the sale of its interests in Narama and
Ravensworth; production data are shown up to the date of sale.
(d) Rio Tinto has a 50% share in Kaltim Prima and, under the terms of its
Coal Agreement, the Indonesian Government is entitled to a 13.5% share of
Kaltim Prima's production. Rio Tinto's share of production shown is before
deduction of the Government share.
(e) Kennecott Energy has a partnership interest in the Colowyo mine, but, as
it is responsible under a management agreement for the operation of the mine,
all of Colowyo's output is included in Rio Tinto's share of production.
(f) Rio Tinto's initial interests in the Grasberg mine and in the Atlantic
Copper smelter were acquired in 1995 by virtue of an acquisition of shares in
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX). As a result of FCX share buy-backs and
other shareholding movements, Rio Tinto's interests in FCX and Grasberg have
changed and, as of 31 March 2002, Rio Tinto had a 15.1% share in Grasberg and
a 16.6% share in Atlantic Copper. Under the Joint Venture agreement with FCX,
Rio Tinto is entitled to 40% of additional material mined as a consequence of
the expansion of the Grasberg facilities. The additional entitlement is shown
separately in the above tables.
(g) In January 2002, Rio Tinto agreed to sell its interest in the Neves Corvo
mine subject to certain conditions.
(h) In July 2001, Rio Tinto increased its holding in Palabora from 48.6% to
49.2%.
(i) During the first half of 2001, Rio Tinto acquired 20.3% of the Labrador
Iron Ore Royalty Income Fund. The Fund has a shareholding in Iron Ore Company
of Canada but this has not been included in the calculation of tonnage
attributable to Rio Tinto.
(j) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its interest in Norzink on 17 April 2001.
Where Rio Tinto's beneficial interest in an operation has changed, as
indicated above, the share of production has been calculated using the
weighted average interest over the relevant periods.
OPERATIONAL DATA FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
ALUMINIUM
Anglesey Aluminium
Total production at Anglesey Aluminium (Rio Tinto 51%) in the UK.
(100% basis)
Aluminium hot metal production
('000 tonnes) 35.3 35.7 34.0 34.2 35.7 139.3
Comalco
Total production at Comalco operations; Weipa (Rio Tinto 100%) in
Australia; Boke (Rio Tinto 4%) in Guinea; Eurallumina (Rio Tinto 56.2%) in
Italy; Queensland Alumina (Rio Tinto 38.6% (a)) in Australia; Bell Bay
(Rio Tinto 100%) in Australia; Boyne Island (Rio Tinto 54.2%) in Australia
and Tiwai Point (Rio Tinto 79.4%) in New Zealand.
(100% basis)
Weipa mine, Queensland
Beneficiated bauxite
Production
('000 tonnes) 2,913 2,820 2,680 2,913 2,759 11,326
Metal grade bauxite
shipments
('000 tonnes) 2,841 2,658 2,678 2,831 2,730 11,008
Calcined bauxite
Production
('000 tonnes) 33 41 49 23 49 146
Boke mine
Bauxite production
('000 tonnes) 3,168 2,983 3,046 2,790 3,138 11,987
Eurallumina SpA,
Sardinia
Alumina production
('000 tonnes) 244 254 226 269 251 993
Queensland Alumina Limited,
Queensland
Alumina production
('000 tonnes) 847 894 930 953 911 3,624
Bell Bay, Tasmania
Primary aluminium production
('000 tonnes) 39.3 39.8 41.3 40.4 40.3 160.8
Boyne Island, Queensland
Primary aluminium production
('000 tonnes) 122.5 125.2 129.7 131.5 125.1 508.9
Tiwai Point
Primary aluminium production
('000 tonnes) 81.0 81.4 78.7 81.2 82.4 322.3
Sales of aluminium
attributable to Comalco
('000 tonnes) 155.1 183.5 185.8 165.4 177.4 689.9
(a) Comalco increased its shareholding in Queensland Alumina Limited from
30.3% to 38.6% with effect from September 2001.
Weipa production in the first quarter of 2002 was affected by reduced demand
and by equipment restrictions during the wet season. A power outage at the
Boyne Island smelter in January resulted in reduced production in the first
quarter of 2002. Production at the Tiwai Point and Bell Bay smelters in the
first quarter of 2002 was consistent with production in previous quarters.
Tiwai Point remains power constrained.
Improved aluminium sales in the first quarter of 2002, compared with the
last quarter of 2001, were primarily due to sales that were deferred from
the fourth quarter of 2001.
BORATES
Rio Tinto Borax
Total production at the Boron mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in California, US and
at the Tincalayu, Sijes, Porvenir and Maggie mines (Rio Tinto 100%) in
Argentina.
(100% basis)
Borates
('000 tonnes) (a) 148 139 142 134 130 564
(a) Production is expressed as B2O3 content.
