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{{Short description|Anglo-Australian multinational mining company}} | |||
{{Infobox_Company | | |||
{{Use British English|date=November 2012}} | |||
company_name = Rio Tinto Limited & plc| | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} | |||
company_logo = ] | | |||
{{Infobox company | |||
company_type = ] ({{asx|RIO}}, {{lse|RIO}}, {{nyse|RTP}}) | | |||
| name = Rio Tinto Group<br/>Rio Tinto plc & Rio Tinto Limited | |||
company_slogan = N/A| | |||
| logo = Rio_Tinto_(corporation)_Logo.svg | |||
foundation = 1873 | | |||
| logo_alt = Rio Tinto Logo | |||
location = ], ], ]<br/>], ] | | |||
| image = Meelbourne scraper.jpg | |||
key_people = ], Chairman <br/> ], CEO <br/>Guy Elliott, Finance Director <br/> Dick Evans, Executive Director| | |||
| image_caption = Rio Tinto headquarters in ], Australia | |||
num_employees = 35,000 (2007)|| | |||
| type = ] | |||
revenue = ]58,065 million (2008)<ref name="PR-2008"/>| | |||
| traded_as = {{asx|RIO}}<br/>{{lse|RIO}}<br/>{{NYSE|RIO}}<br/>] component<br/>] component | |||
operating_income= US$11,233 million (2008)| | |||
| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1873|3|29}} | |||
net_income = US$4,609 million (2008)| | |||
| location = ], England<br>], Australia | |||
industry = ]| | |||
| key_people = ]<br/>(chairman)<br/>]<br/>(chief executive) | |||
products = ]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]s<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]s<br/>]<br/>]| | |||
| area_served = Worldwide | |||
homepage = | |||
| revenue = {{decrease}} US$54.041 billion (2023)<ref name=ar>{{cite web|url=https://cdn-rio.dataweavers.io/-/media/content/documents/invest/financial-news-and-performance/results/2023/rt-annual-results-2023.pdf?rev=47f0744734904182a22692ecf31b74aa|title=Annual Results 2022|publisher=Rio Tinto|access-date=22 February 2023}}</ref> | |||
| operating_income = {{decrease}} US$15.498 billion (2023)<ref name=ar/> | |||
| net_income = {{decrease}} US$9.953 billion (2023)<ref name=ar/> | |||
| assets = {{increase}} US$103.549 billion (2023)<ref name=ar/> | |||
| equity = {{increase}} US$56.341 billion (2023)<ref name=ar/> | |||
| num_employees = 52,000 (2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/about|title=About us|publisher=Rio Tinto|access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref> | |||
| industry = ]s and ] | |||
| products = Iron ore, ], alumina, aluminium, copper, ], gold, diamonds, ], ], ]s, salt, ] | |||
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.riotinto.com/}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Rio Tinto Group''' is a British-Australian ] that is the world's second largest metals and mining corporation (behind ]).<ref>{{cite news|last=Hotten|first=Russell|date=12 July 2007|title=History of Rio Tinto|website=]|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2811968/A-history-of-Rio-Tinto.html|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref> It was founded in 1873 when a group of investors purchased a ] on the ], in ], Spain, from the Spanish government. It has grown through a long series of mergers and acquisitions. Although primarily focused on extraction of minerals, it also has significant operations in refining, particularly the refining of bauxite and iron ore.<ref name="RT-Prod"/> It has joint head offices in ], England and ], Australia.<ref>"." Rio Tinto Group. Retrieved 9 April 2010. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328135741/http://www.riotinto.com/contactus.asp |date=28 March 2010 }}</ref><ref name="MelbourneCityMAP">"." ]. Retrieved 5 April 2010.</ref> | |||
|title=Rio Tinto Preliminary Results 2008}}</ref> Although primarily focused on extraction of minerals, Rio Tinto also has significant operations in refining, particularly for refining bauxite and iron ore.<ref name="RT-Prod"/> The company has operations on six continents but is mainly concentrated in Australia and Canada, and owns gross assets valued at $81 billion through a complex web of wholly and partly owned ].<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
Rio Tinto |
Rio Tinto is a ] traded on both the ], where it is a component of the ],<ref name="LSE"/> and the ], where it is a component of the ] index.<ref name="ASX200"/> ] of Rio Tinto's British branch are also traded on the ],<ref name="ar"/><ref name="shareholder info website">{{Cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/invest/shareholder-information|title=Shareholder Information|website=riotinto.com}}</ref> giving it listings on three major stock exchanges. In the 2020 ], it was ranked the world's 114th-largest public company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forbes Global 2000 | website= ] | url= https://www.forbes.com/global2000/#39910f1b335d |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref> | ||
Rio Tinto has faced widely criticism by environmental groups as well as the ] for the environmental impacts of its mining activities.<ref name="norway" /> | |||
==History== | |||
===Formation=== | |||
] | |||
==Formation== | |||
Since antiquity, a site along the Rio Tinto, in the ]n ] in ] has been mined for ], ], ], and other minerals.<ref name ="Carleton"> | |||
] in south-western Spain.]] | |||
] led the purchase of the Rio Tinto mines from Spain, and was the company's first president.]] | |||
Since antiquity, a site along the ] in ], Spain, has been mined for copper, silver, gold and other minerals.<ref name="Carleton"> | |||
{{cite web | {{cite web | ||
| last = Bordenstein | |||
| first = Sarah | |||
| title = Rio Tinto, Spain | |||
| work=] | |||
| publisher=] | |||
| url = http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/riotinto/ | |||
| access-date =3 March 2009}} | |||
</ref> |
</ref> Around 3000 BC, ] and ] began mining the site, followed by the ]ns, ], ], ] and ]. After a period of abandonment, the mines were rediscovered in 1556 and the Spanish government began operating them once again in 1724.<ref name="Carleton"/> | ||
However, Spain's mining operations there were inefficient, and the government itself was otherwise distracted by political and financial crises,<ref name="Harvey">{{Cite book | |||
].]] | |||
| last = Harvey | |||
| first = Charles E. | |||
| title = The Rio Tinto Company: An Economic History of a leading international mining concern, 1873–1954 | |||
| publisher=Alison Hodge Publishers | |||
| year = 1981 | |||
| pages = –11, 23, 52, 89, 202, 207–215, 314–324 | |||
| url = https://archive.org/details/riotintocompanye0000harv | |||
| url-access = registration | |||
| isbn = 9780906720035}}</ref> leading the government to sell the mines in 1873 at a price later determined to be well below actual value.<ref name="Huelva">{{cite web | |||
| title = Huelva Province – Rio Tinto | |||
| work=Andalucia.com | |||
| publisher=Andalucia.com | |||
| url = http://www.andalucia.com/province/huelva/riotinto/home.htm | |||
| access-date =3 March 2009}} | |||
</ref> The purchasers of the mine were led by ]'s ], which ultimately formed a syndicate consisting of ] (56% ownership), Matheson (24%) and the civil engineering firm Clark, Punchard and Company<ref>{{cite web|title=Clark, Punchard and Co|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Clark,_Punchard_and_Co|website=Grace's Guide to British Industrial History|publisher=Grace's Guide Ltd|access-date=9 March 2017}}</ref> (20%). At an auction held by the Spanish government to sell the mine on 14 February 1873, the group won with a bid of ]3.68 million (] 92.8 million). The bid also specified that Spain would permanently relinquish any right to claim ] on the mine's production. Following purchase of the mine, the syndicate launched the Rio Tinto Company, registering it on 29 March 1873.<ref name="Harvey"/> At the end of the 1880s, control of the firm passed to the ], who increased the scale of its mining operations.<ref name="Harvey"/>{{Rp|188}} | |||
==Operating history== | |||
However, Spain's mining operations there were inefficient, and the government itself was otherwise distracted by political and financial crises,<ref name ="Harvey">{{cite book | |||
{{Main|Rio Tinto Company Limited}} | |||
| last = Harvey | |||
Following their purchase of the Rio Tinto Mine, the new ownership constructed a number of new processing facilities, innovated new mining techniques, and expanded mining activities.<ref name="Harvey"/> | |||
| first = Charles E. | |||
| title = The Rio Tinto Company: An Economic History of a leading international mining concern, 1873 - 1954 | |||
| publisher = Alison Hodge Publishers | |||
| date = 1981 | |||
| pages = 10-11, 23, 52, 89, 202, 207-215, 314-324 | |||
| url = http://books.google.com/books?id=FgW09Y59CrkC | |||
| isbn = 0906720036, 9780906720035}} </ref> leading the government to sell the mines in 1873 at a price later determined to be well below actual value. <ref name ="Huelva"> {{cite web | |||
| title = Huelva Province - Rio Tinto | |||
| work = Andalucia.com | |||
| publisher = Andalucia.com | |||
| url = http://www.andalucia.com/province/huelva/riotinto/home.htm | |||
| accessdate = March 3, 2009}} | |||
</ref> | |||
From 1877 to 1891, the Rio Tinto Mine was the world's leading producer of copper.<ref name="HJStevens">{{Cite book|last=Stevens|first=Horace Jared|title=The Copper Handbook|publisher=Horace J. Stevens|year=1908|volume=8|page=1457}}</ref> | |||
The purchasers of the mine were led by ]'s Matheson and Company, which ultimately formed a syndicate consisting of ] (56% ownership), Matheson (24%), and railway firm Clark, Punchard and Company (20%). At an auction held by the Spanish government for sale of the mine on February 17, 1873, the group won with a bid ]3,680,000 (] 92,800,000). The bid also specified that Spain permanently relinquish any right to claim ] on the mine's production. Following purchase of the mine, the syndicate launched the Rio Tinto Company, registering it on March 29, 1873.<ref name ="Harvey"/> | |||
] mine was part of Rio Tinto's original operations in Spain.]] From 1870 through 1925, the company was inwardly focused on fully exploiting the Rio Tinto Mine, with little attention paid to expansion or exploration activities outside of Spain. The company enjoyed strong financial success until 1914, ] to control market prices. However, World War I and its aftermath effectively eliminated the United States as a viable market for European ]s, leading to a decline in the firm's prominence.<ref name="Harvey"/> | |||
===Operating history=== | |||
Following their purchase of the Rio Tinto Mine, the new ownership constructed a number of new processing facilities, innovated new mining techniques, and expanded mining activities. <ref name ="Harvey"/> From 1877 through 1891, the Rio Tinto Mine was the world's leading producer of copper.<ref name="HJStevens">{{cite book|last=Stevens|first=Horace Jared|title=The Copper Handbook|publisher=Horace J. Stevens|date=1908|volume=8|pages=1547}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
From 1871 through 1925, the company was inwardly focused on fully exploiting the Rio Tinto Mine, with little attention paid to expansion or exploration activities outside of Spain. The company enjoyed strong financial success until 1914, ] to control market prices. However, ] and its aftermath effectively eliminated the United States as a viable market for European pyrites, leading to a decline in the firm's prominence.<ref name="Harvey"/> | |||
] was a major product of Rio Tinto's first mines.]] | ] was a major product of Rio Tinto's first mines.]] | ||
The company's failure to diversify during this period led to the slow decline of the company among the ranks of international mining firms. However, this changed in 1925, when Sir ] succeeded Lord ] as chairman. Geddes and the new management team he installed focused on ] of the company's investment strategy and the introduction of organisational and marketing reforms. Geddes led the company into a series of joint ventures with customers in the development of new technologies, as well as exploration and development of new mines outside of Spain. Between 1925 and 1931, Geddes recruited two directors: JN Buchanan (finance director) and RM Preston (commercial director), as well as other executives involved with technical and other matters.<ref name="Harvey"/> | |||
Perhaps most significant was the company's investment in copper mines in ], later ], which it eventually consolidated into the Rhokana Corporation.<ref name="Harvey"/> These and later efforts at diversification eventually allowed the company to divest from the Rio Tinto mine in Spain. By the 1950s, ]'s nationalistic government had made it increasingly difficult to exploit Spanish resources for the profit of foreigners.<ref name="Harvey"/> Rio Tinto Company, supported by its international investments, was able to divest two-thirds of its Spanish operations in 1954 and the remainder over the following years.<ref name="RTWeb">{{cite web | |||
The company's failure to diversify during this period led to the slow decline of the company among the ranks of international mining firms. However, this changed in 1925, when Sir ] succeeded Lord ] as chairman. Geddes and the new management team he installed focused on ] of the company's investments and operations and reformation of marketing strategy. Geddes led the company into a series of ]s with customers in the development of new technologies, as well as exploration and development of new mines outside of Spain.<ref name ="Harvey"/> | |||
|title=Who We Are: Timeline | |||
|publisher=Rio Tinto | |||
|year=2009 | |||
|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whoweare/timeline.asp | |||
|access-date=4 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219090438/http://www.riotinto.com/whoweare/timeline.asp | |||
|archive-date=19 December 2010 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
The company was part of the uranium producers' ], Societe d'Etudes de Recherches d'Uranium, which operated from 1972 to 1976.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Massot |first=Pascale |title=China's Vulnerability Paradox: How the World's Largest Consumer Transformed Global Commodity Markets |date=2024 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-19-777140-2 |location=New York, NY, United States of America |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=194}} The other cartel members were based in Australia, France, and South Africa.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=194}} It was formed by the major non-United States uranium producers to mitigate the impacts of US policy on the ]; to do so, the cartel engaged in ], ], and ].<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=194}} ] filed an ] lawsuit against cartel members in 1976 and the cartel disbanded.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=194}} | |||
Perhaps most significant was the company's investment in copper mines in ], which it eventually consolidated into the ].<ref name ="Harvey"/> These and later efforts at diversification eventually allowed the company to divest from the Rio Tinto mine in Spain. By the 1950s, ]'s nationalistic government had made it increasingly difficult to exploit Spanish resources for the profit of foreigners.<ref name ="Harvey"/> Rio Tinto Company, supported by its international investments, was able to divest two-thirds of its Spanish operations in 1954 and the remainder over the following years.<ref name="RTWeb">{{cite web | |||
| title = Who We Are: Timeline | |||
| work = Rio Tinto web site | |||
| publisher = Rio Tinto Group | |||
| date = 2009 | |||
| url = http://www.riotinto.com/whoweare/timeline.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 4, 2009}}</ref> | |||
==Major mergers and acquisitions== | |||
Like many major mining companies, |
Like many major mining companies, Rio Tinto has historically grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions. | ||
===Early acquisitions=== | |||
] was the location of Rio Tinto's first major international expansion of mining activities.]] | ] was the location of Rio Tinto's first major international expansion of mining activities.]] | ||
The company's first major acquisition occurred in 1929, when the company issued stock for the purpose of raising 2.5 |
The company's first major acquisition occurred in 1929, when the company issued stock for the purpose of raising 2.5 million pounds to invest in Northern Rhodesian copper mining companies, which was fully invested by the end of 1930. The Rio Tinto company consolidated its holdings of these various firms under the Rhokana Corporation by forcing the various companies to merge.<ref name="Harvey"/> | ||
Rio Tinto's investment in Rhodesian copper mines did much to support the company through troubled times at its Spanish Rio Tinto operations spanning the ], ] |
Rio Tinto's investment in Rhodesian copper mines did much to support the company through troubled times at its Spanish Rio Tinto operations spanning the ], ] and ]. In the 1950s, the political situation made it increasingly difficult for mostly British and French owners to extract profits from Spanish operations, and the company decided to dispose of the mines from which it took its name.<ref name="Harvey"/> Thus, in 1954, Rio Tinto Company sold two-thirds of its stake in the Rio Tinto mines, disposing of the rest over the following years.<ref name="RTWeb"/> The sale of the mines financed extensive exploration activities over the following decade.<ref name="RT-DLC"> | ||
{{cite web | {{cite web | ||
|title=RTZ CRA United for Growth | |||
|work=Rio Tinto Review | |||
|publisher=Rio Tinto | |||
|year=2006 | |||
| date = 2006 | |||
|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/Investors/dlcsep06.pdf | |||
|access-date=4 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327021733/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/Investors/dlcsep06.pdf | |||
| format = pdf | |||
|archive-date=27 March 2009 }}</ref> | |||
===Merger with Consolidated Zinc=== | |||
The company's exploration activities presented the company with an abundance of opportunities |
The company's exploration activities presented the company with an abundance of opportunities, but it lacked sufficient capital and operating revenue to exploit those opportunities. This situation precipitated the next, and perhaps most significant, merger in the company's history. In 1962, Rio Tinto Company merged with the Australian firm ] to form the Rio Tinto – Zinc Corporation (RTZ) and its main subsidiary, Conzinc Riotinto of Australia (CRA). The merger provided Rio Tinto the ability to exploit its new-found opportunities, and gave Consolidated Zinc a much larger asset base.<ref name="RT-DLC"/> | ||
RTZ and CRA were separately managed and operated, with CRA focusing on opportunities within ] and RTZ taking the rest of the world. |
RTZ and CRA were separately managed and operated, with CRA focusing on opportunities within ] and RTZ taking the rest of the world. However, the companies continued to trade separately, and RTZ's ownership of CRA dipped below 50% by 1986.<ref name="RT-DLC"/> The two companies' strategic needs eventually led to conflicts of interest regarding new mining opportunities, and shareholders of both companies determined a merger was in their mutual best interest. In 1995, the companies merged into a ], in which management was consolidated into a single entity and shareholder interests were aligned and equivalent, although maintained as shares in separately named entities. The merger also precipitated a name change; after two years as '''RTZ-CRA''', RTZ became '''Rio Tinto plc''' and CRA became '''Rio Tinto Limited''', referred to collectively as '''Rio Tinto'''.<ref name="RT-DLC"/> | ||
=== |
===Recent mergers, acquisitions and events=== | ||
Major acquisitions following the Consolidated Zinc merger included ], a major producer of ], bought in 1968,<ref name="RTWeb"/> ] and BP |
Major acquisitions following the Consolidated Zinc merger included ], a major producer of ], bought in 1968,<ref name="RTWeb"/> ] and ]'s coal assets which were bought from BP in 1989, and a 70.7% interest in the ] operations of ], also in 1989.<ref name="RTWeb"/> In 1993, the company acquired ] and the United States coal mining businesses of ].<ref name="RTWeb"/> | ||
] | ] | ||
In 2000, Rio Tinto acquired ], an Australian company with iron ore and ] mines, for $2.8 billion.<ref> '']'' 23 June 2000</ref><ref> '']'' 5 August 2000</ref><ref> '']'' 5 August 2000</ref> The takeover was partially motivated as a response to North Limited's 1999 bid to have Rio Tinto's ] declared ].<ref name=smh2004> | |||
In 2000, Rio Tinto acquired ], an Australian company with ] and ] mines, for $2.8 billion.<ref> | |||
{{ |
{{Cite news | ||
|url=http://www. |
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/15/1087244921972.html | ||
|title=Rio Tinto sets its sights on North Ltd | |||
|work=Radio National | |||
|date=June 23, 2000 | |||
|author=Narelle Hooper | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|accessdate=2008-11-10}} | |||
</ref> The takeover was partially motivated as a response to Northern Limited's 1999 bid to have Rio Tinto's Pilbara railway network declared ].<ref name=smh2004>{{cite web | |||
|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/15/1087244921972.html?from=moreStories | |||
|title=Fortescue tries to prise open access to Pilbara railway line | |title=Fortescue tries to prise open access to Pilbara railway line | ||
|work= |
|work=] | ||
|author=Mark Drummond | |author=Mark Drummond | ||
|date= |
|date=16 June 2004 | ||
|access-date=10 November 2008 | |||
|publisher=www.smh.com.au | |||
}}</ref> The ] regulatory body approved the acquisition in August 2000,<ref>{{cite web | |||
|accessdate=2008-11-10 | |||
}}</ref> The ] regulatory body approved the acquisition in August 2000,<ref>{{cite web | |||
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s159664.htm | |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s159664.htm | ||
|title=Rio Tinto's bid given the nod by ACCC | |title=Rio Tinto's bid given the nod by ACCC | ||
|work=Radio National | |work=Radio National | ||
|date= |
|date=4 August 2000 | ||
|author=Tanya Nolan | |author=Tanya Nolan | ||
|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | ||
|access-date=10 November 2008 | |||
|accessdate=2008-11-10 | |||
}}</ref> and the purchase was completed in October of the same year.<ref>{{ |
}}</ref> and the purchase was completed in October of the same year.<ref>{{Cite news | ||
|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_Oct_10/ai_65901698 | |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_Oct_10/ai_65901698 | ||
|title=Rio Tinto Completes Acquisition of North Limited |
