Rio Tinto Investor Seminar

RNS Number : 2715S

Rio Tinto PLC

28 November 2012

 



Rio Tinto Investor Seminar

29 November 2012

Rio Tinto is holding an investor seminar in Sydney today that includes an in-depth look at its Iron Ore and Diamonds & Minerals product groups.

Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese said "Rio Tinto is very well positioned despite the challenging global economic environment. Today we are highlighting the strong future earnings potential from iron ore volume increases and higher-priced new titanium dioxide contracts. And we are showcasing the excellence of our West Australian iron ore business, which is delivering productivity improvements and holding down the costs of expansion despite the current headwinds.

"We are taking further tough action to roll back the unsustainable cost increases of the past few years and are maintaining a relentless focus on improving productivity. We are investing in the highest returning opportunities, delivering major projects on time and are taking advantage of the inbuilt flexibility in our phased investment programmes. We have the ability to respond to changing market conditions and I am confident we have the right strategy to maximise shareholder value in the long term."  

Highlights from the presentations:

·    The short-term macroeconomic outlook remains volatile, with major uncertainties around future US and European economic growth.  However, Rio Tinto is guardedly optimistic on China's prospects. A number of recent macro leading indicators have beaten market expectations, suggesting early signs of economic pickup.  Rio Tinto expects this to continue in 2013, leading to a slight rise in Chinese GDP growth to above eight per cent next year.

·      Rio Tinto's strategy of maximising shareholder value by investing in and operating large, long-term, cost-competitive mines and assets is unchanged. Rio Tinto is committed to a strong balance sheet and aims to maintain a single A credit rating.

·      Rio Tinto's strong track record in productivity improvement and management of major capital projects continues to deliver increased value: 

o  current nameplate capacity in the Pilbara has risen from 230 million tonnes per annum (mt/a) to 237 mt/a through de-bottlenecking and productivity improvement, with minimal capital spend; this increases the capacity of the expansion programme from 353 mt/a to 360 mt/a

o  the capital intensity of the Pilbara expansion programme from 220 mt/a to 360 mt/a remains at the mid-US$150s per tonne level despite a strong Australian dollar; this has been made possible through capital efficiency and productivity improvements including a US$1 billion saving from reconfiguring the mine plan.

·      Rio Tinto is continuing its drive for further cost reductions:

o  Rio Tinto is targeting cumulative savings of more than US$5 billion of operating and support costs by the end of 2014 compared with expected costs in 2012, based on current market conditions and stable operating conditions

o  Rio Tinto's planned spending on exploration and evaluation projects will be reduced by  US$1 billion over the remainder of 2012 and 2013

o  capital expenditure on approved and sustaining projects will taper off from current levels in 2013

o  sustaining capital expenditure will reduce by more than US$1 billion next year.

·      Rio Tinto will benefit from three major sources of production growth in 2013:

o  expansion of 53 mt/a of iron ore production capacity as the Pilbara operations reach capacity of 290 Mt/a in the fourth quarter

o  first commercial production from the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in the first half, following the successful conclusion of a power supply agreement earlier this month

o  the ongoing ramp up of the Yarwun 2 alumina refinery, which started production in the second half of 2012, and is already producing at around 90 per cent of nameplate capacity.

·      As China and other emerging economies become more consumption-led, Rio Tinto is set to benefit from mid- to late-cycle commodities such as titanium dioxide.  The business will become a more significant contributor to Rio Tinto earnings from 2013 as long-term contracts expire, increasing exposure to current market prices, which are up to 300 per cent higher than existing contract averages.

·      The longer term picture remains positive, with increasing urbanisation in emerging markets driving strong demand growth across a range of commodities, and a slower supply response from the industry. 

Other key topics that will be covered at the seminar include:

Iron Ore

·      Rio Tinto expects Chinese steel demand growth to peak at around one billion tonnes towards 2030

·      Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) continues to be the Pilbara's lowest cost, most productive operator

·      The cash cost of production in the Pilbara was US$24.50 per tonne in the first half of 2012; the cost per tonne to deliver to China is US$47 per tonne, including royalties,  shipping and sustaining capital costs; this is expected to reduce when infrastructure expansions are in place

·      Expansion of capacity in the Pilbara to 290 mt/a is on track for the fourth quarter of 2013 and on budget

·      RTIO is reaping competitive advantage from innovation in technology and automation through Rio Tinto's Mine of the Future™ programme

·      Investment in Simandou, the largest undeveloped iron ore deposit in the world, will be phased as the Government of Guinea progresses its financing strategy and grants approvals for the next steps in developing rail and port infrastructure

·      First shipment of ore is scheduled by mid-2015

·      The partnership with the Government of Guinea, the Chinalco consortium and the International Finance Corporation underpins the development strategy and risk management approach of the project

Diamonds & Minerals

·      Global underlying macro-trends are driving mid-late cycle demand growth for minerals

·      Rio Tinto is the largest producer of high grade titanium dioxide feedstocks with global feedstock capacity of around 2.2 million tonnes per annum

·      The doubling of Rio Tinto's stake in the Richards Bay Minerals TiO2 business is value-accretive and is expected to have a positive cash pay back within five years

·      Co-products, including zircon, rutile, iron and steel, are recovered to generate substantial additional value

·      A leading resource and technology position provides options to further expand mining and refining capacity by up to 50 per cent, subject to market conditions

·      Rio Tinto has a strong underlying position in borates, with significant optionality to grow through projects like the development of the kernite processing plant at Boron in California

·      Options are being created to expand into complementary sectors. The Jadar Lithium-borate project in Serbia has the potential to supply 20 per cent of the lithium market.  The potash development joint venture in Canada is targeting a tier one resource suitable for solution mining with promising initial results

·      In Diamonds, the Argyle underground development is progressing and the first crusher will be commissioned in the first quarter of 2013

Notes to editors

1.   The seminar will be webcast at 2.30pm AEDT and can be accessed on www.riotinto.com. Replays will be available from 9pm AEDT on Thursday.

2.   Presentations will be made by Tom Albanese, chief executive, Guy Elliott, chief financial officer, Sam Walsh, chief executive, Iron Ore and Alan Davies, chief executive, Diamonds & Minerals.

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] Karen Halbert 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] [e-mail]
Twitter:	Follow @riotinto on Twitter

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

 

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