COAL
Coal & Allied Industries Limited (a)
Total production and sales from the Bengalla mine (Rio Tinto 29%); Hunter
Valley Operations (Rio Tinto 73%); the Mount Thorley Operations (Rio Tinto
58%); the Narama mine (sold on 14th March 2002); the Ravensworth East mine
(Rio Tinto 0%) and the Warkworth mine (sold on 14th March 2002), all in New
South Wales, and the Moura mine (Rio Tinto 40%) in Queensland, Australia.
(100% basis)
Bengalla mine (b)
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes) 944 1,423 1,073 1,454 944 4,894
Hunter Valley Operations
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes) 1,500 1,418 2,632 2,659 1,951 8,209
Semi-soft coking
coal Production
('000 tonnes) 1,248 970 945 871 1,055 4,034
Mount Thorley Operations
Thermal coal:
production
('000 tonnes) 497 588 643 648 623 2,376
Semi-soft coking
coal Production
('000 tonnes) 397 540 694 540 562 2,171
Moura mine (b)(c)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes) 370 825 521 459 670 2,175
Semi-soft coking
coal production
('000 tonnes) 643 722 472 438 577 2,275
Coking coal
production
('000 tonnes) 22 3 234 179 230 438
Narama mine (b)(c)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes) 399 769 564 445 370 2,177
Ravensworth East Mine (b)(c)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes) 177 491 386 457 387 1,511
Warkworth mine (b)
Thermal coal
production
('000 tonnes) 979 1,571 1,446 1,145 1,602 5,141
Semi-soft coking
coal production
('000 tonnes) 172 187 51 140 178 550
Total Coal & Allied
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes) 7,348 9,507 9,661 9,435 9,149 35,951
Total sales
('000 tonnes) (d) 7,694 9,507 9,009 9,503 8,786 35,713
(a) During March 2001, Rio Tinto increased its stake in Coal & Allied
from 70.88% to 72.71%.
(b) Coal & Allied purchased the Australian coal businesses (see note (c))
of the Peabody Group effective 29 January 2001. Effective on the same date
Coal & Allied acquired an additional 11.8% interest in the Warkworth mine.
(c) The sale of Coal & Allied's share of Narama and Ravensworth was
completed on 14 March 2002. In February 2002, Coal & Allied conditionally
agreed to sell its interest in the Moura coal mine.
(d) Sales relate only to coal mined by the operations and exclude traded
coal.
Coal production for the first quarter of 2002 was down from the previous
quarter due to a deferral of sales until the second quarter of 2002. This
decrease occurred primarily at Hunter Valley Operations and Bengalla where
mining equipment was focused on overburden removal to sustain coal production
capacity for the remainder of the year. Coal production at Moura increased in
the first quarter of 2002, compared with the last quarter of 2001, due to
improved ground conditions for the dragline. Ravensworth and Narama production
data reflect the 14 March sale date.Coal production at the Warkworth mine
increased in the first quarter of 2002, compared with the fourth quarter of
2001 when dragline and preparation plant maintenance affected output.
First quarter 2001 figures for Moura, Warkworth, Ravensworth East, Narama
and Bengalla are taken from the date of acquisition and reflect two months
of ownership.
Kaltim Prima Coal
Total production and shipments from Kaltim Prima Coal (Rio Tinto 50%) in
Indonesia, including the share of production attributed to the Indonesian
Government (see footnote (d) on page 6).
(100% basis)
Thermal Coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 3,238 3,737 4,526 4,110 3,877 15,611
Shipments
('000 tonnes) 3,309 3,622 4,205 4,505 3,859 15,641
Production in the first quarter of 2002 was affected by increased haul
distances.
Kennecott Energy and Coal Company
Total production from the mines operated by Kennecott Energy and Coal Company
in the US: Antelope (Rio Tinto 100%) in Wyoming; Cordero Rojo (Rio Tinto 100%)
in Wyoming; Jacobs Ranch (Rio Tinto 100%) in Wyoming; Spring Creek (Rio Tinto
100%) in Montana; Decker (Rio Tinto 50%) in Montana and Colowyo in Colorado,
where Kennecott Energy has a partnership interest and full management
responsibility (see footnote (e) on page 6).
(100% basis)
Antelope mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes) 5,426 5,355 5,525 6,038 5,335 22,344
Colowyo mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes) 1,276 1,334 1,350 1,271 1,177 5,231
Cordero Rojo mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes) 9,702 9,621 9,676 10,453 9,100 39,452
Decker mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes) 2,310 1,949 1,985 2,266 2,143 8,510
Jacobs Ranch mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes) 7,003 7,138 5,404 7,067 6,869 26,612
Spring Creek mine
Thermal coal production
('000 tonnes) 1,845 2,362 2,185 2,375 2,300 8,767
Total Kennecott Energy
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes) 27,562 27,759 26,125 29,470 26,924 110,916
Production for the first quarter of 2002, which was 2% lower than for the
same period of 2001, was in line with demand. Prices for coal remained soft
due to the effect on demand of an unusually mild winter, coupled with the
current economic slowdown. Utility coal stockpile volumes remained high and
some of the anticipated 2002 winter sales did not materialise.