|title=Rio Tinto Completes Acquisition of North Limited | ||
|work= |
|work=] | ||
|date= |
|date=10 October 2000 | ||
|publisher=findarticles.com | |publisher=findarticles.com | ||
|access-date=10 November 2008 | |||
|accessdate=2008-11-10 | |||
}}</ref> That year Rio Tinto also bought |
}}</ref> That year, Rio Tinto also bought North Limited and Ashton Mining for US$4 billion, adding additional resources in aluminium, iron ore, diamonds and coal.<ref name="RTWeb"/> In 2001, it bought (under Coal & Allied) the Australian coal businesses of the ].<ref name="RTWeb"/> | ||
On November |
On 14 November 2007, Rio Tinto completed its largest acquisition to date,<ref name="Chartbook"/> purchasing Canadian aluminium company ] for $38.1 billion,<ref name="Alcan-Aq">{{cite web| url=http://www.riotinto.com/media/5157_6881.asp| title=Rio Tinto Completes Acquisition of 100% of Alcan| publisher=Rio Tinto| year=2007| access-date=30 January 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118025043/http://www.riotinto.com/media/5157_6881.asp| archive-date=18 January 2008| df=dmy-all}}</ref> {{as of|2014|lc=y}}, "the largest mining deal ever completed".<ref name="wu2014"/> Alcan's chief executive, Jacynthe Côté, led the new division, renamed ] with its headquarters situated in ].<ref name="CTV-Alcan-Aq">{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/rio-tinto-alcan-reach-us-38-1-billion-merger-deal-1.248444 |title=Rio Tinto, Alcan reach US$38.1-billion merger deal |publisher=CTV.ca |year=2007 |access-date=8 August 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714160103/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070712/alcan_deal_070712/20070712?hub=TopStories |archive-date=14 July 2007 }}</ref> | ||
Activity in 2008 and 2009 was focused on divestments of assets to raise cash and refocus on core business opportunities. The company sold three major assets in 2008, raising about $3 billion in cash. In the first quarter of 2009, Rio Tinto reached agreements to sell its interests in the ] iron ore mine and the ] coal mine, and completed sales of an aluminium smelter in China and the company's ] operations, for an additional estimated $2.5 billion.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
{{main|Rio Tinto espionage case}} | |||
===Arrests in China, 2009=== | |||
On |
On 5 July 2009, four Rio Tinto employees were arrested in ] for corruption and espionage.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Mathew|last2=Garnaut|first2=John|date=8 July 2009|title=Rio Tinto iron ore sales team arrested in China|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|department=Business Day|location=Sydney, Australia|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/rio-tinto-iron-ore-sales-team-arrested-in-china-20090708-dbyi.html}}</ref><ref> at ] (11 September 2009).</ref> One of the arrested, Australian citizen ], was "suspected of stealing Chinese state secrets for foreign countries and was detained on criminal charges", according to a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry.<ref> – Telegraph UK</ref> Stern Hu was also accused of bribery by Chinese steel mill executives for sensitive information during the iron ore contract negotiations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5715439/hu-accused-of-bribery-during-negotiation/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715044225/http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5715439/hu-accused-of-bribery-during-negotiation/|title=Hu accused of bribery during negotiation – Yahoo!7 News|archive-date=15 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | ||
| last = Kwok | |||
| first = Vivian Wai-yin | |||
| title = The Iron Ore War:China claims Rio Tinto espionage cost it $100 billion | |||
| url= https://www.forbes.com/2009/08/10/china-rio-tinto-markets-equity-trade-battle.html | |||
| access-date =12 September 2009 | |||
| work=Forbes | |||
| date=10 August 2009}} | |||
</ref> | |||
On 19 March 2010 Rio Tinto and its biggest shareholder, ], signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Rio Tinto's iron ore project in the ] in ], ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/7450648/Chinalco-to-team-up-with-Rio-Tinto-on-Simandou-project.html|title=Chinalco to team up with Rio Tinto on Simandou project|editor=Richard Fletcher, City|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name="riotinto.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/media/media-releases-237_1397.aspx|title=Rio Tinto and Chinalco subsidiary Chalco sign binding agreement for Simandou iron ore project joint venture|date=29 July 2010|website=riotinto.com|language=en-GB|access-date=14 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414163333/http://www.riotinto.com/media/media-releases-237_1397.aspx|archive-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> On 29 July 2010, Rio Tinto and Chinalco signed a binding agreement to establish this ] covering the development and operation of the Simandou mine.<ref name="riotinto.com"/> | |||
==Corporate Status== | |||
===Organization=== | |||
Rio Tinto is primarily organized into six operational businesses, divided by product type:<ref name="RTMgmt">{{cite web | |||
| title = Management Overview | |||
| work = Rio Tinto web site | |||
| publisher = Rio Tinto | |||
| url = http://www.riotinto.com/whoweare/management_overview.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 5, 2009}}</ref> | |||
Under the terms of the agreement, the joint venture maintains Rio Tinto's 95% interest in the Simandou project as follows: By providing US$1.35 billion on an earn-in basis through sole funding of ongoing development over a two-to-three-year period, Chalco, a subsidiary of Chinalco, would acquire a 47% interest in the joint venture. Once the full sum was paid, Rio Tinto would be left with a 50.35% interest in the project and Chalco would have 44.65%.<ref>Minerals Yearbook, 2010. Area Reports, International, Africa, and the Middle East. Government Printing Office. 13 November 2012. p 20. {{ISBN|978-1-4113-3174-7}}.</ref> The remaining 5% would be owned by the ] (IFC), the financing arm of the ]. On 22 April 2011 Rio Tinto, its subsidiary Simfer S.A. (Simfer), and the Guinean Government signed a settlement agreement that secured Rio Tinto's mining rights in Guinea to the southern concession of Simandou, known as blocks 3 and 4.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/PR895g_Rio_Tinto_and_Government_of_Guinea_sign_new_agreement_for_Simandou_iron_ore_project.pdf|date=22 April 2011|title=Rio Tinto and Government of Guinea sign new agreement for Simandou iron ore project|publisher=Rio Tinto Group|access-date=16 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414163836/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/PR895g_Rio_Tinto_and_Government_of_Guinea_sign_new_agreement_for_Simandou_iron_ore_project.pdf|archive-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> According to the agreement, Simfer would pay US$700 million and receive mining concession and government approval of the proposed Chalco and Rio Tinto Simandou joint venture.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> | |||
*Rio Tinto Copper – copper and byproducts such as ], ], ], and ]; future home of ] operations if developed | |||
*] – aluminium | |||
*Rio Tinto Energy – coal and uranium | |||
*Rio Tinto Diamonds – diamonds | |||
*Rio Tinto Minerals – industrial minerals such as ], ], ] and ] | |||
*Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium – ], ], and ] | |||
In April 2011, Rio Tinto gained a majority stake in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mining-journal.com/finance/rio-tinto-claims-control-of-riversdale|access-date=11 April 2011|title=Rio Tinto claims control of Riversdale|date=11 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611041615/http://www.mining-journal.com/finance/rio-tinto-claims-control-of-riversdale|archive-date=11 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/8443580/Rio-Tinto-gets-control-of-Riversdale.html|title=Rio Tinto gets control of Riversdale|first=Garry|last=White|date=11 April 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> | |||
These operating groups are supported by separate divisions providing exploration and technology services.<ref name="RTMgmt"/> | |||
In 2011, the company rekindled its interest in potash when it entered a joint venture with ] to develop the Albany potash development, in southern ], Canada. Following an exploration program, Acron in a June 2014 statement described Albany as "one of the best potash development opportunities in the world".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadanews.net/index.php/sid/223325435/scat/71df8d33cd2a30df/ht/Rich-potash-resources-struck-at-Acron-and-Rio-Tinto-joint-venture-project|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140702021808/http://www.canadanews.net/index.php/sid/223325435/scat/71df8d33cd2a30df/ht/Rich-potash-resources-struck-at-Acron-and-Rio-Tinto-joint-venture-project|archive-date=2 July 2014|title=Canada News - Rich potash resources struck at Acron and Rio Tinto joint venture project|work=canadanews.net|access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref> | |||
====Subsidiaries==== | |||
Rio Tinto Group has a complex structure of partly and wholly owned subsidiaries, each held within one of the six operational groups described above. Major subsidiaries include<ref name="RTCompanies">{{cite web | |||
| title = Our Companies | |||
| work = Rio Tinto web site | |||
| publisher = Rio Tinto | |||
| url = http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/218_our_companies.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 5, 2009}}</ref>: | |||
On 13 December 2011, an independent arbitrator cleared the way for Rio Tinto, which had owned 49% of Ivanhoe Mines (now known as ]), to take it over: he said the $16 billion Canadian group's "]" defence was not valid. Ivanhoe had developed ] in Mongolia, one of the world's largest-known copper deposits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miningweekly.com/article/rio-tinto-wins-fight-against-ivanhoe-poison-pill-2011-12-13 |title=Rio Tinto wins fight against Ivanhoe poison pill |date=13 December 2011}}</ref> On 28 January 2012, Rio Tinto gained control of Ivanhoe Mines and removed the management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/rio-tinto-to-purge-ivanhoe-mines-top-tier-20120127-1qloo.html|title=Rio Tinto to purge Ivanhoe Mines top tier|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 January 2012|access-date=25 March 2012}}</ref> | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
|+Major Rio Tinto Subsidiaries<ref name="RTCompanies"/> | |||
In October 2013, Rio Tinto agreed to sell its majority stake in Australia's third-largest coal mine to ] and ] for a little over US$1 billion, as part of the firm's plans to focus on larger operations.<ref>{{Citation | |||
|- | |||
| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-riotinto-glencore-clermont-idUSBRE99O0DQ20131025 | |||
! Subsidiary !! Ownership Stake !! Main Product !! Location | |||
| title = Glencore, Sumitomo buy Rio coal mine stake for $1 billion | |||
|- | |||
| year = 2013 | |||
|] || 51% || Aluminium ] || United Kingdom (Wales) | |||
| publisher = ] | |||
|- | |||
| location = International | |||
|] || 100% || Diamonds || Australia (Western Australia) | |||
| access-date = 1 July 2017 | |||
|- | |||
| archive-date = 5 November 2013 | |||
|] || 100% || Aluminium smelting || Australia (Tasmania) | |||
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131105051304/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/25/us-riotinto-glencore-clermont-idUSBRE99O0DQ20131025 | |||
|- | |||
| url-status = live | |||
|]<ref name="BCAR">{{cite web | |||
}}</ref> Less than a year later, Rio Tinto rejected two merger proposals from Glencore, proffered in July and August 2014;<ref name="wu2014">{{cite news | author=Wu, Zijing | author2=Campbell, Matthew | author3=Paton, James | title=Rio Tinto Rejected Takeover Approach From Glencore | date=6 October 2014 | url=https://www.bloomberg.com//news/2014-10-06/rio-rejects-glencore-approach-has-had-no-more-contact.html | agency=] }}</ref> the merger of Glencore and Rio Tinto would have created the world's largest mining company.<ref name="wu2014"/> | |||
| title = Bougainville Copper Limited Annual Report 2007 | |||
| publisher = Bougainville Copper Limited | |||
In May 2015, Rio Tinto announced plans to sell some of its aluminium assets as part of a possible $1 billion deal, two years after a similar but failed attempt.<ref>{{cite news |author=Sarah Young |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rio-tinto-disposal-aluminium-idUSKBN0O20NV20150517 |title=Rio Tinto to sell aluminum assets in $1 billion deal |work=Reuters |date=18 May 2015 |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518062231/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/17/us-rio-tinto-disposal-aluminium-idUSKBN0O20NV20150517 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
| date = 2008 | |||
| url = http://www.bcl.com.pg/annual2007.pdf | |||
In September 2020, it was announced that the company's chief executive ], along with two executives, would resign because of Rio Tinto's destruction of two ancient rock shelters in the ] region of Australia. The company's chief financial officer, ], became the new chief executive on 1 January 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rio-tinto-ceo-to-step-down-amid-fallout-over-destruction-of-ancient-rock-shelters-11599782719?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=2|title= Rio Tinto CEO to Step Down Amid Fallout Over Destruction of Ancient Rock Shelters |work=]|last=Winning|first=David|date=10 September 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> | |||
| format = pdf | |||
| accessdate = March 5, 2009}}</ref> || 53.6% || Copper || Papua New Guinea | |||
In March 2022, Rio Tinto completed the acquisition of Rincon Mining's ] project in Argentina for $825 million, following approval by Australia's ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-30 |title=Rio Tinto completes acquisition of Rincon lithium project |url=https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/30032022/rio-tinto-completes-acquisition-of-rincon-lithium-project/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Global Mining Review |language=en}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|] || 100% || ] || United States (California; Colorado) | |||
In July 2023, it was announced Rio Tinto had acquired a 15% stake in the Australian exploration and development company, Sovereign Metals for US $27.6 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=suryaakella |date=2023-07-18 |title=Rio Tinto acquires 15% stake in Sovereign Metals for $27.6m |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/news/rio-tinto-stake-sovereign-metals/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Mining Technology |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|] || 75% || Coal || Australia (New South Wales) | |||
== Subsidiaries == | |||
|- | |||
The company has operations on six continents, but is mainly concentrated in Australia and Canada, and owns its mining operations through a complex web of wholly and partly owned subsidiaries.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
|] || 100% || Iron ore || Brazil | |||
|- | |||
*] – 68.4% | |||
|] || 65% || Salt || Australia (Western Australia) | |||
*] – 100% | |||
|- | |||
*] – 100% | |||
|]s || 60% || Diamonds || Canada | |||
*] – 68.4% | |||
|- | |||
*] – 58.7% | |||
|] || 68% || Uranium || Australia (Northern Territory) | |||
*Pacific Aluminum – 100% | |||
|- | |||
*] – 74% | |||
|] || 30% || Copper || Chile | |||
|- | |||
==Corporate status== | |||
|] Joint Venture || 40% || Copper || Papua New Guinea | |||
Rio Tinto is primarily organised into four operational businesses, divided by product type:<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=2018 |title=Rio Tinto Chartbook |url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/RT_chartbook.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413154115/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/RT_chartbook.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2019 |access-date=31 December 2018}}</ref> | |||
|- | |||
|] (]) || 100% || Iron ore || Australia (Western Australia) | |||
* ] | |||
|- | |||
* Aluminium – ], ] and alumina | |||
|] || 60% || Iron smelting || Australia (Western Australia) | |||
* Copper & Diamonds – copper and by-products such as ], ], ] and ], and the company's ] interests | |||
|- | |||
* Energy & Minerals – ] interests, industrial minerals such as ], ] and ]. The corporation previously held ] production assets. | |||
|] || 59% || Iron ore || Canada | |||
|- | |||
These operating groups are supported by separate divisions providing exploration and function support.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/our-business-75.aspx|title=Our business - Rio Tinto|date=13 April 2013|website=riotinto.com|access-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410204704/http://www.riotinto.com/our-business-75.aspx|archive-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
|] || 100% || Land and water rights || United States (Utah) | |||
|- | |||
|] || 100% || Copper || United States (Utah) | |||
|- | |||
|] || 78% || Diamonds || Zimbabwe | |||
|- | |||
|] || 80% || Copper || Australia (New South Wales) | |||
|- | |||
|] || 58% || Copper || South Africa | |||
|- | |||
|] Sorel || 100% || Titanium Dioxide || Canada (Quebec) | |||
|- | |||
|] || 80% || Titanium Dioxide || Madagascar | |||
|- | |||
|] <ref name="RCMedia"> {{cite web | |||
| title = Media Kit | |||
| work = Resolution Copper web site | |||
| publisher = Resolution Copper | |||
| url = http://www.resolutioncopper.com/res/mediacenter/21.html | |||
| format = pdf | |||
| accessdate = March 5, 2009}}</ref> || 55% || Copper || United States (Arizona) | |||
|- | |||
|] || 50% || Titanium Dioxide || South Africa | |||
|- | |||
|] || 100% || Aluminium || Canada | |||
|- | |||
|] || 100% || Coal || Australia | |||
|- | |||
|] || 100% || Coal || United States (Wyoming) | |||
|- | |||
|Robe River (]) || 53% || Iron Ore || Australia (Western Australia) | |||
|- | |||
|] || 69% || Uranium || Namibia | |||
|- | |||
|] || 100% || Talc || France (Toulouse) | |||
|- | |||
|] || 100% || Talc || Australia (Western Australia) | |||
|} | |||
===Stock structure and ownership=== | ===Stock structure and ownership=== | ||
Rio Tinto |
Rio Tinto is structured as a ], with listings on both the ] (symbol: RIO), under the name "Rio Tinto Plc",<ref name="LSE">{{cite web | ||
|title=Rio Tinto Plc Ord 10P | |||
|work=London Stock Exchange – Detailed Prices | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/pricesnews/prices/system/detailedprices.htm?sym=GB0007188757GBGBXSET10718875RIO | |||
|access-date=11 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611051319/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb/pricesnews/prices/system/detailedprices.htm?sym=GB0007188757GBGBXSET10718875RIO | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> and the ] (symbol: RIO) in Sydney under the name '''Rio Tinto Limited'''<ref name="ASE">{{cite web | |||
|archive-date=11 June 2009 | |||
| title = Rio Tinto Limited (RIO) | |||
}}</ref> and the ] (symbol: RIO) in Sydney, under the name "Rio Tinto Limited".<ref name="ASE">{{cite web | |||
| work = ASX Company Information | |||
| title = Rio Tinto Limited (RIO) | |||
| publisher = Australian Securities Exchange | |||
| work=ASX Company Information | |||
| url = http://www.asx.com.au/asx/research/companyInfo.do?by=asxCode&asxCode=RIO | |||
| publisher=] | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> The dual-listed company structure grants shareholders of the two companies the same proportional economic interests and ownership rights in the consolidated Rio Tinto Group, in such a way as to be equivalent to all shareholders of the two companies actually being shareholders in a single, unified entity. This structure was implemented in order to avoid adverse tax consequences and regulatory burdens. In order to eliminate ] issues, the company's accounts are kept, and ]s paid, in ]s.<ref name="RT-DLC"/> | |||
| url = http://www.asx.com.au/asx/research/companyInfo.do?by=asxCode&asxCode=RIO | |||
| access-date =11 March 2009}}</ref> The dual-listed company structure grants shareholders of the two companies the same proportional economic interests and ownership rights in the consolidated Rio Tinto, in such a way as to be equivalent to all shareholders of the two companies actually being shareholders in a single, unified entity. This structure was implemented to avoid adverse tax consequences and regulatory burdens. To eliminate ] issues, the company's accounts are kept, and ]s paid, in United States dollars.<ref name="RT-DLC"/> | |||
Rio Tinto is one of the largest companies listed on either exchange. |
Rio Tinto is one of the largest companies listed on either exchange. As such, it is included in the widely quoted indices for each market: the ] of the London Stock Exchange,<ref name="LSE"/> and the ] index of the Australian Securities Exchange.<ref name="ASX200">{{cite web | ||
|title=S&P/ASX 200 Fact Sheet | |||
|publisher=] | |||
|url=http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/index/SP_ASX_200_Factsheet_A4.pdf | |||
|access-date=11 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613193459/http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/index/SP_ASX_200_Factsheet_A4.pdf | |||
| format = pdf | |||
|archive-date=13 June 2011 | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> LSE-listed shares in Rio Tinto plc can also be traded indirectly on the ] via an ].<ref name="NYSE">{{cite web | |||
}}</ref> LSE-listed shares in Rio Tinto plc can also be traded indirectly on the ] via an ].<ref name="NYSE">{{cite web | |||
| title = Rio Tinto plc | |||
|title = Rio Tinto plc | |||
| work = Listings Directory | |||
|work = Listings Directory | |||
| publisher = NYSE Euronext | |||
|publisher = ] | |||
| url = http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=RTP | |||
|url = https://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=RTP | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> As of March 4, 2009, Rio Tinto was the fourth-largest publicly listed mining company in the world, with a ] of approximately $34 billion.<ref name="Chartbook">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/investors_databook/March_09_Chartbook.pdf|title=Rio Tinto Chartbook|date=March 2009|publisher=Rio Tinto Group|accessdate=2009-04-08}}</ref> As of mid-February 2009, shareholders were geographically distributed 42% in the ], 18% in North America, 16% in Australia, 14% in Asia, and 10% in continental Europe.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
