Rio Tinto approves US$1.03bn Escondida investment

RNS Number : 2011K

Rio Tinto PLC

25 July 2013

 



Rio Tinto approves US$1.03 billion investment in Escondida Water Supply Project

25 July 2013

Rio Tinto has approved US$1.03 billion (Rio Tinto share) for the construction of a new 2,500 litre per second seawater desalination facility to ensure continued water supply and sustain operations at the Escondida mine in Chile.  Rio Tinto holds a 30 per cent interest in Escondida.

The project will provide a sustainable supply of water for the new OGP1 copper concentrator approved in February 2012, while minimising Escondida's reliance on the region's aquifers.

Construction will commence in July 2013 with commissioning scheduled in 2017.  The project will include two pipelines, four high pressure pump stations, a reservoir at the mine site and high voltage infrastructure to support the system. 

Rio Tinto's investment will be funded through the company's share of Escondida's cash flows. 

 

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: [phone] Mobile: [phone] David Outhwaite Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Christina Mills Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, London Mark Shannon Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] David Ovington Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Australia / Asia David Luff Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone] Bruce Tobin Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, Australia Christopher Maitland Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Canada Bryan Tucker Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office:  [phone] Mobile: [phone]

Website:	www.riotinto.com
Email:	[e-mail]
Twitter:	Follow @riotinto on Twitter

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

 

END

 

 

STRPGUPAMUPWGRA