COAL (Continued)
FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
Pacific Coal
Total production and sales from the Blair Athol Coal mine (Rio Tinto
71.2%), the Kestrel Coal mine (Rio Tinto 80%) and the Tarong Coal mine
(Rio Tinto 100%) all in Queensland, Australia.
(100% basis)
Blair Athol Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 3,032 2,887 2,808 1,865 2,990 10,592
Sales
('000 tonnes) 2,926 3,151 2,419 1,814 3,549 10,310
Kestrel Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 224 312 435 231 323 1,202
Sales
('000 tonnes) 212 105 104 225 100 645
Coking coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 409 585 715 359 631 2,068
Sales
('000 tonnes) 314 535 483 312 298 1,644
Semi-hard coking
coal: (a)
Sales
('000 tonnes) 162 238 378 457 196 1,235
Tarong Coal mine
Thermal coal:
Production
('000 tonnes) 1,293 1,396 1,253 1,333 1,314 5,276
Sales
('000 tonnes) 1,310 1,300 1,236 1,474 1,242 5,321
Total Pacific Coal
Total coal
production
('000 tonnes) 4,958 5,181 5,211 3,788 5,258 19,138
(a) Semi-hard coking coal is a mixture of thermal coal and coking coal.
The product mix is customer dependent.
Production at Blair Athol in the first quarter of 2002 was in line with
expectations. Sales were higher due to shipments carried over from the
last quarter of 2001.
Despite improved production, a rebuilding of stocks from very low levels
resulted in lower sales at Kestrel in the first quarter of 2002, compared
with the fourth quarter of 2001.
Tarong sales were lower in the first quarter of 2002, compared with the
fourth quarter 2001, due to a unit shutdown at Tarong power station.
COPPER & GOLD
Alumbrera
Total production and sales at the Bajo de la Alumbrera mine (Rio Tinto
25%) in Argentina.
(100% basis)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 7,041 7,483 7,515 7,142 7,145 29,181
Average ore grades:
Copper (%) 0.71 0.74 0.71 0.74 0.76 0.72
Gold (g/t) 0.8 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.0
Concentrate produced
('000 tonnes) 160.4 177.3 174.5 178.3 183.4 690.5
Copper in concentrates:
Production
('000 tonnes) 44.7 49.6 48.1 49.2 51.0 191.6
Sales
('000 tonnes) 37.9 57.0 39.3 53.6 50.9 187.8
Production of gold
in concentrates
('000 ounces) 127 166 166 178 188 637
Production of gold
in dore
('000 ounces) 7 9 9 10 15 36
Total gold sales
('000 ounces) 118 193 146 200 202 657
Escondida
Total production at the Escondida mine (Rio Tinto 30%) in Chile.
(100% basis)
Sulphide ore treated
('000 tonnes) 11,128 10,650 11,204 10,060 10,452 43,042
Average copper
grade (%) 1.95 1.82 1.75 1.72 1.53 1.81
Mill production (metals in concentrates):
Contained copper
('000 tonnes) 177.1 160.6 161.0 144.4 134.9 643.1
Contained gold
('000 ounces) 24 24 25 28 27 101
Contained silver
('000 ounces) 849 887 757 705 698 3,198
Oxide ore treated
('000 tonnes) 3,360 2,494 3,162 3,225 3,054 12,241
Average copper
grade (%) 1.09 1.03 1.15 1.01 0.91 1.07
Contained copper in
leachate/mined material
('000 tonnes) 37 26 36 33 28 132
Refined production:
Oxide plant
production
('000 tonnes) 36.5 38.3 38.1 38.1 36.8 151.0
Contained metal production in the first quarter of 2002 was adversely
affected by Escondida's announcement, on 8 November 2001, of reduced
production due to market conditions.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
Total production and sales at the Grasberg mine (Rio Tinto 15.1% (a)) in
Papua, Indonesia, and the Atlantic Copper smelter (Rio Tinto 16.6%) in
Spain.
(100% basis)
Grasberg mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 20,665 21,842 22,500 21,780 21,979 86,787
Average mill head grades:
Copper (%) 1.13 1.04 0.96 0.89 0.90 1.00
Gold (g/t) 1.68 1.57 1.36 1.03 0.73 1.41
Silver (g/t) 3.45 3.33 3.03 2.99 2.76 3.20
Production of metals in concentrates:
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes) 204.4 193.9 183.3 167.8 167.9 749.4
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 975 1,013 915 693 432 3,596
Silver in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 1,570 1,478 1,313 1,184 1,120 5,545
Sales of payable metals
in concentrates: (b)
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes) 174.6 203.1 181.8 166.6 161.7 726.1
Gold in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 833 1,062 904 700 420 3,499
Silver in concentrates
('000 ounces) 1,078 1,238 1,030 934 863 4,280
(a) See note (f) on page 6 for details of Rio Tinto's 15.1% interest in
Grasberg and 40% interest in the expansion.
(b) Net of smelter deductions.