|access-date = 11 March 2009 | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090421030142/http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=rtp | |||
|archive-date = 21 April 2009 | |||
|df = dmy-all | |||
}}</ref> As of 4 March 2009, Rio Tinto was the fourth-largest publicly listed mining company in the world, with a ] around $134 billion.<ref name="Chartbook">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/investors_databook/March_09_Chartbook.pdf|title=Rio Tinto Chartbook|date=March 2009|publisher=Rio Tinto|access-date=8 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715190346/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/investors_databook/March_09_Chartbook.pdf|archive-date=15 July 2011}}</ref> As of mid-February 2009, shareholders were geographically distributed 42% in the United Kingdom, 18% in North America, 16% in Australia, 14% in Asia and 10% in continental Europe.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
====BHP Billiton bid==== | ====BHP Billiton bid==== | ||
On November |
On 8 November 2007, rival mining company ] announced it was seeking to purchase Rio Tinto in an all-share deal. This offer was rejected by the board of Rio Tinto as "significantly undervalu" the company. Another attempt by BHP Billiton for a ], valuing Rio Tinto at $147 billion, was rejected on the same grounds. Meanwhile, the Chinese government-owned resources group ] and the US aluminium producer ] purchased 12% of Rio Tinto's London-listed shares in a move that would block or severely complicate BHP Billiton's plans to buy the company.<ref name="Freed-Chalco">{{Cite news|url=http://business.smh.com.au/chinese-raid-on-rio-could-thwart-bhp/20080201-1pkr.html|title=Chinese raid on Rio Tinto could thwart BHP|last=Freed|first=Jamie|date=1 February 2008|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Digital|access-date=10 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430004823/http://business.smh.com.au/chinese-raid-on-rio-could-thwart-bhp/20080201-1pkr.html|archive-date=30 April 2008}}</ref><ref name='bbctakeover'>{{cite news | title=BHP makes £120bn Rio bid approach | date=8 November 2007 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7084946.stm |work=BBC News | access-date =8 November 2007 }}</ref> BHP Billiton's bid was withdrawn on 25 November 2008, with the BHP citing market instability from the ].<ref name="Keenan-BHP">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=acb0npgKQrEw&refer=home|title=BHP Withdraws $66 Billion Stock Offer for Rio Tinto|last=Keenan|first=Rebecca|date=25 November 2008|publisher=]|access-date=10 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081116003829/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087|archive-date=16 November 2008}}</ref> | ||
====Chinalco investment==== | ====Chinalco investment==== | ||
On February |
On 1 February 2009, Rio Tinto management announced it was in talks to receive a substantial ] infusion from ], a major Chinese state-controlled<ref name="Forbes"/> mining enterprise, in exchange for ownership interest in certain ]s and bonds. Chinalco was already a major shareholder, having bought up 9% of the company in a surprise move in early 2008;<ref name="Guardian"> | ||
{{Cite news | |||
| last = Treanor | |||
| first = Jill | |||
| title = Rio Tinto confirms talks over Chinese cash injection | |||
| work=] | |||
| publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited | |||
| date = 1 February 2009 | |||
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/feb/01/rio-tinto-nears-chinalco-deal | |||
| access-date =7 April 2009 | |||
| accessdate = April 7, 2009}}</ref> The proposed investment structure reportedly involves $12.3 billion for the purchase of ownership interests of Rio Tinto assets in its iron ore, copper, and aluminium operations, plus $7.2 billion for ]. The transaction would bring Chinalco's ownership of the company to approximately 18.5%.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/06/rio-tinto-cash-markets-equity-miners.html|title=Rio Tinto on the Hunt for Cash|last=Espinoza|first=Javier|date=April 6, 2009|work=Forbes.com|publisher=Forbes.com|accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> The deal is still pending approval from regulators in the United States, China, and Australia, and has not yet been approved by shareholders, although regulatory has been received from Germany and the ].<ref name="xinhua">{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/03/content_11124288.htm|title=Chinalco's roadblocks of investment in Rio Tinto Group decreasing |last=Shasha|first=Deng|date=April 3, 2009|work=chinaview.cn|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|language=English|accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> The largest barrier to completing the investment may come from Rio Tinto's shareholders: support for the deal by shareholders was never overwhelming and has reportedly declined recently<ref name="WSJ">{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123911954518297263.html|title=No Escape from China for Rio Tinto|last=Denning|first=Liam|date=April 7, 2009|work=Wall Street Journal|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2009-04-07}}</ref> as other financing options (such as a more traditional bond issuance) are beginning to appear more realistic as a viable alternative funding source.<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="WSJ"/> A shareholder vote on the proposed deal is expected in the third quarter of 2009.<ref name="WSJ"/> | |||
| location=London}}</ref> its ownership stake had risen to 9.8% by 2014, making it Rio Tinto's biggest investor.<ref name="wu2014"/> The proposed investment structure reportedly involves $12.3 billion for the purchase of ownership interests of Rio Tinto assets in its iron ore, copper and aluminium operations, plus $7.2 billion for ]s. The transaction would bring Chinalco's ownership of the company to roughly 18.5%.<ref name="Forbes">{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/04/06/rio-tinto-cash-markets-equity-miners.html|title=Rio Tinto on the Hunt for Cash|last=Espinoza|first=Javier|date=6 April 2009|work=Forbes |access-date=7 April 2009}}</ref> The deal is still pending approval from regulators in the United States and China, and has not yet been approved by shareholders, although regulatory approval has been received from Germany and the ].<ref name="xinhua">{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/03/content_11124288.htm|title=Chinalco's roadblocks of investment in Rio Tinto Group decreasing|last=Shasha|first=Deng|date=3 April 2009|work=chinaview.cn|publisher=Xinhua News Agency|access-date=7 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408023046/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/03/content_11124288.htm|archive-date=8 April 2009}}</ref> The largest barrier to completing the investment may come from Rio Tinto's shareholders; support for the deal by shareholders was never overwhelming and has reportedly declined in 2009,<ref name="WSJ">{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123911954518297263|title=No Escape from China for Rio Tinto|last=Denning|first=Liam|date=7 April 2009|work=] |access-date=7 April 2009}}</ref> as other financing options (such as a more traditional bond issuance) are beginning to appear more realistic as a viable alternative funding source.<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="WSJ"/> A shareholder vote on the proposed deal was expected in the third quarter of 2009.<ref name="WSJ"/> | |||
Rio Tinto is believed to have pursued this combined asset and convertible bond sale to raise cash to satisfy its debt obligations, which |
Rio Tinto is believed to have pursued this combined asset and convertible bond sale to raise cash to satisfy its debt obligations, which required payments of $9.0 billion in October 2009 and $10.5 billion by the end of 2010.<ref name="Forbes"/> The company has also noted China's increasing appetite for commodities, and the potential for increased opportunities to exploit these market trends, as a key factor in recommending the transaction to its shareholders.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | ||
In March 2010, it was announced that Chinalco would invest $1.3 billion for a 44.65% stake in Rio Tinto's iron ore project in ], Guinea. Rio Tinto retained 50.35% ownership at Simandou.<ref>{{cite web | |||
===Management=== | |||
|title=Rio Tinto Simandou | |||
] building in ], Australia.]] | |||
|url=http://www.riotintosimandou.com/ENG/index.asp | |||
Under the company's dual-listed company structure, management powers of the Rio Tinto Group are consolidated in a single senior management group led by a ] and executive committee. The board of directors has both executive and non-executive members, while the executive committee is composed of the heads of major operational groups.<ref name="RTMgmt" /> | |||
|access-date=20 March 2010 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
In November 2011, Rio joined with Chinalco to explore for copper resources in China's complex landscape, by setting up a new company, CRTX, 51% owned by Chinalco and 49% by Rio Tinto.<ref>{{cite web | |||
*'''Board of Directors''' | |||
|title=Rio Tinto joins up with Chinalco to explore for copper | |||
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/mining/8915027/Rio-Tinto-joins-up-with-Chinaclo-to-explore-for-copper.html | |||
|access-date=9 February 2012 | |||
}}</ref> | |||
===Management=== | |||
], Australia.]] | |||
Under the company's dual-listed company structure, management powers of the Rio Tinto are consolidated in a single senior management group led by a board of directors and executive committee. The board of directors has both executive and non-executive members,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/aboutus/management-board-3502.aspx|title=Board of directors - Rio Tinto|date=20 April 2013|website=Rio Tinto |access-date=18 April 2016|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422010344/http://www.riotinto.com/aboutus/management-board-3502.aspx}}</ref> while the executive committee is composed of the heads of major operational groups.<ref name="RTMgmt">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whoweare/management_overview.asp |title=Management Overview |website=Rio Tinto |access-date=5 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221123233/http://www.riotinto.com/whoweare/management_overview.asp |archive-date=21 December 2010 }}</ref> | |||
* '''Board of Directors''' | |||
**''Executive Directors'' | **''Executive Directors'' | ||
***], ]<ref name="chairman">{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4bf9016e-fb54-4068-a103-911cb2187f5e |url-access=subscription |title=Dominic Barton appointed Rio Tinto chair|date=19 December 2021|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref> | |||
***], Chairman | |||
*** ], ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/about/executive-committee/jakob-stausholm |title=Jakob Stausholm |website=Rio Tinto |date=4 January 2021}}</ref> | |||
***], Chief Executive Officer | |||
** ''Non-Executive Directors'' | |||
***Guy Elliott, Finance Director | |||
*** ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/aboutus/megan-clark-ac-13616.aspx |title=Megan Clark AC |website=Rio Tinto |date=19 November 2014 |access-date=10 March 2019}}</ref> | |||
***Dick Evans, Executive Director | |||
*** Hinda Gharbi<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/about/board-of-directors/hinda-gharbi |title=Hinda Gharbi |website=Rio Tinto |access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref> | |||
**''Non-Executive Directors'' | |||
***]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/about/board-of-directors/simon-mckeon |title=Simon McKeon AO |website=Rio Tinto |access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref> | |||
***Sir ] | |||
*** Simon Henry<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/aboutus/simon-henry-21152.aspx |title=Simon Henry |website=Rio Tinto |date=13 March 2017 |access-date=10 March 2019}}</ref> | |||
***] | |||
*** Jennifer Nason<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/about/board-of-directors/jennifer-nason |title=Jennifer Nason |website=Rio Tinto |date=13 March 2017 |access-date=10 March 2019}}</ref> | |||
***Sir ] | |||
*** Sam Laidlaw<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/aboutus/sam-laidlaw-21150.aspx |title=Sam Laidlaw |website=Rio Tinto |date=10 February 2017 |access-date=10 March 2019}}</ref> | |||
***] | |||
***]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/about/board-of-directors/ngaire-woods |title=Ngaire Woods CBE |website=Rio Tinto |access-date=22 December 2020}}</ref> | |||
***] | |||
Rio Tinto engages professional lobbyists to represent its interests in various jurisdictions. In South Australia, the company in represented by DPG Advisory Solutions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Company/Lobbyist details: DPG Advisory Solutions |url=https://www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au/#/lobbyist/173|access-date=2021-06-14|website=South Australian Lobbyist Register}}</ref> | |||
***] | |||
***] | |||
***] | |||
***] | |||
***] | |||
==Operations== | ==Operations== | ||
Rio Tinto's main business is the production of raw materials including copper, iron ore |
Rio Tinto's main business is the production of raw materials including copper, iron ore, bauxite, diamonds, uranium and industrial minerals including titanium dioxide, salt, gypsum and borates. Rio Tinto also performs processing on some of these materials, with plants dedicated to processing bauxite into alumina and aluminium, and smelting iron ore into iron. The company also produces other metals and minerals as ]s from the processing of its main resources, including gold, silver, ], ], nickel, ], lead and ].<ref name="RT-Prod">{{cite web | ||
|title=Our Products | |||
|work=Rio Tinto web site | |||
|publisher=Rio Tinto | |||
|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/218_our_products.asp | |||
|access-date=11 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213055823/http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/218_our_products.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> Rio Tinto controls gross assets of $81 billion in value across the globe, with main concentrations in Australia (35%), Canada (34%), Europe (13%), and the United States (11%), and smaller holdings in Africa (3%), South America (3%), and Indonesia (1%).<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
|archive-date=13 December 2010 | |||
}}</ref> Rio Tinto controls gross assets of $81 billion in value across the globe, with main concentrations in Australia (35%), Canada (34%), Europe (13%) and the United States (11%), and smaller holdings in South America (3%), Africa (3%) and Indonesia (1%).<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
|+Summary of 2008 production<ref name="PR-2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/Media/PR712g_Rio_Tinto_announces_underlying_earnings_of__10.3_billion.pdf|title=Rio Tinto Preliminary Results 2008|access-date=8 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327021716/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/Media/PR712g_Rio_Tinto_announces_underlying_earnings_of__10.3_billion.pdf|archive-date=27 March 2009}}</ref> | |||
|+Summary of 2008 Production<ref name="PR-2008"/> | |||
|- | |- | ||
! Product !! Amount !! World |
! Product !! Amount !! World ranking | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Iron ore || 153 |
| Iron ore || 153.4 million ]s || 2nd<ref name="FS-Iron">{{cite web | ||
|title=Iron Ore Fact Sheet | |||
|publisher=Rio Tinto | |||
|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/ReportsPublications/corpPub_Iron_Ore.pdf | |||
|access-date=11 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930161545/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/ReportsPublications/corpPub_Iron_Ore.pdf | |||
| format = pdf | |||
|archive-date=30 September 2011 | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> | |||
}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Bauxite || {{0|0}}34 |
| Bauxite || {{0|0}}34.987 million tonnes || 1st<ref name="RT-Prod"/> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Alumina || {{0|00}}9 |
| Alumina || {{0|00}}9.009 million tonnes || 2nd<ref name="RT-Prod"/> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Aluminium || {{0|00}}4 |
| Aluminium || {{0|00}}4.062 million tonnes || 2nd<ref name="RT-Prod"/> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Copper (mined) || {{0|000,}}698 |
| Copper (mined) || {{0|000,}}698,500 tonnes || 4th<ref name="FS-Copper">{{cite web | ||
|
|title = Copper Fact Sheet | ||
|
|publisher = Rio Tinto | ||
|
|url = http://www.riotinto.com/documents/ReportsPublications/corpPub_Copper.pdf | ||
|access-date = 11 March 2009 | |||
| format = pdf | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090327021719/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/ReportsPublications/corpPub_Copper.pdf | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> | |||
|archive-date = 27 March 2009 | |||
|df = dmy-all | |||
}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Copper (refined) || {{0|000,}}321 |
| Copper (refined) || {{0|000,}}321,600 tonnes || N/A | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Molybdenum || {{0|000,0}}10 |
| Molybdenum || {{0|000,0}}10,600 tonnes || 3rd<ref name="Roskill">{{cite web | ||
|
|title = Molybdenum | ||
|
|work = Roskill Metals and Minerals Reports | ||
|publisher = Roskill Information Services | |||
|year = 2007 | |||
|url = http://www.roskill.com/reports/molybdenum | |||
| date = 2007 | |||
|access-date = 11 March 2009 | |||
| url = http://www.roskill.com/reports/molybdenum | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081104131546/http://www.roskill.com/reports/molybdenum | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> | |||
|archive-date = 4 November 2008 | |||
|df = dmy-all | |||
}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Gold || {{0|000,00}}0 |
| Gold || {{0|000,00}}{{convert|460000|oz|t|0|abbr=off|lk=out|disp=flip}} || 7th<ref name="FS-Copper"/> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Diamonds || {{0|000,00}} |
| Diamonds || {{0|000,00}}{{convert|20.816|e6carat|t|0|abbr=off|lk=out|disp=flip}} || 3rd<ref name="Diamonds">{{cite web | ||
| last = Krawitz | |||
| first = Avi | |||
| title = Rio Tinto 4Q08 Diamond Production −12% | |||
| work=Diamonds.net News | |||
| publisher=Diamonds.net | |||
| date = 15 January 2009 | |||
| url = http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=24916 | |||
| access-date =11 March 2009}}</ref> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Coal || 160 |
| Coal || 160.3 million tonnes || N/A | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Uranium || {{0|000,00}} |
| Uranium || {{0|000,00}}{{convert|6441|t|e6lb|1|abbr=off|lk=out}} || 3rd<ref name="RT-Prod"/> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Titanium |
| Titanium dioxide || {{0|00}}1.524 million tonnes || N/A, but at least 3rd | ||
|- | |||
| Borates || {{0|000,}}610 thousand tonnes || 1st<ref name="RT-Prod"/> | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Borates || {{0|000,}}610,000 tonnes || 1st<ref name="RT-Prod"/> | |||
|} | |} | ||
=== |
===Iron ore: Rio Tinto Iron Ore=== | ||
{{see also|Pilbara Iron|Iron Ore Company of Canada}} | |||
] | |||
The Australian operations of Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) comprises an integrated iron ore operations in the ], Western Australia. The Pilbara iron ore operations include 16 iron ore mines, four independent port terminals, a 1,700-kilometre rail network and related infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/products/iron-ore|title=Iron Ore|publisher=Rio Tinto|access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref> The corporation also has had a majority stake in ] since its 2000 ] of North Limited.<ref>{{cite news |title=IOC mum on report that Rio Tinto may spin off company |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/ioc-tsx-rio-tinto-1.4779124 |publisher=]|date=9 August 2018}}</ref> | |||
] of Rio Tinto's subsidiary, Kennecott Utah Copper |
===Copper and by-products: Rio Tinto Copper=== | ||
] of Rio Tinto's subsidiary, Kennecott Utah Copper]] | |||
] underground mine is currently under development in Mongolia.|thumb|right]] | |||
Copper was one of Rio Tinto's main products from its earliest days operating at the Rio Tinto complex of mines in Spain. Since that time, the company has divested itself from its original Spanish mines, and grown its copper-mining capacity through acquisitions of major copper resources around the world. The copper group's main active mining interests are ] in Mongolia, ] in the United States, and ] in Chile. Most of these mines are ]s with other major mining companies, with Rio Tinto's ownership ranging from 30% to 80%; only Kennecott is wholly owned. Operations typically include mining of ore through to production of 99.99% purified copper, including extraction of economically valuable ]s.<ref name="RT-copper">{{cite web | |||
|title = Copper | |||
|publisher = Rio Tinto | |||
|url = https://www.riotinto.com/products/copper | |||
|access-date = 6 May 2020 | |||
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080910161743/http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/copper_578.asp | |||
|archive-date = 10 September 2008 | |||
|df = dmy-all | |||
}}</ref> Together, Rio Tinto's share of copper production at its mines totalled nearly 700,000 ]s, making the company the fourth-largest copper producer in the world.<ref name="FS-Copper"/> | |||
Rio Tinto Copper continues to seek new opportunities for expansion, with major exploration activities at the ] project in the United States, Winu in Australia, and ] underground mine in Mongolia. In addition, the company is seeking to become a major producer of nickel, with exploration projects currently underway in the United States and Indonesia.<ref name="RT-copper"/> | |||
Copper was one of Rio Tinto Group's main products from its earliest days operating at the Rio Tinto complex of mines in Spain. Since that time, the company has divested itself from its original Spanish mines, and grown its copper mining capacity through acquisitions of major copper resources around the world. The copper group's main active mining interests are ] in Chile, the ] on Papua New Guinea, ] in the United States, ] in Australia, and ] in South Africa. Most of these mines are joint ventures with other major mining companies, with Rio Tinto's ownership ranging from 30% to 80%; only Kennecott is wholly owned. Operations typically include the mining of ore through to production of 99.99% purified copper, including extraction of economically valuable byproducts.<ref name="RT-copper">{{cite web | |||
| title = Copper | |||
| work = Rio Tinto web site | |||
| publisher = Rio Tinto Group | |||
| url = http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/copper_578.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 12, 2009}}</ref> Together, Rio Tinto's share of copper production at its mines totaled nearly 700,000 ]s, making the company the fourth-largest copper producer in the world.<ref name="FS-Copper"/> | |||
Although not the primary focus of Rio Tinto Copper's operations, several economically valuable by-products are produced during the refining of copper ore into purified copper. Gold, silver, molybdenum and sulphuric acid are all removed from copper ore during processing. Due to the scale of Rio Tinto's copper mining and processing facilities, the company is also a leading producer of these materials, which drive substantial revenues to the company.<ref name="RT-copper"/> | |||
Rio Tinto Copper continues to seek new opportunities for expansion, with major exploration activities at the ] project in the United States, ] in Peru, and ] in Mongolia. In addition, the company is seeking to become a major producer of ], with exploration projects currently underway in the United States and Indonesia.<ref name="RT-copper"/> | |||
Sales of copper generated 8% of the company's 2008 revenues, and copper and by-product operations accounted for 16% of underlying earnings.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
Although not the primary focus of Rio Tinto Copper's operations, several economically valuable ]s are produced during the refining of copper ore into purified copper. Gold, silver, molybdenum, and sulfuric acid are all removed from copper ore during processing. Due to the scale of Rio Tinto's copper mining and processing facilities, the company is also a leading producer of these materials, which drive substantial revenues to the company.<ref name="RT-copper"/> | |||
Rio Tinto exclusively provided the metal to produce the 4,700 gold, silver and bronze medals at the London ]. This was the second time Rio Tinto had done so for Olympic medals, having previously provided the metals for the Salt Lake City ].<ref name="RT-olympics">{{cite web | |||
|title=We're helping to produce the London 2012 medals | |||
Sales of copper generated 8% of the company's 2008 revenues, and copper and byproduct operations accounted for 16% of underlying earnings.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
|publisher=Rio Tinto | |||
|url=http://www.riotinto.com/london2012/index_london2012.asp | |||
|access-date=21 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514082622/http://www.riotinto.com/london2012/index_london2012.asp | |||
|archive-date=14 May 2013 | |||
}} | |||
</ref> Together, Rio Tinto's share of copper production at its mines totalled nearly 700,000 tonnes, making the company the fourth-largest copper producer in the world.<ref name="FS-Copper"/> | |||
Rio Tinto was the ] sponsor of ] until 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/post/2015/04/07/rio-tinto-stadium-partners-auric-solar-install-largest-solar-energy-offset-north|title=Rio Tinto Stadium partners with Auric Solar to install largest solar energy offset in North American pro sports venues|publisher=RSL Communications|date=7 April 2015|access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
===Aluminium |
===Aluminium=== | ||
] in Northumberland, England]] | ] in Northumberland, England]] | ||
{{main|Rio Tinto |
{{main|Aluminium division of Rio Tinto}} | ||
Rio Tinto consolidated its aluminium-related businesses into its aluminium product group (originally named ''Rio Tinto Alcan''), formed in late 2007, when Rio Tinto purchased the Canadian company Alcan for $38.1 billion. Combined with Rio Tinto's existing aluminium-related assets, the new aluminium division vaulted to the world number-one producer of bauxite, alumina and aluminium.<ref name="RT-Alum">{{cite web | |||
|title=Alumina, Aluminium and Bauxite | |||
|publisher=Rio Tinto | |||
|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/452_aluminium_577.asp | |||
| publisher = Rio Tinto Group | |||
|
|access-date=12 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901023912/http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/452_aluminium_577.asp | ||
|archive-date=1 September 2010 | |||
| accessdate = March 12, 2009}}</ref> Rio Tinto Alcan kept key leadership from Alcan, and the company's headquarters remain in Montreal.<ref name="CTV-Alcan-Aq"/> | |||
}}</ref> Aluminium division kept key leadership from Alcan, and the company's headquarters remain in Montreal.<ref name="CTV-Alcan-Aq"/> | |||
] for scale).]] | ] for scale).]] | ||
Rio Tinto |
Rio Tinto divides its Aluminium operations into three main areas—bauxite, alumina and primary metal. The Bauxite and Alumina unit mines raw bauxite from locations in Australia, Brazil and Africa. The unit then refines the bauxite into alumina at refineries located in Australia, Brazil, Canada and France. The Primary Metal business unit's operations consist of ] from alumina, with smelters located in 11 countries around the world. The Primary Metal group also operates several power plants to support the energy-intensive smelting process.<ref name="RT-Alum"/> | ||
The aluminium division has interests in seven bauxite mines and deposits, six alumina refineries and six speciality alumina plants, 26 aluminium smelters, 13 ]s and 120 facilities for the manufacture of speciality products.<ref name="RT-Alum"/> The acquisition of Alcan operations in 2007 substantially increased Rio Tinto's asset base, revenues and profits: in 2008, 41% of company revenues and 10% of underlying earnings were attributable to the aluminium division.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
=== |
===Uranium: Rio Tinto Energy=== | ||
] of ], a Rio Tinto subsidiary]] | |||
Rio Tinto Energy is a business group of Rio Tinto dedicated to the mining and sale of ] and ].<ref name="RT-coal">{{cite web | |||
] ore concentrate).]] | |||
| title = Coal | |||
Rio Tinto Energy is a business group of Rio Tinto that was dedicated to the mining and sale of ]. Rio Tinto's uranium operations were located at two mines: the ] of ] and the ] in Namibia. The unit is now focused on mine rehabilitation. The company was the third-largest producer of uranium in the world. According to Rio Tinto's website, the company instituted strict controls and contractual limitations on uranium exports, limiting uses to peaceful, nonexplosive uses only. Such controls are intended to limit use of the company's uranium production to use as fuel for ]s only, and not for use in the production of ]s.<ref name="RT-uranium">{{cite web | |||
| work = Rio Tinto web site | |||
|title=Uranium | |||
| publisher = Rio Tinto Group | |||
|publisher=Rio Tinto | |||
| url = http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/coal.asp | |||
|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/452_uranium.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 12, 2009}}</ref> | |||
|access-date=12 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219000728/http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/452_uranium.asp | |||
|archive-date=19 December 2010 | |||
}}</ref> Rio Tinto Energy was responsible for 12% of revenues and 18% of underlying earnings in 2008.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
Rio Tinto has divested or closed its remaining uranium operations since 2019. In 2019 it sold its remaining holdings in the Rössing uranium mine to China National Uranium Corporation Limited (CNUC) for an initial cash payment of $6.5 million plus a contingent payment of up to $100 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-rio-tinto-uranium-idUKKCN1NV07T|title=Rio Tinto to sell its stake in Rössing Uranium for up to $106.5 million|date=26 November 2018|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> | |||
The company focuses on both fuel coal for electricity generation in ], and ] for use in iron and ]s. The company's coal operations are located in Australia and the United States, mainly operating under its subsidiaries such as ] and ].<ref name="RT-coal"/> In 2009, Rio Tinto was engaged in an ongoing attempt to sell off assets of Rio Tinto Energy America. In March 2009, the company agreed to sell a major asset, the ] coal mine in Wyoming, to ] for $761 million, and is continuing to seek buyers for remaining assets in an effort to reduce corporate debt.<ref name="Bloomberg-coal">{{cite web | |||
| last = Foley | |||
| first = Brett | |||
| last2 = Herlihy | |||
| first2 = Mark | |||
| title = Arch Coal to Buy U.S. Mine From Rio for $761 Million (Update 2) | |||
| publisher = Bloomberg.com | |||
| date = March 9, 2009 | |||
| url = http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=aQRIkg28LZxA&refer=europe | |||
| accessdate = March 12, 2009}}</ref> | |||
Mining finished at Ranger in late 2012 and the mine plant processed stockpiled ore until January 2021. Rio has tenure and access to the site, principally for rehabilitation activities, until 8 January 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.industry.gov.au/mining-oil-and-gas/minerals/regulating-ranger-uranium-mine#:~:text=Rehabilitation%20and%20closure,-ERA%20is%20required&text=ERA%20ceased%20mining%20and%20processing%20uranium%20at%20Ranger%20on%208%20January%202021.|title=Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine|publisher=Australian Government| access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> | |||
] of Energy Resources of Australia, a Rio Tinto subsidiary.]] | |||
] ore concentrate).]] | |||
Rio Tinto's uranium operations are located at two mines: the ] of ] and the ] in Namibia. The company is the third-largest producer of uranium in the world. According to Rio Tinto's website, the company institutes strict controls and contractual limitations on uranium exports, limiting uses to peaceful, non-explosive uses only. Such controls are intended to limit use of the company's uranium production to use as fuel for ]s only, and not for use in the production of ]s.<ref name="RT-uranium">{{cite web | |||
| title = Uranium | |||
| work = Rio Tinto web site | |||
| publisher = Rio Tinto Group | |||
| url = http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/452_uranium.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 12, 2009}}</ref> Rio Tinto Energy was responsible for 12% of revenues and 18% of underlying earnings in 2008. <ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
===Diamonds: Rio Tinto Diamonds=== | ===Diamonds: Rio Tinto Diamonds=== | ||
] | ] | ||
Rio Tinto Diamonds operates |
Rio Tinto Diamonds operates two ] mines: the ] in the Northwest Territories of Canada (60% ownership) and the ] located in Zimbabwe (78% ownership). Together, these two mines produce 20% of the world's annual production of rough diamonds,<ref name="RTDiamond">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotintodiamonds.com/ENG/ourmines/index_ourmines.asp|title=Rio Tinto's Diamond Mines in Australia, Africa and Canada|work=Rio Tinto Diamonds web site|publisher=Rio Tinto|access-date=13 March 2009}}</ref> making Rio Tinto the world's third-largest producer of mined diamonds.<ref name="Diamonds"/> | ||
Rio Tinto formerly operated the ] in Western Australia (100% ownership).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fowler |first1=Courtney |last2=Mills |first2=Vanessa |title=Rio Tinto's Argyle diamond mine stops production after 37 years |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2020-11-03/wa-argyle-pink-diamond-mine-closure/12840466 |website=abc.net.au |access-date=5 February 2021}}</ref> | |||
The diamond business unit's most advanced exploration project is the ] in Madhya Pradesh, India, where Rio Tinto became the first foreign group to be granted a prospecting license there.<ref name="RTD-Exp">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotintodiamonds.com/ENG/exploration/index_exploration.asp|title=A global diamond exploration portfolio|work=Rio Tinto Diamonds web site|publisher=Rio Tinto Group|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> Rio Tinto Diamonds generated 1% of revenues and earnings for Rio Tinto Group in 2008.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
The diamond business unit's most advanced exploration project is the Falcon Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, where Rio Tinto owns 60% of the project in a joint venture with Star Diamond Corp.<ref name="RTD-Exp">{{cite web|url=https://www.riotinto.com/en/Operations/projects|title=Rio Tinto Projects|work=Rio Tinto Diamonds web site|publisher=Rio Tinto|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> Rio Tinto Diamonds generated 1% of revenues and earnings for Rio Tinto in 2008.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
===Industrial minerals: Rio Tinto Minerals=== | ===Industrial minerals: Rio Tinto Minerals=== | ||
Rio Tinto Minerals is a diverse business group with mining and processing interest in ]s, salt and ]. ], with operations in California, supplies nearly one-third of the world's annual demand for refined borates. The Minerals group is also majority owner of ], which produces over 9 million tonnes of salt and 1.5 million tonnes of gypsum annually from its three facilities in north-west Australia.<ref name="DS">{{cite web | |||
].]] | |||
|title=Dampier Salt web site | |||
Rio Tinto Minerals is a diverse business group with mining and processing interest in ]s, ], ], and ]. ], with main operations in California and another mine in Argentina, supplies nearly half of the world's annual demand for refined borates, while the company's ] subsidiary supplies 25% of global talc consumption. The Luzenac Group is also the only arm of the company with continuing active mining operations on the European continent: in addition to mines in North America and Australia, the company also operates a talc mine in southern France.<ref name="RT-Europe">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/europe.asp|title=What We Produce: Europe|work=Rio Tinto web site|publisher=Rio Tinto Group|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> The Minerals group is also majority owner of ], which produces over 9 million tonnes of salt and 1.5 million tonnes of gypsum annually from its three facilities in northwest Australia.<ref name="DS">{{cite web | |||
|url=http://www.dampiersalt.com.au/tnpn002785/prod/dsl/dslhome.nsf | |||
| title = Dampier Salt web site | |||
|
|access-date=12 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124050209/http://www.dampiersalt.com.au/tnpn002785/prod/dsl/dslhome.nsf | ||
|archive-date=24 November 2009 | |||
| accessdate = March 12, 2009}}</ref> Rio Tinto Minerals accounted for 6% of company revenues, and contributed 3% to earnings in 2008.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
}}</ref> Rio Tinto Minerals accounted for 6% of company revenues, and contributed 3% to earnings in 2008.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
On 31 January 2010, the management of ] locked out its hourly workforce, replacing the workers with nonunion workers and managers from other Rio Tinto operations. The 560 ] Local 30 members immediately began a fireside vigil that garnered national and international labour attention.<ref name="boraxminers">{{cite web|title=Borax Miners|url=http://www.boraxminers.com/|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-date=28 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628011102/http://boraxminers.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ILWU filed several unfair labour practices against the company, including an illegal lock-out claim.<ref name="boraxminers"/> | |||
===Iron products and titanium: Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium=== | ===Iron products and titanium: Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium=== | ||
] | |||
Titanium dioxide is mined at three locations: in ] ] Canada, South Africa and ], ], and refined at ]'s Canadian facilities.<ref name="QIT-Fer">{{cite web|title=QIT-Fer et Titane|work=QIT-Fer et Titane web site|publisher=QIT-Fer et Titane |url=http://www.qit.com/eng/index.asp |access-date=11 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715134422/http://www.qit.com/eng/index.asp|archive-date=15 July 2011 }}</ref> | |||
A media report in October 2013 revealed that the corporation plans to establish a fully automated railroad system for the transportation of iron ore across the Australian ] by 2015, thereby replacing the corporation's train drivers. The United Kingdom-based transport historian Christian Wolmar stated at the same time that the train drivers are most likely the highest-paid members of the occupation in the world at that time. As part of an overall strategy to increase profit margins, the corporation is spending US$518 million on the project.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Replacing Train Drivers Paid Like U.S. Surgeons|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-02/rio-replacing-train-drivers-paid-like-u-s-surgeons.html|access-date=3 October 2013|newspaper=Bloomberg L.P.|date=3 October 2013|author=Elisabeth Behrmann}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
=== Development of autonomous technologies === | |||
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium (RTIT) groups together the company's iron and titanium production. Rio Tinto is the world's second-largest supplier of ],<ref name="FS-Iron"/> producing over 153 million tonnes in calendar year 2008.<ref name="PR-2008"/> The company's major iron ore mines and development projects are located in Australia, South America, Canada, India, and Guinea. Major subsidiaries held within RTIT include ], majority interest in the ] mines, and the ].<ref name="RT-Ironore">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/572_iron_ore.asp|title=Our Products: Iron Ore|work=Rio Tinto Group web site|publisher=Rio Tinto Group|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> The company also has smelting facilities for the production of iron and steel, limited in size in comparison to the massive amount of iron ore produced, at ] in Canada<ref name="QIT-Fer">{{cite web | |||
{{See also|Hamersley & Robe River railway#Pilbara Iron}} | |||
| title = QIT-Fer et Titane | |||
Rio Tinto is a global leader in the development of autonomous technologies for use in the mining sector. As of 2018, Rio Tinto's fleet of 80 autonomous ] vehicles had moved over 1 billion tonnes of ore and waste material in Western Australia's Pilbara region.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blog.iseekplant.com.au/blog/rio-tintos-autonomous-trucks-1-billion-tonnes|title=Rio Tinto's Autonomous Trucks Have Now Moved 1 Billion Tonnes of Material|last=McPherson|first=Sally|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| work = QIT-Fer et Titane web site | |||
| publisher = QIT-Fer et Titane | |||
| url = http://www.qit.com/eng/index.asp | |||
| accessdate = March 11, 2009}}</ref> and ] in Australia.<ref name="RT-Ironore"/> | |||
Furthermore, in late 2017 Rio Tinto announced funding for their Koodaideri Mine in Western Australia, which Rio Tinto had dubbed their "intelligent mine."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blog.iseekplant.com.au/blog/rio-tinto-has-intelligent-pilbara-mine|title=Rio Tinto has approved funding for its 'intelligent' Pilbara Mine|last=Nugent|first=Ollie|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en}}</ref> | |||
Titanium dioxide is mined at three locations in Canada, South Africa, and Madagascar, and refined at QIT-Fer et Titane's Canadian facilities.<ref name="QIT-Fer"/> Major subsidiaries include ] of South Africa and ].<ref name="RT-Titanium">{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/whatweproduce/452_titanium_dioxide.asp|title=Our Products: Titanium Dioxide|work=Rio Tinto Group web site|publisher=Rio Tinto Group|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> In 2008, Rio Tinto produced 1.524 million tonnes of titanium dioxide<ref name="PR-2008"/>, or approximately 27% of the estimated global production of 5.6 million tonnes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digital50.com/news/72931|title=Global Titanium Dioxide Capacity May Rich 7,5 mln tons/year by 2015|date=February 10, 2009|publisher=Business Wire|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> | |||
]|access-date=13 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829212405/http://www.allbusiness.com/construction/heavy-civil-construction-railroad/6093776-1.html |archive-date=29 August 2008 }}</ref>]] | |||
Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium generated a large portion of the company's revenues and earnings in 2008, accounting for 27% and 52%, respectively, of company-wide operating results.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
==Financial results== | ==Financial results== | ||
Rio Tinto |
Rio Tinto's revenues and earnings have grown substantially in 2003–2010, with one of the largest increases attributable to the company's acquisition of Alcan in 2007. Although its operating margin is significantly affected by the market prices of the commodities it produces, it has remained profitable over its recent history.<ref name="PR-2008"/><ref name=prelims09>{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/PR788g_Rio_Tinto_announces_underlying_earnings_of_6.3_billion.pdf |title=Preliminary Results 2009 |publisher=Riotinto.com |date=19 April 2012 |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930162217/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/PR788g_Rio_Tinto_announces_underlying_earnings_of_6.3_billion.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/RT_Annual_Report_2015.pdf |title=Annual Report 2015 |access-date=26 March 2016 |archive-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315042143/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/RT_Annual_Report_2015.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
{| class = "wikitable" | {| class = "wikitable" | ||
|+Earnings data (in US$ millions)<ref name= |
|+Earnings data (in US$ millions)<ref name=ar/> | ||
|- | |- | ||
! !!2003 !!2004 !!2005 !!2006 !!2007 !!2008 | ! !!2003 !!2004 !!2005 !!2006 !!2007 !!2008 !!2009 !!2010 !!2011 !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! 2022 !! 2023 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Gross sales revenue||{{0|0}}9,228 ||{{0|0}}14,530 ||{{0|0}}20,742 ||{{0|0}}25,440 ||{{0|0}}33,518 ||{{0|0}}58,065 ||{{0|0}}44,036 ||{{0|0}}60,323 ||{{0|0}}60,537 ||{{0|0}}50,967 ||{{0|0}}51,171 ||{{0|0}}47,664 ||{{0|0}}34,829 ||{{0|0}}33,781 ||{{0|0}}40,030 ||{{0|0}}40,522 ||{{0|0}}43,165 ||{{0|0}}44,611 ||{{0|0}}63,495 ||{{0|0}}55,554||{{0|0}}54,041 | |||