In the first quarter of 2002, average mill head grades for gold declined
compared with the fourth quarter of 2001, resulting in lower gold
production and sales. Production and sales of copper and gold in the first
quarter of 2002 decreased significantly, compared with the corresponding
period of 2001, because of lower ore grades.
Atlantic Copper smelter
Concentrate smelted
('000 tonnes) 205.5 195.3 240.1 250.2 258.3 891.1
Copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes) (c) 65.3 60.9 77.0 76.8 77.2 280.0
Copper cathodes
produced
('000 tonnes) 60.8 47.2 63.0 64.3 61.8 235.3
Copper cathode
sales
('000 tonnes) (d) 61.5 58.6 62.6 66.7 61.6 249.4
(c) New metal excluding recycled material.
(d) Refers to copper cathode and wire rod sales.
Kelian Equatorial Mining
Total production and sales from the Kelian gold mine (Rio Tinto 90%) in
East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
(100% basis)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 1,710 1,610 1,789 1,893 1,716 7,002
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 2.60 2.49 2.95 2.71 2.62 2.69
Silver (g/t) 5.93 6.03 5.80 5.42 4.92 5.78
Production:
Gold
('000 ounces) 105 96 130 123 114 453
Silver
('000 ounces) 86 80 87 85 88 338
Sales:
Gold
('000 ounces) 112 99 121 134 109 466
Silver
('000 ounces) 122 68 - - - 190
Mill throughput in the first quarter of 2002 was lower than in the previous
quarter as a crack in the ball mill shell required a seven day maintenance
shutdown. Silver sales will recommence in the second quarter of 2002 following
resolution of a tax issue.
Kennecott Minerals Company
Total production at the mines of Kennecott Minerals Company in the US;
Cortez/Pipeline (Rio Tinto 40%) in Nevada; Greens Creek (Rio Tinto 70%) in
Alaska and Rawhide (Rio Tinto 51%) in Nevada.
(100% basis)
Cortez/Pipeline mine
Ore treated
Milled
('000 tonnes) 744 842 784 829 825 3,199
Leached
('000 tonnes) 2,186 4,896 4,675 3,797 3,804 15,554
Sold for roasting
('000 tonnes) 77 99 113 101 102 390
Average ore grade:
Gold
Milled (g/t) 9.43 8.21 8.41 9.23 8.29 8.81
Leached (g/t) 1.23 1.20 1.01 1.00 1.10 1.10
Sold for roasting
(g/t) 16.42 12.15 6.84 7.84 8.50 10.34
Gold produced
('000 ounces) 295 304 294 295 278 1,188
Ore treatment rates and grades varied according to areas being mined and ore
type. Heap leach pad area and solution treatment capacity have been expanded
to increase gold production from leaching.
Greens Creek mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 147 139 154 157 160 597
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 7.23 6.74 6.31 6.36 6.51 6.65
Silver (g/t) 899 735 684 673 722 746
Zinc (%) 12.4 12.4 12.0 11.7 12.5 12.1
Lead (%) 5.1 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.7 4.8
Metals produced in concentrates:
Gold
('000 ounces) 23 21 22 22 24 88
Silver
('000 ounces) 3,252 2,555 2,582 2,575 2,789 10,964
Zinc
('000 tonnes) 14.2 13.8 15.1 14.9 16.2 58.0
Lead
('000 tonnes) 5.1 4.8 5.2 5.2 5.3 20.3
Mill throughput continued to increase through optimization efforts. Metal
grades varied with the mining sequence and ore zone sourcing. Longhole stoping
was initiated, allowing increased stope productivity at reduced production
costs.
Rawhide mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 1,362 1,510 1,418 1,433 1,407 5,723
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 0.99 0.99 0.99 0.86 1.03 0.96
Silver (g/t) 15.9 14.8 19.0 15.9 14.2 16.4
Metals produced in dore:
Gold
('000 ounces) 25 27 25 24 23 101
Silver
('000 ounces) 177 201 177 175 193 730
Mill throughput rates varied due to changing ore hardness, maintenance
requirements and haulage distance as ore mining proceeded within the lower
benches of the mine. Silver grade fluctuated as a result of mining sequence.
Gold and silver production reflected delays in recovery from the leach pads
due to higher stacking.
Kennecott Utah Copper
Total production at Kennecott's Barneys Canyon mine (Rio Tinto 100%) and
Bingham Canyon mine, smelter and refinery (Rio Tinto 100%) both in Utah,
US.
Barneys Canyon Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 380 549 639 432 102 2,000
Average ore grade:
Gold (g/t) 2.64 3.52 3.71 3.15 1.17 3.33
Gold produced in
dore and concentrates
('000 ounces) 37 30 32 41 27 140
Gold production in the first quarter of 2002 was lower than in the first
quarter of 2001 and the fourth quarter of 2001 principally due to timing of
flows from the heap leach pads. Mining operations ceased in December 2001.
Crushing operations will wind-down as inventory is exhausted.