| Gross Sales Revenue||{{0|0}}9,228 ||14,530 ||20,742 ||25,440 ||33,518 ||58,065 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| Underlying |
| Underlying profit before tax||{{0|0}}1,968 ||{{0|0}}3,017 ||{{0|0}}7,094 ||{{0|0}}9,719 ||{{0|0}}9,947 ||{{0|0}}15,977 ||{{0|0}}7,860 ||{{0|0}}20,577 ||{{0|0}}13,214 ||{{0|0}}9,303 ||{{0|0}}10,217 ||{{0|0}}9,305 ||{{0|0}}4,540 ||{{0|0}}5,100||{{0|0}}8,627||{{0|0}}8,808||{{0|0}}10,373||{{0|0}}12,448||{{0|0}}21,380||{{0|0}}13,275||{{0|0}}15,587 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Underlying |
| Underlying net earnings||{{0|0}}1,382 ||{{0|0}}2,272 ||{{0|0}}4,955 ||{{0|0}}7,338 ||{{0|0}}7,443 ||{{0|0}}10,303 ||{{0|0}}6,298 ||{{0|0}}13,987 ||{{0|0}}5,826 ||{{0|0}}(2,990) ||{{0|0}}3,665 ||{{0|0}}6,527 ||{{0|0}}(866) ||{{0|0}}4,617 ||{{0|0}}8,762 ||{{0|0}}13,638||{{0|0}}8,010||{{0|0}}9,769||{{0|0}}21,094||{{0|0}}12,420||{{0|0}}11,755 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Cash |
| Cash flow from operations||{{0|0}}3,486 ||{{0|0}}4,452 ||{{0|0}}8,257 ||{{0|0}}10,923 ||{{0|0}}12,569 ||{{0|0}}20,668 ||{{0|0}}13,834 ||{{0|0}}23,530 ||{{0|0}}27,388 ||{{0|0}}16,450 ||{{0|0}}20,131 ||{{0|0}}18,896 ||{{0|0}}12,102 ||{{0|0}}11,368 ||{{0|0}}16,670 ||{{0|0}}15,655||{{0|0}}19,705||{{0|0}}21,822||{{0|0}}33,936||{{0|0}}23,158||{{0|0}}20,251 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Operating |
| Operating margin||{{0|00}}19%||{{0|00}}24%||{{0|00}}37%||{{0|00}}42%||{{0|00}}34%||{{0|00}}32% ||{{0|00}}17% ||{{0|00}}36% ||{{0|00}}23% ||{{0|00}}18% ||{{0|00}}20% ||{{0|00}}20% ||{{0|00}}13% ||{{0|00}}15% ||{{0|00}}22% ||{{0|0}}22%||{{0|0}}24%||{{0|0}}28%||{{0|0}}34%||{{0|0}}24%||{{0|0}}29% | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Controversies== | |||
The company's previously conservative balance sheet has been adversely impacted by large amount of debt taken on to finance the Alcan acquisition. The upcoming maturities of $9 billion in 2009 and $10.5 billion by the end of 2010 have driven the company to seek to raise cash through a combination of asset sales and equity infusions.<ref name="Forbes"/> Since the beginning of 2008, the company has completed or agreed upon $5.5 billion in asset sales, and is seeking a combined asset sale / equity infusion deal with Chinalco to raise an additional $19.5 billion.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
=== Poor working conditions === | |||
The United Steelworkers of America has claimed that mine workers at ] worked for eight months without stopping during a labour dispute about how these workers were treated. This dispute ended with a settlement including a six-year labour agreement, only for Rio Tinto to lay off over 120 workers just two days later. Tom Johnson, a spokesperson from United Steelworkers of America said, "Rio Tinto does not make an effort to use technologies that are more sustainable. They do not discuss with local communities their environmental impact. They operate in secret with governments and with groups that are friendly to them."<ref>{{cite web|date=25 September 2003 |title=Union members protest mining giant's policies|publisher=Deseret News|access-date=15 December 2022|url=https://www.deseret.com/2003/9/25/19786208/union-members-protest-mining-giant-s-policies}}</ref> | |||
=== London Olympic Games === | |||
{| class = "wikitable" | |||
The metals for the medals for the ] were supplied from the ] located in Utah and the ] in Mongolia, which caused uproar among many activist groups, especially in Utah due to their concern about the impact to the local cities. One person particularly bothered by this decision was the Commissioner of the London Games, Meredith Alexander, who quit her position and led a coalition of human rights and environmental groups during the "Greenwashed Gold Campaign".<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Corporate Watch|date=1 November 2018|title=Greenwash Gold 2012 campaign.|access-date=15 December 2022|url=https://corporatewatch.org/greenwash-gold-2012-campaign/}}</ref> | |||
|+Summary balance sheet data (in US$ millions)<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
=== Panguna Mine, Papua New Guinea === | |||
In 2000, Rio Tinto faced a federal lawsuit on behalf of Papua New Guinea due to the harm the company's mining operations at the Panguna Mine had to the environment for decades. Local communities filed this suit claiming that the local Kawerong-Jaba river delta was used as a dumping site for "more than one billion tons of mine waste". According to the lawsuit, the citizens are claiming that the mining giant used harmful chemicals and bulldozers to destroy the environment and specifically the rainforest and used their waterways as a dumping site for the chemicals and runoff caused by their mining operations. These citizens believe that Rio Tinto was targeting them due to their race and culture and was even paying what they referred to as "slave wages" to the company's black workers.<ref>{{cite web|date=8 June 2021|title=Rio Tinto: A shameful history of human and labour rights abuses and environmental degradation around the globe.|publisher= London Mining Network|access-date=15 December 2022|url=https://londonminingnetwork.org/2010/04/rio-tinto-a-shameful-history-of-human-and-labour-rights-abuses-and-environmental-degradation-around-the-globe/}}</ref> | |||
=== Rio Tinto massacre === | |||
During the first years of the company's operation in Spain, the company practiced open-air ] ] in blast furnaces.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Harvey |first=Charles |title=The Rio Tinto Company: an economic history of a leading international mining concern, 1873-1954 |date=1981 |publisher=A. Hodge |isbn=0-906720-03-6 |location=Penzance, Cornwall |pages=132 |oclc=9081306}}</ref> The toxic fumes released by this process had a negative impact on the farmland and the local agriculturists, which led to the company's workers and some local ] coming together to protest against this practice. On 4 February 1888, several thousand rank and file—agriculturalists, anarchists and mineworkers—marched to the Rio Tinto town hall ('']'') to deliver their petitions to the mayor. While the mayor spoke with the crowd's representatives, the Huelva military governor and ] watched over the protest. The military governor's attempts to disperse the crowd only incensed it further. The civil guards, under perceived threat of mob violence, ], killing at least 13 and injuring 35.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9780429354243/corporate-policing-yellow-unionism-strikebreaking-1890%E2%80%931930-matteo-millan-alessandro-saluppo |title=Corporate Policing, Yellow Unionism, and Strikebreaking, 1890–1930: In Defence of Freedom |year=2020 |editor-last=Millan |editor-first=Matteo |pages=53 |doi=10.4324/9780429354243 |isbn=9780429354243 |s2cid=238046666 |editor-last2=Saluppo |editor-first2=Alessandro}}</ref> | |||
===Interference from Axis powers during World War II=== | |||
Rio Tinto's status as a mainly British-owned company, located in Spain and producing pyrites—an important material for military applications—created a complicated set of circumstances for the company's operation in the 1930s and 1940s. During the ], the region in which Rio Tinto's mines were located came under the control of ]'s Nationalists in 1936. However, Franco increasingly intervened in the company's operations, at times requisitioning pyrite supplies for use by Spain and its ] allies Germany and Italy, forcing price controls on the company's production, restricting exports, and threatening nationalisation of the mines. Although company management (and indirectly, the British government) managed to counteract some of these efforts by Franco, much of the mine's pyrite production was channelled to Axis powers before and during ]. Nonetheless, Franco's meddling caused the mine's production and profitability to fall precipitously during and after the war, leading the company to ultimately exit from its Spanish operations in 1954.<ref name="Kutney">{{Cite book|last=Kutney|first=Dr. Gerald|title=Sulfur: History, Technology, Applications & Industry|publisher=ChemTec Publishing|year=2007|page=260|isbn=9781895198379|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O4rzzkUQyzIC|access-date=9 April 2009}}</ref> | |||
===Guinean iron ore=== | |||
In 2015, Rio Tinto was criticised by the Guinean government for the many mining delays at the local ]. Cece Noramou, government official said the government was "running out of patience". President Alpha Conde himself said that "there have been people at Simandou for 15 years, 20 years, and they've never produced a ton of iron". Even before 2015, the Guinean government had expressed their displeasure and dissatisfaction with Rio Tinto; in 2008, the Guinean government annulled half of the company's Simandou rights and gave them to BSGR, a French–Israeli-owned mining company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-13/rio-runs-out-of-goodwill-in-guinea-as-giant-iron-ore-mine-lags|title=Rio Runs Out of Guinea Goodwill as Giant Iron-Ore Mine Lags|date=13 October 2015|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
In late 2016, Rio Tinto agreed to sell its stake in the Simandou iron ore mine to Chinalco and exit the deal. The deal was negotiated after the company's case against Vale and BSGR was dismissed at US District Court.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mining.com/chinese-buy-worlds-largest-mining-project/|title=Chinese buy world's largest mining project {{!}} MINING.com|date=28 October 2016|work=MINING.com|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
=== Racism, bullying and sexual harassment === | |||
In 2022, Rio Tinto released a report that described a work culture of bullying, harassment and racism at the global mining giant, including twenty one complaints by women of actual or attempted rape or sexual assault in the past five years. Elizabeth Broderick, who surveyed more than 10,000 of Rio Tinto's 45,000 employees, released an independent report, which found that systemic bullying, sexism and racism were common.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Toscano|first=Peter Milne, Nick|date=2022-02-01|title=Rio Tinto 'shamed' by alarming sexual harassment, bullying and racism|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/rio-tinto-shamed-by-alarming-sexual-harassment-bullying-and-racism-20220201-p59swf.html|access-date=2022-02-10|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref> According to the report, these harmful behaviours were often tolerated or normalised. "Harmful behaviour by serial perpetrators is often an open secret", Elizabeth Broderick said. On the whole, about 28% of women and 7% of men had experienced sexual harassment at Rio. But this rate rose to 41% for female workers at ] sites.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2022-02-01|title=Rio Tinto says 21 female workers reported sexual assaults|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-60211706|access-date=2022-02-10}}</ref> Most women who responded had experienced "everyday sexism".<ref name=guardianfeb22>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-01|title=Bullying, sexual harassment and racism rife at Rio Tinto, workplace review finds|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/feb/01/bullying-sexual-harassment-and-racism-rife-at-rio-tinto-workplace-review-finds|access-date=2022-02-10|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Near half of the workforce reported being bullied, and described the resultant loss of confidence, declining performance, anxiety and depression. According to Broderick, LGBTIQ+ employees had experienced "elevated rates of bullying, sexual harassment and racism". A "culture of silence" had kept workers from reporting unacceptable behaviour. People who worked in a country they weren't born in had experienced high rates of racism, while almost 40% of men who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander had endured racism in Australia.<ref name=guardianfeb22/> | |||
The ] found that, from 2015 and 2020, approximately three in four women had experienced at least some form of sexual harassment while in the mining industry, in part due to a gender imbalance.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Menon|first=Praveen|date=2022-02-01|title=Report on Rio Tinto finds 'disturbing' culture of sexual harassment, racism, bullying|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/rio-tinto-report-finds-disturbing-culture-sexual-harassment-racism-bullying-2022-02-01/|access-date=2022-02-10}}</ref> | |||
===Juukan Gorge destruction=== | |||
{{further|Juukan Gorge}} | |||
In May 2020, to expand the ], Rio Tinto demolished an ] in ], Western Australia, which had evidence of 46,000 years of continual human occupation, and was considered the only inland prehistoric site in Australia to show signs of continual human occupation through the last ].<ref>, document by the Council of Australasian Museum Directors, posted on 28 May 2020.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sciencealert.com/a-46-000-year-old-aboriginal-site-was-just-deliberately-destroyed-in-australia|date=28 May 2020 |title=A 46,000-Year-Old Aboriginal Site Was Just Deliberately Destroyed in Australia|publisher=Science Alert|access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-52869502 |title=Mining firm Rio Tinto sorry for destroying Aboriginal caves |work=BBC News |date=31 May 2020 }}</ref> The company later revealed it had three alternative options to preserve the site, but chose to destroy it without informing the ]s of the alternatives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morningstar.ca/ca/news/205544/what-can-we-learn-from-the-rio-tinto-disaster.aspx|date=22 September 2020 |title=What Can We Learn from the Rio Tinto Disaster?|publisher=Morningstar|access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> Permission to destroy the site had been given in 2013 under the state '']'', which, however, has been under review since 2018.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618134249/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2018/03/Aboriginal-heritage-legislation-to-be-reviewed.aspx |date=18 June 2020 }}, by ], posted on 9 March 2018. Retrieved on 18 June 2020.</ref><ref>. , by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, of the ]. Retrieved on 18 June 2020.</ref> The ] and ] peoples, who are the local land custodians, had fought the decision.<ref>{{cite news|title=Miner apologizes for blowing up 46,000-year-old sacred site|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/business/rio-tinto-pilbara-sacred-site-intl-hnk-scli/index.html|last1=Watson|first1=Angus|last2=Westcott|first2=Ben|date=1 June 2020|website=CNN|access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref> The destruction brought widespread criticism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/26/rio-tinto-blasts-46000-year-old-aboriginal-site-to-expand-iron-ore-mine |title=Rio Tinto blasts 46,000-year-old Aboriginal site to expand iron ore mine | Indigenous Australians |work=The Guardian |date=26 May 2020 |access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/rio-tinto-s-claim-rejected-as-outrageous-after-aboriginal-sacred-site-destroyed |title=Rio Tinto's claim rejected as 'outrageous' after Aboriginal sacred site destroyed |publisher=SBS News |date=27 May 2020 |access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref> | |||
On 31 May, Rio Tinto apologised for the distress caused.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wahlquist |first=Calla |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/16/rio-tinto-repeats-apology-for-blasting-46000-year-old-rock-shelter-to-expand-mine |title=Leaked tape reveals Rio Tinto does not regret destroying 46,000-year-old Aboriginal rock shelter to expand mine |publisher=Guardian News |access-date=16 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Watson |first=Angus |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/01/business/rio-tinto-pilbara-sacred-site-intl-hnk-scli/index.html |title=Rio Tinto: Miner apologizes for blowing up 46,000-year-old sacred indigenous site in Western Australia - CNN |date=June 2020 |publisher=Edition.cnn.com |access-date=1 June 2020}}</ref><ref>, issued by Rio Tinto on 31 May 2020.</ref><ref>, issued by Rio Tinto on 12 June 2020.</ref><ref> 17 June 2020</ref> According to 35 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and human rights organisations, Rio Tinto's qualified apology is "far from an adequate response to an incident of this magnitude".<ref>, by 35 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and human rights organisations, sent on 8 July 2020.</ref> | |||
On 9 June, ] revoked its endorsement of Rio Tinto as partner in reconciliation action plans, defining the behaviour of the corporation a ''breathtaking breach of a respectful relationship''" which was "devastating for the Traditional Owners and robbed the world of a uniquely valuable cultural heritage site".<ref>, issued by ] on the 9 June 2020.</ref> Also on 9 July, The ] (CHRB) and the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) condemned "the destruction of invaluable cultural heritage at Juukan Gorge", adding that this "incident is a severe adverse impact on cultural rights that has engendered extreme concern and outrage among the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura traditional owners of the site as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their allies". The CHRB and WBA also called "on Rio Tinto to take appropriate action to carry out an independent investigation of the incident, involving affected stakeholders, to provide effective remedy and to prevent similar impacts in the future, in Australia and elsewhere". The statement was attached to the company's listing in the 2019 Benchmark Report.<ref> of a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal heritage site by Rio Tinto at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia on 24 May 2020", statement issued by CHRB on 9 July 2020.</ref><ref>, posted by Global Citizen on 13 July 2020.</ref> | |||
On 4 August, in its submission to a parliamentary inquiry looking at the destruction of the sacred rock caves, the company said it "missed opportunities" to alter its mine plan.<ref name="auto">{{cite news| last1= Hume| first1= Neil| last2= Smyth| first2 = Jamie| date= 4 August 2020| title= Rio Tinto missed chances to prevent demolition of sacred rock caves| url= https://www.ft.com/content/85e41970-38b8-4fd0-afff-414e969a8603| work= Financial Times}}</ref> A dig in 2014 and a final report on the archaeological excavations in 2018 underlined the cultural and historical significance of the caves. Rio Tinto said it did not "clearly communicate" its plan for destroying the sacred site to the native land owners.<ref name="auto"/> Although no executives were fired, on 24 August the company announced that three senior executives would lose a combined £3.8 million from their expected bonus payments.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ziady|first=Hanna|date=24 August 2020|title=Rio Tinto execs lose bonuses but keep jobs after destruction of ancient aboriginal caves|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/24/business/rio-tinto-aboriginal-caves/index.html|access-date=24 August 2020|website=CNN}}</ref> | |||
On 11 September 2020, it was announced that, as a result of the destruction at Juukan Gorge, CEO ] and two other Rio Tinto executives would step down.<ref name="bbcSep20">{{Cite web |last=Khalil |first=Shaimaa |date=11 September 2020 |title=Rio Tinto chief Jean-Sébastien Jacques to quit over Aboriginal cave destruction |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54112991 |access-date=11 September 2020 |work=]}}</ref> The ] welcomed the move, but said that there should be an independent review into the company's procedures and culture to ensure that such an incident could never happen again.<ref>{{cite web | title=Rio Tinto boss Jean-Sebastien Jacques quits over Juukan Gorge blast|first1=David |last1=Chau| first2= Michael |last2=Janda | website=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) | date=11 September 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-11/rio-tinto-boss-jean-sebastien-jacques-quits-over-juukan-blast/12653950 | access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> Rio Tinto admitted their error, issued an apology via media<ref>{{cite web |first1= Gavin |last1=Fernando|first2= Evan|last2= Young |last3=Stayner | first3=Tom | title=Rio Tinto boss and top executives step down following destruction of Aboriginal Juukan Gorge rock shelters | website=SBS News | date=11 September 2020 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/rio-tinto-boss-and-top-executives-step-down-following-destruction-of-aboriginal-juukan-gorge-rock-shelters | access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> and on their website, and also committed to building relationships with the traditional owners as well as getting Indigenous people into leadership roles in the company.<ref>{{cite web | title=Inquiry into Juukan Gorge |website=Rio Tinto| date=24 August 2020| url=https://www.riotinto.com/news/releases/2020/Rio-Tinto-publishes-board-review-of-cultural-heritage-management | access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> Jane Crawford Munro comments that "this admission of failure and subsequent acts were precipitated by investors in Rio Tinto." Yet she adds that, "The admission constituted a major leap forward in acknowledgement of the rights and history of Aboriginal peoples in Australia."<ref>{{cite journal |author=Jane Crawford Munro |title=What is the true impact of an apology? |journal=Contemporary Japan |date=2023 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/18692729.2023.2175425}}</ref> One analysis of what went wrong in Rio Tinto to allow the destruction to occur suggested that processes failed at several levels, but mainly due to its "segmented organisational structure", a poor reporting structure, and Indigenous relations not being properly represented at a high enough level.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Hopkins | first1=Andrew | last2=Kemp | first2=Deanna | title=Corporate dysfunction on Indigenous affairs: Why heads rolled at Rio Tinto | website=The Conversation | date=11 September 2020 | url=http://theconversation.com/corporate-dysfunction-on-indigenous-affairs-why-heads-rolled-at-rio-tinto-146001 | access-date=12 September 2020}}</ref> | |||
In response to this disaster, the Western Australian government introduced the ]. After being repealed,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-08 |title=WA Government to repeal Aboriginal Heritage Act |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-08/wa-government-to-repeal-aboriginal-heritage-act/102702510 |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=abc.net.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> Rio Tinto wrote to traditional owners to make promises not to backtrack.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-08 |title=Rio Tinto CEO Kellie Parker warns Australia’s ‘vile racism’ hits Voice” |url=https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/rio-tinto-ceo-warns-australia-s-vile-racism-hits-voice-20230808-p5duqz |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref> Rio Tinto was one of thirteen ] in support for the Yes campaign for the ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-06 |title=We won’t go quiet on the Voice: business |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/we-won-t-go-quiet-on-the-voice-business-20230805-p5du67 |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref> | |||
=== 2021 Serbian protests === | |||
During 2021, a ] broke out in Serbia against the construction of a ] mine in Western Serbia by the Rio Tinto corporation.<ref>{{Cite web|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=2021-12-05|title=Rio Tinto lithium mine: thousands of protesters block roads across Serbia|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/05/rio-tinto-lithium-mine-thousands-of-protesters-block-roads-across-serbia|access-date=2021-12-08|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Protesters blocked major roads and bridges in Belgrade and other major cities.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vasovic|first=Aleksandar|date=2021-12-05|title=Thousands block roads across Serbia in anti-government protest|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/thousands-block-roads-across-serbia-anti-government-protest-2021-12-04/|access-date=2021-12-08}}</ref> In the town of ], there was an incident when a member of the ruling party attacked the protesters with an excavator, and then the protesters were beaten by an armed group of hooligans.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-28|title=Man who stopped excavator from running through protesters ordered into custody|url=https://rs.n1info.com/english/news/person-who-stopped-excavator-from-passing-through-group-of-protesters-detained/|access-date=2021-12-08|website=N1|language=sr-RS}}</ref> The Jadar lithium project is driven by a "significant" supply gap for lithium, as demand for the metal used in electric vehicles (EV) and green technologies continues to soar, particularly in North America and Europe. The project would make Serbia the biggest producer of lithium globally, and provide raw materials to more than 1 million electric cars.<ref>. ''RadioFreeEurope''. Retrieved 8 December 2021.</ref> | |||
As of 11 December 2021, protests are still ongoing with demands to stop and permanently prohibit any mining-related activity in Jadar region. An activist from ] (Environmental Uprising), one of the prominent organisers of the protests, told to the local media that "protests will be continued until the basic demand is met, which is the expulsion of Rio Tinto from Serbia and the adoption of a law banning lithium exploitation in Serbia".<ref>. ''N1 Srbija''. Retrieved 11 December 2021.</ref> | |||
In December 2021, Rio Tinto said it was considering the concerns of residents in western Serbia after ]'s municipal assembly scrapped a plan to allocate land for a lithium project.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-23|title=Rio Tinto pledges public dialogue over $3.3b Serbian lithium mine|url=https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/rio-tinto-pledges-public-dialogue-over-3-3b-serbian-lithium-mine-20211224-p59jxj|access-date=2021-12-28|website=]|language=en}}</ref> | |||
In June 2024, the constitutional court reverted the government's decision to remove Rio Tinto from the project,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Šta će nama rudarima kuća |url=https://www.gradnja.rs/rio-tinto-projekat-jadar-litijum/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Gradnja |language=sr-RS}}</ref> and the president of Serbia announced that he was expecting the company to reveal their final plans for the mine in July and that the mine might be built by 2028. The Serbian public was not pleased with that turn of events, despite the president stating multiple times that the company, alongside the EU, was guaranteeing a higher level of environmental safety, following the protests in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Pre dve godine sve stopirano, sada Vučić najavljuje rudnik: Da li je Rio Tinto zvanično dobio "zeleno svetlo" za Projekat Jadar? - Ekonomija - Dnevni list Danas |url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/ekonomija/rio-tinto-rudnik-aleksandar-vucic/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |language=sr-RS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Evropa |first=Radio Slobodna |date=2024-07-11 |title=Ustavni sud ukinuo odluku Vlade Srbije o zaustavljanju projekta Jadar |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-ustavni-sud-projekat-jadar-litijum-rio-tinto/33031200.html |access-date=2024-07-16 |work=Radio Slobodna Evropa |language=sh}}</ref> In June a protest against Rio Tinto was held in Loznica and one was held in Belgrade in July. On 16 July 2024, the prime minister of Serbia said in an interview that cancelling the project was a mistake and that the fact that the company was present in Serbia was the previous government's fault.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tatalović |first=Žaklina |date=2024-07-16 |title="Ponovo radi Rio Tinto": Brnabić za sve krivi bivšu vlast, Nemci stižu da se "sporazumemo o litijumu" |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/rio-tinto-ana-brnabic-litijum-vucic-jadar/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=N1 |language=sr-RS}}</ref> | |||
=== Misplaced radioactive capsule === | |||
{{further|Western Australian radioactive capsule incident}} | |||
In January 2023, the company announced that it had misplaced a capsule of radioactive material that was being transported from their Gudai-Darri mine in Western Australia. The capsule is a 8 by 6 mm cylinder containing a 19-gigabecquerel ] ceramic source.<ref>{{cite news |title=Search stepped up for potentially deadly radioactive capsule lost in Western Australia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/29/new-technology-deployed-in-search-for-tiny-potentially-deadly-missing-radioactive-capsule |access-date=31 January 2023 |agency=The Guardian |date=29 January 2023}}</ref> It has the capability of causing serious illness if it is not handled correctly. According to the company, the capsule was lost somewhere between ] and ], a distance of 1,400 km. The company launched an investigation into the disappearance and are working alongside authorities.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-30 |title=Mining giant 'sorry' over lost radioactive capsule in Australia |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64448879 |access-date=2023-01-30}}</ref> | |||
Later the same month the capsule was recovered by investigators and verified by the ]s.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-01 |title=Missing radioactive capsule found in Australia |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-64481317 |access-date=2023-02-01}}</ref> | |||
===Environment=== | |||
] | |||
==== Mining ==== | |||
Rio Tinto has been widely criticised by environmental groups and at least one national government for the environmental impacts of its mining activities. The most high-level environmental criticism to date has come from the ], which divested itself from Rio Tinto shares and banned further investment due to environmental concerns. Claims of severe environmental damages related to Rio Tinto's engagement in the ] in Indonesia led the ] to exclude Rio Tinto from its investment portfolio. The fund, which is said to be the world's second-largest pension fund, sold shares in the company valued at {{NOK|4.85 billion}} (US$855 million) to avoid contributing to environmental damages caused by the company.<ref name=norway>{{cite web |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Press-Center/Press-releases/2008/the-government-pension-fund-divests-its-.html?id=526030&epslanguage=EN-GB| title=The Government Pension Fund divests its holdings in mining company |author=] |date=9 September 2008 }}</ref> | |||
{{blockquote|Exclusion of a company from the Fund reflects our unwillingness to run an unacceptable risk of contributing to grossly unethical conduct. The Council on Ethics has concluded that Rio Tinto is directly involved, through its participation in the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, in the severe environmental damage caused by that mining operation.<ref name='R000009'>{{Cite news | first= Terry| last= MacAlister| title=Ethical business: Norway ejects mining giant Rio from its pension portfolio | date=9 September 2008 | url =https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/sep/09/riotinto.ethicalbusiness |work=The Guardian |location=UK | access-date = 10 September 2008 }}</ref>|], ]}} | |||
Rio Tinto disputes the claims of environmental damage at the Grasberg mine, and states that the company has long maintained an excellent record on environmental issues.<ref name="BBC-env">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7608097.stm|title=Norway blacklists miner Rio Tinto|date=10 September 2008|work=BBC News |access-date=9 April 2009}}</ref> | |||
After the former Panguna copper and gold mine in ], ], which was abandoned by Rio Tinto in 1989, caused flooding, pollution of water wells and river poisoning, residents of the region filed a request for investigation with the Australian government in September 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Albeck-Ripka|first=Livia|date=30 September 2020|title=Abandoned Rio Tinto Mine Is Blamed for Poisoned Bougainville Rivers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/world/australia/rio-tinto-abandoned-mine-poison-rivers.html|access-date=30 September 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> | |||
As part of a ] of the ], the United States agreed in 2014 to hand over ] in ] to a joint venture of Rio Tinto and ] to build the ] mine. The proposal has faced significant backlash from environmentalists and the ] tribe, arguing that the project, if it goes forward, would collapse a region {{convert|2|mi|spell=in}} wide around Oak Flat into a ] {{convert|1100|ft}} deep, destroying sacred and ecologically sensitive land. The project would also deplete and contaminate Arizona's already limited groundwater supply.<ref>{{cite news |title=This land is sacred to the Apache, and they are fighting to save it |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/04/12/oak-flat-apache-sacred-land/ |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> US Representative ] has introduced on four occasions a proposal for the land transfer to be halted, most recently in March 2021 after the ] administration paused the land transfer.<ref>{{cite web |author=Sahar Akbarzai |title=Arizona Democrat reintroduces bill to protect sacred Apache site from planned copper mine |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/18/politics/oak-flat-copper-mine-legislation/index.html |website=CNN |date=18 March 2021 |access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref> | |||
==== Carbon dioxide emissions ==== | |||
According to '']'', Rio Tinto is one of the top 100 industrial ] producers in the world, accounting for 0.75 per cent of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions between 1988 and 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jul/10/100-fossil-fuel-companies-investors-responsible-71-global-emissions-cdp-study-climate-change|title=Just 100 companies responsible for 71% of global emissions, study says|last=Riley|first=Tess|date=10 July 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=25 September 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 2016, Rio Tinto estimated to have produced 32 million tonnes of ] equivalent in its own climate change report.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riotinto.com/documents/RT_Climate_change_report.pdf|title=Climate change report|website=Rio Tinto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623165125/http://www.riotinto.com/documents/RT_Climate_change_report.pdf|archive-date=23 June 2017}}</ref> | |||
In March 2018, Rio Tinto was urged by institutional investors to set new rules requiring the company to adhere to the goals of the ] to limit ] to 1.5 °C, including detailed plans to reduce scope 1 to 3 emissions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 18, 2019 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-rio-tinto-emissions/rio-asks-shareholders-to-vote-against-emissions-resolution-idUSKCN1QZ0IJ|title=Rio asks shareholders to vote against emissions resolution|work=Reuters |access-date=25 September 2019|language=en-US}}</ref> Rio Tinto's top executives rejected the resolution, arguing that the company had made a lot of progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and that appropriate plans were in place to deal with climate change.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/rio-tinto-delivers-strong-defence-of-its-climate-change-stance-20180502-p4zcwc.html|title=Rio Tinto delivers strong defence of its climate change stance|last=Gray|first=Darren|date=2 May 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> | |||
Rio also argued that ], those of its customers, were beyond the firm's control.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3741e170-4997-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d|title=Rio rebuffs climate investor push|date=18 March 2019|work=Financial Times}}</ref> Nevertheless, the corporation in September 2019 signed a partnership with Chinese steelmaker ] to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ] making, in an attempt to tackle the scope 3 issue.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/sep/25/rio-tinto-strikes-deal-with-big-chinese-customer-to-find-ways-to-cut-emissions|title=Rio Tinto strikes deal with big Chinese customer to find ways to cut emissions|last=Butler|first=Ben|date=25 September 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=25 September 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> | |||
In 2021, Rio unveiled plans to spend $7.5 billion in direct capital expenditure on efforts to decarbonise, announcing new targets of cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions (from their 2018 baseline) by 15% before 2025 and by 50% by 2030 and scope 3 emissions by 30% before 2030. This is to be achieved through 5 GW of wind and solar projects for the Boyne Island and Tomago smelters and 1 GW for Pilbara mining, full electrification of the Pilbara system including all trucks, mobile equipment and rail operations, replacing gas, and investments into green steel and aluminium, joining fellow iron ore giants Fortescue Metals and BHP in the effort to transition to renewable powered operations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Parkinson|first=Giles|date=2021-10-20|title=Rio Tinto plans massive 7GW wind and solar for smelters and iron ore mines|url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/rio-tinto-plans-massive-7gw-wind-and-solar-for-smelters-and-iron-ore-mines/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=RenewEconomy|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rio Tinto to strengthen performance, decarbonise and grow|url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/rio-tinto-strengthen-performance-decarbonise-052100776.html|access-date=2021-10-20|website=au.finance.yahoo.com|language=en-AU|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629121958/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/rio-tinto-strengthen-performance-decarbonise-052100776.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Rio Tinto reported Total ] (Direct + Indirect) for the twelve months ending 31 December 2020 at 31,500 Kt (+100/+0.3% y-o-y).<ref name="Rio Tinto Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q4">{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto's Sustainability Report for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018143828/https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Climate-Change-reports/RT-climate-report-2020.pdf?rev=c415a8138bd7408496ccb3834511abc0 |url=https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Climate-Change-reports/RT-climate-report-2020.pdf?rev=c415a8138bd7408496ccb3834511abc0|archive-date=October 18, 2021 }} </ref> | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ Rio Tinto's annual total ] (Direct + Indirect) (in kilotonnes) | |||
|- | |- | ||
!!! |
! Dec 2014 !! Dec 2015 !! Dec 2016 !! Dec 2017 !! Dec 2018 !! Dec 2019 !! Dec 2020 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 34,300<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto's Sustainability Report for 2018Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927164803/https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-2018.pdf?rev=d31c98dca0a44125b7dbddf66d10a83b |url=https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-2018.pdf?rev=d31c98dca0a44125b7dbddf66d10a83b|archive-date=September 27, 2021 }} </ref> || 32,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto's Sustainability Report for 2019Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927164759/https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-appendix-2019.pdf?rev=d0ff235b7243447287843bddecdc934d |url=https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-appendix-2019.pdf?rev=d0ff235b7243447287843bddecdc934d|archive-date=September 27, 2021 }} </ref> || 32,500<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto's Sustainability Report for 2019Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927164759/https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-appendix-2019.pdf?rev=d0ff235b7243447287843bddecdc934d |url=https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-appendix-2019.pdf?rev=d0ff235b7243447287843bddecdc934d|archive-date=September 27, 2021 }} </ref> || 31,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto's Sustainability Report for 2019Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927164759/https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-appendix-2019.pdf?rev=d0ff235b7243447287843bddecdc934d |url=https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Sustainable-development-reports/RT-Sustainable-development-appendix-2019.pdf?rev=d0ff235b7243447287843bddecdc934d|archive-date=September 27, 2021 }} </ref> || 32,600<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto's Sustainability Report for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018143828/https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Climate-Change-reports/RT-climate-report-2020.pdf?rev=c415a8138bd7408496ccb3834511abc0 |url=https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Climate-Change-reports/RT-climate-report-2020.pdf?rev=c415a8138bd7408496ccb3834511abc0|archive-date=October 18, 2021 }} </ref> || 31,400<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rio Tinto's Sustainability Report for 2020Q4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018143828/https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Climate-Change-reports/RT-climate-report-2020.pdf?rev=c415a8138bd7408496ccb3834511abc0 |url=https://www.riotinto.com/-/media/Content/Documents/Invest/Reports/Climate-Change-reports/RT-climate-report-2020.pdf?rev=c415a8138bd7408496ccb3834511abc0|archive-date=October 18, 2021 }} </ref> || 31,500<ref name="Rio Tinto Total CO2e emissions for 2020Q4"/> | |||
| Fixed Assets||19,418 ||20,131 ||20,848 ||25,803 ||75,888 ||67,651 | |||
|- | |||
| Other Assets Less Liabilities||{{0|0}}1,804 ||{{0|0}}2,356 ||{{0|0}}2,587 ||{{0|0}}3,026 ||11,609 ||{{0|0}}8,469 | |||
|- | |||
| Net Debt||{{0|0}}5,646 ||{{0|0}}3,809 ||{{0|0}}1,313 ||{{0|0}}2,437 ||45,191 ||38,672 | |||
|- | |||
| Other Liabilities and Outside Shareholder's Interest||{{0|0}}5,539 ||{{0|0}}6,801 ||{{0|0}}7,174 ||{{0|0}}8,160 ||17,534 ||16,810 | |||
|- | |||
| Shareholder's Equity||10,037 ||11,877 ||14,948 ||18,232 ||24,772 ||20,638 | |||
|} | |} | ||
====Labour and human rights==== | |||
]s on an investment in Rio Tinto's stock have outperformed the industry-benchmark ] Global Mining Index by 2.0% per annum since 1990. Annual dividends have increased from $0.60 per share in 2002 to $1.36 per share in 2008. Annual dividends have been equal to or greater than the preceding year's dividends in each year since 1975.<ref name="Chartbook"/> | |||
Academic observers have also expressed concern<ref>{{cite journal|title=Bougainville: Large-scale Mining and Risks of Conflict Recurrence|first=Anthony J. |last=Regan|journal=Security Challenges|volume= 10|year=2014|issue=2 |pages=71–96|jstor = 26467882}}</ref> regarding Rio Tinto's operations in Papua New Guinea, which they allege were one catalyst of the ].<ref name=seelea>{{Cite journal|doi=10.1111/1467-8608.00143|last=See Lea|first=David|year=1999|title=Corporate and Public Responsibility, Stakeholder Theory and the Developing World|journal=Business Ethics: A European Review|volume=8|issue=3|pages=151–162}}</ref> The British antipoverty charity ] has also criticised Rio Tinto for its complicity in the serious human rights violations which have occurred near the mines it operates in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.<ref name="War on Want">{{cite web|url=http://www.waronwant.org/attachments/Fanning%20the%20Flames.pdf|title=Fanning the Flames|last=Curtis|first=Mark|date=November 2007|publisher=War on Want|access-date=10 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222033219/http://www.waronwant.org/attachments/Fanning%20the%20Flames.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2009}}</ref> | |||
On 31 January 2010, Rio Tinto locked out nearly 600 workers from a mine in ], USA.<ref name="Reuters-Boron">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61O0CV20100225 |title=Locked-out Rio Tinto borax miners in U.S. get support |work=Reuters |access-date=24 February 2010 | date=25 February 2010}}</ref> | |||
==Public impact== | |||
===Involvement with Axis powers in World War II=== | |||