Bingham Canyon Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 14,408 12,792 11,163 10,203 9,999 48,566
Average ore grade:
Copper (%) 0.63 0.82 0.74 0.73 0.69 0.73
Gold (g/t) 0.46 0.61 0.58 0.55 0.57 0.54
Silver (g/t) 2.91 4.07 3.91 3.99 3.93 3.67
Molybdenum
(%) 0.049 0.048 0.037 0.035 0.039 0.042
Copper concen-
trates produced
('000 tonnes) 296 312 261 239 219 1,108
Average concentrate
grade (% Cu) 26.9 29.6 28.0 28.0 28.5 28.1
Production of metals in copper concentrates:
Copper ('000 tonnes)
(a) 80.0 92.4 73.1 67.2 62.5 312.7
Gold
('000 ounces) 151 179 142 120 125 592
Silver
('000 ounces) 1,029 1,328 1,076 1,042 1,032 4,475
Molybdenum concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 5.1 3.8 2.8 2.8 3.0 14.5
Molybdenum in
concentrates
('000 tonnes) 2.8 2.2 1.5 1.6 1.7 8.1
Kennecott smelter & refinery
Copper concentrates
smelted
('000 tonnes) 212 236 256 271 258 975
Copper anodes produced
('000 tonnes)
(b) 61.0 65.1 42.1 76.0 76.7 244.2
Production of refined metal:
Copper
('000 tonnes) 67.0 56.3 43.7 67.3 74.9 234.3
Gold
('000 ounces) (c) 102 87 88 112 127 389
Silver
('000 ounces) (c) 657 834 626 765 790 2,882
(a) Includes a small amount of copper in precipitates.
(b) New metal excluding recycled material.
(c) Includes gold and silver in intermediate products.
First quarter 2002 mine production of copper and gold was lower than in the
comparable quarter of 2001, mainly due to the June 2001 closure of the North
Concentrator; this produced approximately 60,000 tonnes per annum of copper in
concentrate. Molybdenum output was lower than in the comparable quarter of
2001 because of lower ore grade, recovery and throughput. Mine production was
further affected in the first quarter of 2002 by the processing of hard ore
through the Copperton Concentrator.
Smelter and refinery performance improved in the first quarter of 2002 largely
due to higher plant availability.
Lihir Gold
Total production at the Lihir gold mine (Rio Tinto 16.3%) in Papua New
Guinea.
(100% basis)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 962 864 966 827 905 3,619
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 6.64 6.59 6.00 5.43 5.50 6.18
Gold produced
('000 ounces)(a) 187 160 178 123 148 648
(a) Gold production represents quantity of gold poured.
Production for the first quarter of 2002, compared with the comparable quarter
of 2001, was affected by the lower head grade and lower than anticipated
process plant availability, following problems experienced with the oxygen
plant.
Northparkes Joint Venture
Total production and sales at the Northparkes mine (Rio Tinto 80%) in New
South Wales, Australia.
(100% basis)
Sulphide ore treated
('000 tonnes) 1,315 1,295 1,371 1,444 1,397 5,425
Average ore grade:
Copper (%) 1.18 1.17 1.18 1.11 1.00 1.16
Gold (g/t) 0.29 0.39 0.28 0.32 0.34 0.32
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 35.5 35.2 37.3 36.2 30.2 144.2
Contained copper in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) 13.7 13.4 14.3 13.8 11.9 55.1
Sales
('000 tonnes)(a) 9.3 14.5 10.4 10.5 10.4 44.7
Contained gold in
concentrates:
Saleable production
('000 ounces) 9.3 12.7 8.7 10.8 11.3 41.5
Sales
('000 ounces) (a) 5.4 12.0 6.1 8.2 10.4 31.6
(a) Rio Tinto's 80% share of material from the Joint Venture.
Copper grades continued to decline in line with expectations, with a number of
underground drawpoints closed during the quarter as their assessed grades fell
below economic shut off limits. It is likely that grades will now remain below
1% copper for the remainder of the year. Production from the open pits
continued to supplement underground feed, resulting in a marginal improvement
in gold grade.
Palabora
Total production at the Palabora mine, smelter and refinery (Rio Tinto
49.2%(a)) in South Africa.
(100% basis)
Palabora mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 4,167 2,745 4,056 3,555 2,558 14,522
Average ore grade
copper (%) 0.60 0.59 0.70 0.72 0.77 0.66
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 51.9 42.6 72.8 66.3 55.8 233.5
Average concentrate
grade:
copper (%) 32.6 31.0 35.0 34.3 31.4 33.6
Copper in
concentrates
('000 tonnes) 16.9 13.2 25.5 22.8 17.5 78.4
Palabora smelter/refinery
New concentrate
smelted on site
('000 tonnes) 75.5 77.3 86.9 70.7 65.7 310.4
New copper anodes
produced
('000 tonnes)(b) 25.8 19.7 22.9 16.7 17.8 85.0
Refined new copper
produced
('000 tonnes) 25.6 18.9 20.1 22.2 16.2 86.9
By-products:
Magnetite concentrate
('000 tonnes) 44 43 55 59 51 201
Uranium oxide
(tonnes) 13 10 8 - - 31
Baddeleyite (several grades)
('000 tonnes) 1.7 1.3 1.0 - - 4.0
Refined nickel sulphate
(tonnes) 74 59 38 74 73 245
Vermiculite Plant
Vermiculite produced
('000 tonnes) 36.1 34.9 47.2 42.1 44.0 160.3
(a) Rio Tinto increased its holding in Palabora from 48.6% to 49.2% in
July 2001.