Rio Tinto's status as a mainly British-owned company, located in Spain and producing pyrites – an important material for military applications – created a complicated set of circumstances for the company's operation in the 1930s and 1940s. During the ], the region in which Rio Tinto's mines were located came under the control of ]'s nationalists in 1936. Business generally preferred the nationalists' economic policies to those of their left-leaning republican adversaries, as was famously noted in Geddes' approving comment to Rio Tinto shareholders that "miners found guilty of troublemaking are court-marshalled and shot". However, Franco increasingly intervened in the company's operations, at times requisitioning pyrite supplies for use by Spain and its ] allies Germany and Italy, forcing price controls on the company's production, restricting exports, and threatening nationalization of the mines. Although company management (and indirectly, the British government) managed to counteract some of these efforts by Franco, much of the mine's pyrite production was channeled to Axis powers before and during ]. Nonetheless, Franco's meddling caused the mine's production and profitability to fall precipitously during and after the war, leading the company to ultimately exit from its Spanish operations in 1954.<ref name="Kutney">{{cite book|last=Kutney|first=Dr. Gerald|title=Sulfur: History, Technology, Applications & Industry|publisher=ChemTec Publishing|date=2007|pages=260|isbn=1895198372, 9781895198379|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=O4rzzkUQyzIC|accessdate=April 9, 2009|language=English}}</ref> | |||
Rio Tinto was also accused of planning and funding the murder of ] activist ] in ], India. Apparently, she was protesting illegal diamond mining done by Rio Tinto in connivance with government officers. The case was, however, solved and no connection to Rio Tinto was established, though popular opinion still perceives them as the possible culprit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bhaskar.com/news/MP-BHO-shehla-masood-case-solved-twitterati-slams-congress-2922727.html|title=Shehla Masood case solved: Twitterati slams Congress|date=29 February 2012|website=dailybhaskar}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Letters by Shehla Masood on Illegal mining|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mystery-behind-shehla-masoods-murder-deepens/177484-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901025934/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mystery-behind-shehla-masoods-murder-deepens/177484-3.html|archive-date=2012-09-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/i-fear-for-my-life-but-ill-go-on/278128|title="I Fear For My Life, But I'll Go On" | Outlook India Magazine|website=Outlookindia.com|date=5 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=RTI activist shot dead|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Anna-Hazares-supporter-and-RTI-activist-shot-dead-in-Bhopal/articleshow/9622139.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106041209/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-08-16/india/29891770_1_rti-activist-anna-hazare-gun-shot|work=]|url-status=live|archive-date=2012-11-06}}</ref> | |||
===Criticisms=== | |||
====Environment==== | |||
Rio Tinto Group, like many other companies in extractive industries, has been widely targeted by environmentalist groups for its mining activities. Opposition to the company focuses on its mining methods due to environmental degradation, the company's coal operations for their contribution to ], and uranium operations for environmental and nuclear technology concerns. | |||
Rio Tinto is not, however, universally condemned for its ethical behaviour. The company has won an award for ethical behaviour, the Worldaware Award for Sustainable Development in 1993.<ref name="Worldaware-Tate">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards1993/riotinto.html|title=Tate and Lyle Award for Sustainable Development|year=1993|publisher=Worldaware|access-date=10 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106115056/http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards1993/riotinto.html|archive-date=6 January 2009}}</ref> The award, although given by an independent committee, is sponsored by another multinational corporation (in this case, the sponsor was ]). Rio Tinto has, in turn, sponsored its own WorldAware award, the Rio Tinto Award for Long-term Commitment.<ref name="RT-Worldaware">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards1999/shell.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010723055123/http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards1999/shell.html|archive-date=23 July 2001|title=The Rio Tinto Award for Long-Term Commitment|year=1999|publisher=Worldaware|access-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> The British charity Worldaware ceased to exist in March 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldaware.org.uk/about/index.html |title=About Worldaware |publisher=Worldaware.org.uk |access-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217043149/http://www.worldaware.org.uk/about/index.html |archive-date=17 February 2012 }}</ref> These awards, awarded to extractive industries which make some environmental commitments to deflect the more general criticisms of their operations, are referred to by corporate watchdog groups as "]".<ref>{{cite web|last=Client Earth|title=Rio Tinto's greenwash challenged in first big test of UK's company reporting regulator|url=http://www.clientearth.org/media-briefing-rio-tintos-greenwash-challenged-in-first-big-test-of-uks-company-reporting-regulator|access-date=8 April 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414123201/http://www.clientearth.org/media-briefing-rio-tintos-greenwash-challenged-in-first-big-test-of-uks-company-reporting-regulator|archive-date=14 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://dailyutahchronicle.com/2008/10/28/rio-tinto-greenwashing-bad-record/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919090609/https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2008/10/28/rio-tinto-greenwashing-bad-record/|archive-date=19 September 2020|title=Rio Tinto greenwashing bad record|last=Campbell|first=Logan|date=28 October 2008|newspaper=The Daily Utah Chronicle|access-date=9 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bruno|first=Kenny|title=The UN's Global Compact, Corporate Accountability and the Johannesburg Earth Summit|url=http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=1348#37|publisher=CorpWatch|access-date=1 April 2011|archive-date=26 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826100624/http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=1348#37|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
] | |||
===Corruption allegations=== | |||
Perhaps the most significant environmental criticism to date has come from the ], which divested itself from Rio Tinto shares and banned further investment due to environmental concerns. Claims of severe environmental damages related to Rio Tinto's engagement in the ] in Indonesia led ] to exclude Rio Tinto from its investment portfolio. The fund, which is said to be the world's second-largest pension fund, sold shares in the company valued at {{NOK|4.85 billion}} (US$ 855 million) to avoid contributing to environmental damages caused by the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fin/Press-Center/Press-releases/2008/the-government-pension-fund-divests-its-.html?id=526030&epslanguage=EN-GB| title=The Government Pension Fund divests its holdings in mining company |author=] |date=2008-09-09 |language=English}}</ref> | |||
====In China==== | |||
{{Cquote|Exclusion of a company from the Fund reflects our unwillingness to run an unacceptable risk of contributing to grossly unethical conduct. The Council on Ethics has concluded that Rio Tinto is directly involved, through its participation in the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, in the severe environmental damage caused by that mining operation.<ref name='R000009'>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Ethical business: Norway ejects mining giant Rio from its pension portfolio | date=2008-09-09 | publisher= | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/09/riotinto.ethicalbusiness | work =] | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-10 | language = }}</ref>|250|50|], ]}} | |||
{{Main|Rio Tinto espionage case}} | |||
In 2009, Chinese authorities began investigating allegations against Rio Tinto. These included bribing executives from 16 of China's biggest steel mill companies to get hold of secret information.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/01/11/rio.tinto.china/|title=Rio Tinto bribery case advances in China - CNN.com|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en}}</ref> On 29 March 2010 four Rio Tinto employees including Australian citizen ] were found guilty of these charges and of accepting millions of dollars in bribes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/world/asia/30riotinto.html|title=Stiff Sentences Given to Rio Tinto Employees in China|last=Barboza|first=David|date=29 March 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=14 April 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> They were ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and sentenced to 7 to 14 years in jail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traceinternational.org/TraceCompendium/Detail/263?class=casename_searchresult&type=1|title=TRACE Compendium - RIO TINTO GROUP|website=traceinternational.org|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
====In Guinea==== | |||
Rio Tinto disputes the claims of environmental damage at the Grasberg mine, and states that the company has long maintained an excellent record on environmental issues.<ref name="BBC-env">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7608097.stm|title=Norway blacklists miner Rio Tinto|date=September 10, 2008|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2009-04-09}}</ref> | |||
Rio Tinto has been embroiled in a number of corruption allegations over its acquisition of stakes in the Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea. The allegations centre around the payment of a $10.5 million bribe to {{Interlanguage link|François de Combret|fr}}, a French banking consultant who was a friend and adviser of President ].<ref name="Bloomberg.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-28/sec-said-to-probe-rio-tinto-on-mozambique-deal-impairments|title=SEC Said to Probe Rio Tinto on Mozambique Deal Impairments|date=28 November 2016|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.afr.com/business/mining/iron-ore/recordings-suggest-rio-tinto-consultant-hand-in-hand-with-guinea-20161202-gt2lbw|title=French claims Rio's consultant working 'hand in hand' with officials in Guinea|date=2 December 2016|work=Australian Financial Review|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=EJOLT|title=Bauxite Mines on the Sangaredi Plateau & Kamsar port installations, involving the multinationals Alcoa, Rio Tinto and Dadco, Guinea {{!}} EJAtlas|url=https://ejatlas.org/conflict/bauxite-mining-boke-guinea|access-date=19 November 2020|website=]|language=en}}</ref> | |||
Rio Tinto launched an internal probe into the matter run by an independent law firm, and on 9 November 2016 announced it would report the findings to the ] (SEC), the ], the ], and the ]. Rio Tinto also declared they would cooperate with all related investigations and fired two top executives in connection with the matter, one of whom was head of energy and minerals, Alan Davies,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-rio-tinto-guinea-corruption-idUKKBN1332Q3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108233833/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-rio-tinto-guinea-corruption-idUKKBN1332Q3|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 November 2016|title=Rio Tinto suspends senior executive after Guinea investigation|last=Samb|first=Sonali Paul and Saliou|work=Reuters UK|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> who led the ] operation in 2011.<ref name="Bloomberg.com"/> He was suspended after the investigators discovered suspicious emails discussing contractual payments from that year. Davies claimed that there were no grounds for the termination of his employment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/11/16/rio-tinto-sacks-two-executives-after-guinea-bribery-scandal/|title=Sacked Rio Tinto exec hits back over Guinea bribery scandal|work=The Telegraph|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> | |||
====Labour and human rights==== | |||
Safety and labour rights concerns have been raised against Rio Tinto by unions and political action groups, in particular the ] (CFMEU). The CFMEU ran a campaign against the company after it tried to de-unionise its workforce after the introduction of the ]'s ]. | |||
The President of Guinea, ], denied having any knowledge of the illegal transactions, but recordings obtained by France24 prove otherwise.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20161201-exclusive-audio-recordings-guinea-president-conde-simandou-mine-bribery-rio-tinto|title=Audio recordings drag Guinea president into mine bribery scandal - France 24|date=1 December 2016|work=France 24|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
Activist groups have also expressed concern regarding Rio Tinto's operations in Papua New Guinea, which they allege were one catalyst of the ].<ref>{{cite journal|last=See Lea|first=David|date=1999|title=Corporate and Public Responsibility, Stakeholder Theory and the Developing World|journal=Business Ethics: A European Review|volume=8|issue=3|pages=151-162}}</ref> The British anti-poverty charity ] has also criticised Rio Tinto for its complicity in the serious human rights violations which have been occurred near the mines it operates in Indonesia, West Papua and Papua New Guinea.<ref name="War on Want">{{cite web|url=http://www.waronwant.org/attachments/Fanning%20the%20Flames.pdf|title=Fanning the Flames|last=Curtis|first=mark|date=November 2007|work=Fanning the Flames|publisher=War on Want|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref> | |||
Sam Walsh, the retiring CEO of the company, had 80% of his pay withheld while the investigation continue.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/rio-tintos-retiring-ceo-sam-walsh-is-having-problems-with-his-bonus-2017-3#pZkUdDzZocmgbwwB.99|title=Rio Tinto's retiring CEO Sam Walsh is having problems with his bonus|last=Pash|first=Chris|date=3 March 2017|work=Business Insider Australia|access-date=14 April 2017|language=en|archive-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307135452/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/rio-tintos-retiring-ceo-sam-walsh-is-having-problems-with-his-bonus-2017-3#pZkUdDzZocmgbwwB.99|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
Rio Tinto is not, however, universally condemned for its ethical behavior. The company has won an award for ethical behavior, the Worldaware Award for Sustainable Development in 1993.<ref name="Worldaware-Tate">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards1993/riotinto.html|title=Tate and Lyle Award for Sustainable Development|date=1993|publisher=Worldaware|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref> The award, although given by an independent committee, is sponsored by another multinational corporation (in this case, the sponsor was ]). Rio Tinto has, in turn, sponsored its own WorldAware award, the Rio Tinto Award for Long-term Commitment.<ref name="RT-Worldaware">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards1999/shell.html|title=The Rio Tinto Award for Long-Term Commitment|date=1999|publisher=Worldaware|accessdate=2009-04-10}}</ref> The British charity Worldaware ceased to exist in March 2005. <ref>http://www.worldaware.org.uk/about/index.html</ref> | |||
Also in early November 2016, Former mining minister of Guinea, Mahmoud Thiam, revealed that the head of Rio Tinto's operation in Guinea offered him a bribe in 2010 to win back control of the Simandou mine, and that his offer was supported by senior members of the company.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-11-18/rio-tinto-offered-bribe-for-iron-mine-ex-guinea-official-says|title=Rio Tinto Offered Bribe for Mine, Ex-Guinea Minister Says|date=18 November 2016|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
Rio Tinto is currently facing at least four class action suits in the US demanding damages over the corruption allegations in Guinea. The suit states that Rio Tinto made "materially false and misleading statements" that "deceived" investors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/rio-tinto-faces-us-class-actions-over-guinea-bribery-scandal/news-story/e24254996d2e5e67b6682756fc2b6977|title=Subscribe {{!}} theaustralian|website=theaustralian.com.au|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> | |||
In July 2017 the Serious Fraud Office announced the launch of a fraud and corruption investigation into the company's business practices in Guinea.<ref name=reutersJuly17>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-sfo-rio-tinto/uks-sfo-says-opens-investigation-into-rio-tinto-group-idUSL5N1KF5FC|title=UK's SFO says opens investigation into Rio Tinto Group|date=24 July 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=3 January 2018}}</ref> Following the news of the investigation Rio Tinto shares in the US dropped by 1.4%.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/24/rio-tinto-sfo-investigation-guinea-suspected-corruption|title=SFO says it is investigating Rio Tinto over Guinea operations|date=25 July 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=3 January 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The ] is also investigating the allegations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://citizen.co.za/news/news-africa/1584247/australia-guinea-mining-rio/|title=UK Serious Fraud Office probes Rio Tinto Guinea project|work=The Citizen|access-date=3 January 2018|language=en}}</ref> Rio Tinto has announced it would cooperate fully. After the Serious Fraud Office investigation announcement, and amid a search for a new CEO, Rio director John Varley was forced to resign from his role in the company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2bafacba-d874-11e7-a039-c64b1c09b482|title=Rio Tinto appoints Simon Thompson as new chairman|website=Financial Times|date=4 December 2017|access-date=3 January 2018|last1=Hume|first1=Neil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/rio-tintos-governance-a-fiasco-as-director-charged-with-fraud-20170621-gwvk04.html|title=Rio Tinto's governance a fiasco as director charged with fraud|last=Knight|first=Elizabeth|date=22 June 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=3 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
On 6 March 2023, the US SEC announced charges against Rio Tinto plc for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) arising out of a bribery scheme involving a consultant in Guinea. The company has agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty to settle the SEC's charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2023-46|title=SEC Charges Rio Tinto plc with Bribery Controls Failures|publisher=SEC|date=6 March 2023|access-date=7 March 2023}}</ref> | |||
===SEC Investigation=== | |||
The ] investigated a $3 billion impairment charge against Rio Tinto regarding a coal deal it made in Mozambique. Rio acquired ], an Australian coal mining company with significant interests in Mozambique,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rivresources.com/IRM/content/default.aspx|title=Riversdale Resources Limited|website=rivresources.com|language=en|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://macauhub.com.mo/2009/05/18/7080/|title=Mozambique: Riversdale mining company to mine 20 million tonnes of coal per year in Tete province|date=18 May 2009|website=Macauhub|access-date=14 April 2017}}</ref> in 2011 for $2.9 billion in an all-cash deal. Two years later they wrote down the value of the assets by $3 billion. Following the impairment charge, which included an additional $11 billion in asset write-downs, chief executive officer of Rio Tinto, Tom Albanese stepped down from his post and left the company. Rio later sold the assets for $50 million.<ref name="Bloomberg.com"/> | |||
==See also== | |||
{{Portal bar|London|Australia|Companies}} | |||
* ] | |||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | |||
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==Further reading== | |||
discussion of different citation methods and how to generate | |||
*{{cite book |last1=Avery |first1=David |title=Not on Queen Victoria's Birthday; the Story of the Rio Tinto Mines |date=1974 |publisher=Collins |location=London|oclc=1086684067}} | |||
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* Harvey, Charles E. ''The Rio Tinto Company: an economic history of a leading international mining concern, 1873–1954.'' (Alison Hodge, 1981). | |||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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Latest revision as of 20:20, 8 December 2024
Anglo-Australian multinational mining company
Rio Tinto headquarters in Melbourne, Australia | |
Company type | Dual-listed company |
---|---|
Traded as | ASX: RIO LSE: RIO NYSE: RIO FTSE 100 Index component S&P/ASX 200 component |
Industry | Metals and Mining |
Founded | 29 March 1873; 151 years ago (1873-03-29) |
Headquarters | London, England Melbourne, Australia |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dominic Barton (chairman) Jakob Stausholm (chief executive) |
Products | Iron ore, Bauxite, alumina, aluminium, copper, Molybdenum, gold, diamonds, Uranium, Titanium Dioxide, Borates, salt, Talc |
Revenue | US$54.041 billion (2023) |
Operating income | US$15.498 billion (2023) |
Net income | US$9.953 billion (2023) |
Total assets | US$103.549 billion (2023) |
Total equity | US$56.341 billion (2023) |
Number of employees | 52,000 (2024) |
Website | www |
Rio Tinto Group is a British-Australian multinational company that is the world's second largest metals and mining corporation (behind BHP). It was founded in 1873 when a group of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto, in Huelva, Spain, from the Spanish government. It has grown through a long series of mergers and acquisitions. Although primarily focused on extraction of minerals, it also has significant operations in refining, particularly the refining of bauxite and iron ore. It has joint head offices in London, England and Melbourne, Australia.