(b) Contained copper in anodes; anode production includes a small amount
produced from purchased material.
Reduced supply of ore and shut down of the reverberatory furnace had a
major influence on copper production in the first quarter of 2002. Ex-pit
ore production in the first quarter of 2002 was in line with expectations.
Concentrate production was adversely affected by the delayed processing of
slag and lack of underground ore. High dolerite content in the ex-pit and
underground ores restricted the milling throughput. However, the copper
recovery and concentrate grades benefited from the favourable mineralogy.
Smelting operations were hampered by the failure of the refractory bricks
and a collapse of the reverberatory furnace wall. The failure of ancillary
equipment and low availability of converters further constrained anode
production during the first half of the quarter. Production improved
steadily in the second half of the quarter. Notwithstanding the low anode
supply from the smelter, stable operations were sustained in the refinery.
Precious metal and nickel sulphate production were in line with tankhouse
utilisation. Vermiculite production was better than in the equivalent quarter
of 2001 which was hampered by wet in pit conditions and by low availability of
plant and heavy equipment. Uranium and baddeleyite production has ceased
following the closure of the heavy minerals plant in August 2001.
Peak Gold Mine
Total production and sales from the Peak Gold mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in New
South Wales, Australia.
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 148 149 144 153 157 594
Average ore grades:
Gold (g/t) 4.55 6.60 6.82 5.57 5.81 5.88
Silver (g/t) 5.30 4.36 24.63 5.94 3.16 9.91
Copper (%) 0.38 0.50 0.38 0.47 0.44 0.43
Lead (%) 0.96 0.76 1.01 0.50 0.29 0.80
Zinc (%) 1.75 1.18 2.08 0.77 0.42 1.44
Bullion produced
('000 ounces) 22 32 41 25 27 120
Containing:
Gold
('000 ounces) 19 26 25 23 25 92
Silver
('000 ounces) 3 6 14 1 2 24
Gold recovered in
concentrates
('000 ounces) 1 3 3 2 2 9
Total gold production
('000 ounces) 20 29 28 25 27 101
Bullion sales
(fine gold)
('000 ounces) 22 22 25 23 27 91
Copper in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.9
Sales - - - 1.1 - 1.1
Lead/zinc in concentrate ('000 tonnes):
Production 1.7 1.6 1.1 0.2 - 4.6
Sales 2.3 1.8 0.6 1.4 0.9 6.1
Production of lead/zinc blend concentrate ceased at the end of 2001. Limited
copper production is expected beyond the first quarter of 2002 until ore is
mined from the Perseverance development in subsequent years. Production from
the New Occidental development, with improved gold grades, is expected to ramp
up from the end of the second quarter of 2002.
Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total production at the Morro do Ouro gold mine (Rio Tinto 51%) in Minas
Gerais, Brazil.
(100% basis)
Morro do Ouro Mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 3,938 3,868 4,115 4,567 4,692 16,488
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 0.47 0.47 0.43 0.42 0.48 0.45
Refined gold
produced
('000 ounces) 48 46 46 47 55 187
Production increased from 2001 levels due to increased plant availability and
improved head grades.
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total production at Rio Tinto Zimbabwe's gold operations (Rio Tinto 56%)
in Zimbabwe.
(100% basis)
Cam Dump Reprocessing
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 238 261 - - - 499
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 1.29 1.49 - - - 1.39
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 3 2 - - - 5
Patchway mine (a)
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 24 24 25 24 23 98
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 4.09 4.35 4.88 4.62 4.41 4.49
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 3 3 4 3 3 12
Renco mine
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 64 63 67 69 61 263
Average ore grade:
gold (g/t) 7.45 7.02 6.84 5.95 5.03 6.80
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 14 12 13 11 8 50
Total Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total gold produced
('000 ounces) 19 17 17 14 11 67
(a) Includes low grade material.
Production ceased at Cam Dump in June 2001.
Somincor
Total production at the Neves Corvo mine (Rio Tinto 49%) in Portugal.
(100% basis)
Neves Corvo mine
Total ore treated
('000
tonnes)(b) 581 551 406 484 453 2,021
Of which, treated to
extract tin
('000 tonnes) 57 59 49 25 8 190
Average ore grades:
Copper (%) 4.68 4.61 4.95 5.07 4.85 4.81
Tin (%) 1.46 1.65 1.80 1.21 4.52 1.58
Copper production:
Copper concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 94.5 89.7 72.1 88.1 74.6 344.3
Copper concentrate
grade:
copper (%) 24.1 24.1 23.9 24.2 24.8 24.1
Copper in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 22.8 21.6 17.2 21.3 18.5 82.9
Tin production:
Tin concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 0.4 0.8 0.7 0.2 0.4 2.1
Tin concentrate
Grade: tin (%) 55.7 55.9 58.7 61.0 62.2 57.4
Tin in concentrates
produced
('000 tonnes) 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.3 1.2
(a) In January 2002, Rio Tinto agreed to sell its interest in the Neves
Corvo mine subject to certain conditions.
(b) Total ore treated for both copper and tin production.
FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
DIAMONDS
Argyle Diamonds
Total production from mining operations at Argyle Diamonds (Rio Tinto
99.8%) in Western Australia.
(100% basis)
Ore processed
('000 tonnes):
AK1 ore 2,697 2,423 2,669 2,524 2,501 10,313
Alluvial ore 1,007 1,204 999 980 882 4,190
Total ore
processed 3,704 3,627 3,668 3,504 3,383 14,503
Diamonds recovered ('000 carats):
AK1 4,918 4,759 7,808 7,739 5,878 25,225
Alluvial 164 263 239 206 277 873
Total
recovered 5,082 5,022 8,048 7,945 6,155 26,097
In the first quarter of 2001, ore processed by the AKI and Alluvials
plants was in line with previous quarters. Carats recovered from AKI
reflected processing of lower grade ore in accordance with pit
development schedules.
Merlin
Rio Tinto share of production from the Merlin mine (Rio Tinto 100% (a))
in the Northern Territory, Australia.
Ore processed
('000 tonnes) 95 61 141 135 191 431
Diamonds
Recovered
('000 carats) 15 7 13 20 34 55
(a) Rio Tinto acquired the Merlin mine when it purchased Ashton Mining in
late 2000.
Ore processed reflected the benefits of improved equipment availability
and favourable ore type. Carats recovered improved in line with ore
processed and higher plant feed grade.
IRON ORE
FULL
1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q YEAR
2001 2001 2001 2001 2002 2001
Hamersley Iron
Total production and shipments are for all the mines operated by Hamersley
Iron (Rio Tinto 100%). These mines are Paraburdoo, Mount Tom Price,
Marandoo, Yandicoogina, Brockman (all Rio Tinto 100%) and Channar (Rio
Tinto 60%) all in Western Australia.
(100% basis)
Saleable iron ore produced
('000 tonnes):
Paraburdoo, Mount Tom Price,
Marandoo, Brockman and
Yandicoogina 13,579 14,352 15,748 15,149 14,653 58,828
Channar 2,453 2,716 2,704 3,215 2,528 11,088
Total
production 16,032 17,068 18,452 18,364 17,181 69,916
Total shipments
('000 tonnes) 15,312 16,504 16,710 16,831 13,179 65,357
A new first quarter production record was set in 2002, exceeding the previous
record by 7.2%. The increase in production was required to meet customer
preferences for fines product. First quarter 2002 shipments were 14% below the
record set last year, due to softer demand for lump reflecting the current
stage in the business cycle.
Iron Ore Company of Canada
Total production and shipments from the Carol Lake operations (Rio Tinto
56.1%) in Newfoundland & Labrador and Quebec in Canada.
(100% basis)
Carol Lake operations
Saleable production:
Concentrates
('000 tonnes) 638 1,019 630 717 589 3,004
Pellets
('000 tonnes) 2,702 3,306 2,986 2,564 2,647 11,558
Shipments:
Concentrate
('000 tonnes) 652 1,098 727 938 704 3,415
Pellets
('000 tonnes) 1,987 2,824 2,207 2,704 1,370 9,722
Production was down slightly compared with the first quarter of 2001 due
to severe winter weather and availability issues with mining plant and
equipment. Continued depressed conditions in the steel industry resulted in
low pellet shipments in the first quarter of 2002, but concentrate sales held
up due to increased sales to Asia.
Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total production at the Corumba mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in Corumba, Mato
Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
Corumba mine
Total iron ore
production
('000 tonnes) (a) 156 116 206 164 104 642
(a) Production includes by-product fines.
The continuing Argentinian crisis resulted in decreased sales to a major
customer.
Robe River Iron Associates
Total production and shipments from the Pannawonica and West Angelas mines
(Rio Tinto 53%) in Western Australia.
(100% basis)
Pannawonica mine
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) 6,781 6,970 8,692 8,263 8,206 30,706
Shipments
('000 tonnes) 7,308 7,136 9,087 7,582 8,334 31,113
West Angelas mine
Saleable production
('000 tonnes) - - - - 129 -
Production from Pannawonica in the first quarter of 2002 was similar to
the previous quarter and 21% more than in the corresponding quarter of
2001, due largely to a very dry wet season compared with the same period
last year.
Shipments from Pannawonica in the first quarter of 2002 increased by 13%
compared with the previous quarter, due to the deferral of a number of
shipments to January, and 17% compared with the corresponding quarter of
2001.
First quarter production at West Angelas is a by-product of plant
commissioning. Operational production is scheduled to begin in the second
quarter of 2002. There have been no shipments to date.
NICKEL
Rio Tinto Brasil Limitada
Total nickel in matte production at the Fortaleza mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in
Brazil
Fortaleza mine
Production
(tonnes) 2,710 2,487 2,989 1,984 2,063 10,170
Production in the first quarter of 2002 was below the 2001 average due to
lower grade ores being processed.
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
Total refined metal production at the Empress Nickel refinery (Rio Tinto
56%) in Zimbabwe.
(100% basis)
Empress Nickel refinery
Production
(tonnes) 1,623 1,651 1,770 1,591 1,683 6,635
SALT
Dampier Salt
Total production of salt from Dampier, Lake MacLeod and Port Hedland
(a)(Rio Tinto 64.9%) in Western Australia.
(100% basis)
Salt production
('000 tonnes) 1,385 1,571 1,550 2,035 1,699 6,541
(a) Production data from the newly acquired Port Hedland operation
(Dampier Salt 100%) are included with effect from 17 August 2001.
TALC
The Luzenac Group
Total talc production from Luzenac Group operations in Australia (Rio
Tinto 100%), Europe (Rio Tinto 99.9%), and North America (Rio Tinto 100%).
(100% basis)
Talc
production
('000 tonnes) 323 319 312 316 323 1,268
TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium
Rio Tinto share of titanium dioxide feedstock production in Canada and
South Africa.
(Rio Tinto share)
Titanium dioxide
feedstock
production
('000 tonnes) 356 371 359 341 328 1,427
URANIUM
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd
Total production at the Ranger mine (Rio Tinto 68.4%) in the Northern
Territory, Australia.
(100% basis)
Ranger mine
Production
(tonnes U3O8) 1,320 947 789 1,155 951 4,211
Rossing Uranium Ltd
Total uranium production at the Rossing Uranium mine (Rio Tinto 68.58%) in
Namibia.
(100% basis)
Production
(tonnes U3O8) 724 449 793 674 743 2,640
ZINC
Norzink AS
Total refined zinc production at the Norzink smelter (Rio Tinto 0% (a)) in
Norway.
(100% basis)
Production
('000 tonnes) 36 5 - - - 41
(a) Rio Tinto completed the sale of its interest in Norzink on 17 April
2001.
Zinkgruvan Mining AB
Total production at the Zinkgruvan mine (Rio Tinto 100%) in Sweden.
Ore treated
('000 tonnes) 201 203 195 208 197 807
Average ore grades:
Zinc (%) 8.2 8.0 8.5 8.7 6.2 8.4
Lead (%) 3.3 3.9 3.5 3.7 2.8 3.6
Silver (g/t) 75 87 83 91 71 84
Production of zinc
concentrate
('000 tonnes) 28.0 26.6 27.8 30.2 20.0 112.6
Production of lead
concentrate
('000 tonnes) 7.9 9.6 8.6 8.9 7.2 35.0
Production of
metal in
concentrates:
Zinc
('000 tonnes) 15.3 14.8 15.1 16.6 11.1 61.8
Lead
('000 tonnes) 5.7 6.9 5.8 6.1 4.7 24.5
Silver
('000 ounces) 347 396 326 427 324 1,496
Lower metal grades adversely affected production during the first quarter
of 2002.
Exploration
Expenditure
Total pre-tax exploration expenditure charged to the profit and loss account
for the quarter ending 31 March 2002 was US$24 million compared with US$22
million in the comparable quarter of 2001.
Ongoing Programmes
Country Commodity Programme Summary
Argentina Borates Drilling recommenced on Tincalayu near-
mine borate targets.
Mozambique Titanium dioxide Drilling in the Gaza and Inhambane
feedstock provinces has identified substantial
high-grade heavy mineral deposits.
Initial data suggests resources in
excess of 70 million tonnes of ilmenite.
Delineation drilling is now under way.
Turkey Gold Exploration drilling at the Copler
porphyry prospect has identified a
significant gold resource.
Peru Copper Exploration drilling at the Marcona
project, close to the coast, has
obtained intercepts of high-grade copper
oxide and sulphide mineralisation.
USA Copper Drilling at the Resolution deep porphyry
copper project in Arizona continued to
obtain long intercepts of high-grade
mineralisation. Exploration will
continue in the second quarter with
three drill rigs.
Botswana Diamonds Airborne geophysical surveying commenced
over diamond tenements in the south of
Botswana.
Canada Diamonds Exploration recommenced at the Anuri
diamond project in the Nunavut region.
India Diamonds Exploration recommenced in Andhra
Pradesh.
Guinea Iron Ore Drilling continued at the Simandou lump
haematite prospect.
Australia Nickel Airborne geophysical surveying was
completed at the Giles nickel project in
central Australia.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
ND
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