Rio Tinto is a dual-listed company traded on both the London Stock Exchange, where it is a component of the FTSE 100 Index, and the Australian Securities Exchange, where it is a component of the S&P/ASX 200 index. American depositary shares of Rio Tinto's British branch are also traded on the New York Stock Exchange, giving it listings on three major stock exchanges. In the 2020 Forbes Global 2000, it was ranked the world's 114th-largest public company.
Rio Tinto has faced widely criticism by environmental groups as well as the government of Norway for the environmental impacts of its mining activities.
Formation
Since antiquity, a site along the Rio Tinto in Huelva, Spain, has been mined for copper, silver, gold and other minerals. Around 3000 BC, Iberians and Tartessians began mining the site, followed by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Moors. After a period of abandonment, the mines were rediscovered in 1556 and the Spanish government began operating them once again in 1724.
However, Spain's mining operations there were inefficient, and the government itself was otherwise distracted by political and financial crises, leading the government to sell the mines in 1873 at a price later determined to be well below actual value. The purchasers of the mine were led by Hugh Matheson's Matheson & Company, which ultimately formed a syndicate consisting of Deutsche Bank (56% ownership), Matheson (24%) and the civil engineering firm Clark, Punchard and Company (20%). At an auction held by the Spanish government to sell the mine on 14 February 1873, the group won with a bid of £3.68 million (ESP 92.8 million). The bid also specified that Spain would permanently relinquish any right to claim royalties on the mine's production. Following purchase of the mine, the syndicate launched the Rio Tinto Company, registering it on 29 March 1873. At the end of the 1880s, control of the firm passed to the Rothschild family, who increased the scale of its mining operations.
Operating history
Main article: Rio Tinto Company LimitedFollowing their purchase of the Rio Tinto Mine, the new ownership constructed a number of new processing facilities, innovated new mining techniques, and expanded mining activities.
From 1877 to 1891, the Rio Tinto Mine was the world's leading producer of copper.
From 1870 through 1925, the company was inwardly focused on fully exploiting the Rio Tinto Mine, with little attention paid to expansion or exploration activities outside of Spain. The company enjoyed strong financial success until 1914, colluding with other pyrite producers to control market prices. However, World War I and its aftermath effectively eliminated the United States as a viable market for European pyrites, leading to a decline in the firm's prominence.
The company's failure to diversify during this period led to the slow decline of the company among the ranks of international mining firms. However, this changed in 1925, when Sir Auckland Geddes succeeded Lord Alfred Milner as chairman. Geddes and the new management team he installed focused on diversification of the company's investment strategy and the introduction of organisational and marketing reforms. Geddes led the company into a series of joint ventures with customers in the development of new technologies, as well as exploration and development of new mines outside of Spain. Between 1925 and 1931, Geddes recruited two directors: JN Buchanan (finance director) and RM Preston (commercial director), as well as other executives involved with technical and other matters.
Perhaps most significant was the company's investment in copper mines in Northern Rhodesia, later Zambia, which it eventually consolidated into the Rhokana Corporation. These and later efforts at diversification eventually allowed the company to divest from the Rio Tinto mine in Spain. By the 1950s, Franco's nationalistic government had made it increasingly difficult to exploit Spanish resources for the profit of foreigners. Rio Tinto Company, supported by its international investments, was able to divest two-thirds of its Spanish operations in 1954 and the remainder over the following years.
The company was part of the uranium producers' cartel, Societe d'Etudes de Recherches d'Uranium, which operated from 1972 to 1976. The other cartel members were based in Australia, France, and South Africa. It was formed by the major non-United States uranium producers to mitigate the impacts of US policy on the uranium market; to do so, the cartel engaged in bid rigging, price fixing, and market sharing. Westinghouse filed an antitrust lawsuit against cartel members in 1976 and the cartel disbanded.
Major mergers and acquisitions
Like many major mining companies, Rio Tinto has historically grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions.
Early acquisitions
The company's first major acquisition occurred in 1929, when the company issued stock for the purpose of raising 2.5 million pounds to invest in Northern Rhodesian copper mining companies, which was fully invested by the end of 1930. The Rio Tinto company consolidated its holdings of these various firms under the Rhokana Corporation by forcing the various companies to merge.
Rio Tinto's investment in Rhodesian copper mines did much to support the company through troubled times at its Spanish Rio Tinto operations spanning the Spanish Civil War, World War II and Franco's nationalistic policies. In the 1950s, the political situation made it increasingly difficult for mostly British and French owners to extract profits from Spanish operations, and the company decided to dispose of the mines from which it took its name. Thus, in 1954, Rio Tinto Company sold two-thirds of its stake in the Rio Tinto mines, disposing of the rest over the following years. The sale of the mines financed extensive exploration activities over the following decade.
Merger with Consolidated Zinc
The company's exploration activities presented the company with an abundance of opportunities, but it lacked sufficient capital and operating revenue to exploit those opportunities. This situation precipitated the next, and perhaps most significant, merger in the company's history. In 1962, Rio Tinto Company merged with the Australian firm Consolidated Zinc to form the Rio Tinto – Zinc Corporation (RTZ) and its main subsidiary, Conzinc Riotinto of Australia (CRA). The merger provided Rio Tinto the ability to exploit its new-found opportunities, and gave Consolidated Zinc a much larger asset base.
RTZ and CRA were separately managed and operated, with CRA focusing on opportunities within Australasia and RTZ taking the rest of the world. However, the companies continued to trade separately, and RTZ's ownership of CRA dipped below 50% by 1986. The two companies' strategic needs eventually led to conflicts of interest regarding new mining opportunities, and shareholders of both companies determined a merger was in their mutual best interest. In 1995, the companies merged into a dual listed company, in which management was consolidated into a single entity and shareholder interests were aligned and equivalent, although maintained as shares in separately named entities. The merger also precipitated a name change; after two years as RTZ-CRA, RTZ became Rio Tinto plc and CRA became Rio Tinto Limited, referred to collectively as Rio Tinto.
Recent mergers, acquisitions and events
Major acquisitions following the Consolidated Zinc merger included US Borax, a major producer of borax, bought in 1968, Kennecott Utah Copper and BP's coal assets which were bought from BP in 1989, and a 70.7% interest in the New South Wales operations of Coal & Allied, also in 1989. In 1993, the company acquired Nerco and the United States coal mining businesses of Cordero Mining Company.
In 2000, Rio Tinto acquired North Limited, an Australian company with iron ore and uranium mines, for $2.8 billion. The takeover was partially motivated as a response to North Limited's 1999 bid to have Rio Tinto's Pilbara railway network declared open access. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission regulatory body approved the acquisition in August 2000, and the purchase was completed in October of the same year. That year, Rio Tinto also bought North Limited and Ashton Mining for US$4 billion, adding additional resources in aluminium, iron ore, diamonds and coal. In 2001, it bought (under Coal & Allied) the Australian coal businesses of the Peabody Energy.
On 14 November 2007, Rio Tinto completed its largest acquisition to date, purchasing Canadian aluminium company Alcan for $38.1 billion, as of 2014, "the largest mining deal ever completed". Alcan's chief executive, Jacynthe Côté, led the new division, renamed Rio Tinto Alcan with its headquarters situated in Montreal.
Activity in 2008 and 2009 was focused on divestments of assets to raise cash and refocus on core business opportunities. The company sold three major assets in 2008, raising about $3 billion in cash. In the first quarter of 2009, Rio Tinto reached agreements to sell its interests in the Corumbá iron ore mine and the Jacobs Ranch coal mine, and completed sales of an aluminium smelter in China and the company's potash operations, for an additional estimated $2.5 billion.
Main article: Rio Tinto espionage caseOn 5 July 2009, four Rio Tinto employees were arrested in Shanghai for corruption and espionage. One of the arrested, Australian citizen Stern Hu, was "suspected of stealing Chinese state secrets for foreign countries and was detained on criminal charges", according to a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry. Stern Hu was also accused of bribery by Chinese steel mill executives for sensitive information during the iron ore contract negotiations.
On 19 March 2010 Rio Tinto and its biggest shareholder, Chinalco, signed a memorandum of understanding to develop Rio Tinto's iron ore project in the Simandou mine in Simandou, Guinea. On 29 July 2010, Rio Tinto and Chinalco signed a binding agreement to establish this joint venture covering the development and operation of the Simandou mine.
Under the terms of the agreement, the joint venture maintains Rio Tinto's 95% interest in the Simandou project as follows: By providing US$1.35 billion on an earn-in basis through sole funding of ongoing development over a two-to-three-year period, Chalco, a subsidiary of Chinalco, would acquire a 47% interest in the joint venture. Once the full sum was paid, Rio Tinto would be left with a 50.35% interest in the project and Chalco would have 44.65%. The remaining 5% would be owned by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the financing arm of the World Bank. On 22 April 2011 Rio Tinto, its subsidiary Simfer S.A. (Simfer), and the Guinean Government signed a settlement agreement that secured Rio Tinto's mining rights in Guinea to the southern concession of Simandou, known as blocks 3 and 4. According to the agreement, Simfer would pay US$700 million and receive mining concession and government approval of the proposed Chalco and Rio Tinto Simandou joint venture.
In April 2011, Rio Tinto gained a majority stake in Riversdale Mining.
In 2011, the company rekindled its interest in potash when it entered a joint venture with Acron Group to develop the Albany potash development, in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Following an exploration program, Acron in a June 2014 statement described Albany as "one of the best potash development opportunities in the world".
On 13 December 2011, an independent arbitrator cleared the way for Rio Tinto, which had owned 49% of Ivanhoe Mines (now known as Turquoise Hill Resources), to take it over: he said the $16 billion Canadian group's "poison pill" defence was not valid. Ivanhoe had developed Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia, one of the world's largest-known copper deposits. On 28 January 2012, Rio Tinto gained control of Ivanhoe Mines and removed the management.
In October 2013, Rio Tinto agreed to sell its majority stake in Australia's third-largest coal mine to Glencore and Sumitomo for a little over US$1 billion, as part of the firm's plans to focus on larger operations. Less than a year later, Rio Tinto rejected two merger proposals from Glencore, proffered in July and August 2014; the merger of Glencore and Rio Tinto would have created the world's largest mining company.
In May 2015, Rio Tinto announced plans to sell some of its aluminium assets as part of a possible $1 billion deal, two years after a similar but failed attempt.
In September 2020, it was announced that the company's chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques, along with two executives, would resign because of Rio Tinto's destruction of two ancient rock shelters in the Pilbara region of Australia. The company's chief financial officer, Jakob Stausholm, became the new chief executive on 1 January 2021.
In March 2022, Rio Tinto completed the acquisition of Rincon Mining's lithium project in Argentina for $825 million, following approval by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board.
In July 2023, it was announced Rio Tinto had acquired a 15% stake in the Australian exploration and development company, Sovereign Metals for US $27.6 million.
Subsidiaries
The company has operations on six continents, but is mainly concentrated in Australia and Canada, and owns its mining operations through a complex web of wholly and partly owned subsidiaries.
- Energy Resources of Australia – 68.4%
- Hathor Exploration – 100%
- QIT-Fer et Titane – 100%
- Dampier Salt – 68.4%
- Iron Ore Company of Canada – 58.7%
- Pacific Aluminum – 100%
- Richards Bay Minerals – 74%
Corporate status
Rio Tinto is primarily organised into four operational businesses, divided by product type:
- Iron ore
- Aluminium – aluminium, bauxite and alumina
- Copper & Diamonds – copper and by-products such as gold, silver, molybdenum and sulphuric acid, and the company's diamond interests
- Energy & Minerals – uranium interests, industrial minerals such as borax, salt and titanium dioxide. The corporation previously held coal production assets.
These operating groups are supported by separate divisions providing exploration and function support.
Stock structure and ownership
Rio Tinto is structured as a dual-listed company, with listings on both the London Stock Exchange (symbol: RIO), under the name "Rio Tinto Plc", and the Australian Securities Exchange (symbol: RIO) in Sydney, under the name "Rio Tinto Limited". The dual-listed company structure grants shareholders of the two companies the same proportional economic interests and ownership rights in the consolidated Rio Tinto, in such a way as to be equivalent to all shareholders of the two companies actually being shareholders in a single, unified entity. This structure was implemented to avoid adverse tax consequences and regulatory burdens. To eliminate currency exchange issues, the company's accounts are kept, and dividends paid, in United States dollars.
Rio Tinto is one of the largest companies listed on either exchange. As such, it is included in the widely quoted indices for each market: the FTSE 100 Index of the London Stock Exchange, and the S&P/ASX 200 index of the Australian Securities Exchange. LSE-listed shares in Rio Tinto plc can also be traded indirectly on the New York Stock Exchange via an American Depositary Receipt. As of 4 March 2009, Rio Tinto was the fourth-largest publicly listed mining company in the world, with a market capitalisation around $134 billion. As of mid-February 2009, shareholders were geographically distributed 42% in the United Kingdom, 18% in North America, 16% in Australia, 14% in Asia and 10% in continental Europe.
BHP Billiton bid
On 8 November 2007, rival mining company BHP Billiton announced it was seeking to purchase Rio Tinto in an all-share deal. This offer was rejected by the board of Rio Tinto as "significantly undervalu" the company. Another attempt by BHP Billiton for a hostile takeover, valuing Rio Tinto at $147 billion, was rejected on the same grounds. Meanwhile, the Chinese government-owned resources group Chinalco and the US aluminium producer Alcoa purchased 12% of Rio Tinto's London-listed shares in a move that would block or severely complicate BHP Billiton's plans to buy the company. BHP Billiton's bid was withdrawn on 25 November 2008, with the BHP citing market instability from the global financial crisis of 2008–2009.
Chinalco investment
On 1 February 2009, Rio Tinto management announced it was in talks to receive a substantial equity infusion from Chinalco, a major Chinese state-controlled mining enterprise, in exchange for ownership interest in certain assets and bonds. Chinalco was already a major shareholder, having bought up 9% of the company in a surprise move in early 2008; its ownership stake had risen to 9.8% by 2014, making it Rio Tinto's biggest investor. The proposed investment structure reportedly involves $12.3 billion for the purchase of ownership interests of Rio Tinto assets in its iron ore, copper and aluminium operations, plus $7.2 billion for convertible bonds. The transaction would bring Chinalco's ownership of the company to roughly 18.5%. The deal is still pending approval from regulators in the United States and China, and has not yet been approved by shareholders, although regulatory approval has been received from Germany and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission. The largest barrier to completing the investment may come from Rio Tinto's shareholders; support for the deal by shareholders was never overwhelming and has reportedly declined in 2009, as other financing options (such as a more traditional bond issuance) are beginning to appear more realistic as a viable alternative funding source. A shareholder vote on the proposed deal was expected in the third quarter of 2009.
Rio Tinto is believed to have pursued this combined asset and convertible bond sale to raise cash to satisfy its debt obligations, which required payments of $9.0 billion in October 2009 and $10.5 billion by the end of 2010. The company has also noted China's increasing appetite for commodities, and the potential for increased opportunities to exploit these market trends, as a key factor in recommending the transaction to its shareholders.
In March 2010, it was announced that Chinalco would invest $1.3 billion for a 44.65% stake in Rio Tinto's iron ore project in Simandou, Guinea. Rio Tinto retained 50.35% ownership at Simandou.
In November 2011, Rio joined with Chinalco to explore for copper resources in China's complex landscape, by setting up a new company, CRTX, 51% owned by Chinalco and 49% by Rio Tinto.
Management
Under the company's dual-listed company structure, management powers of the Rio Tinto are consolidated in a single senior management group led by a board of directors and executive committee. The board of directors has both executive and non-executive members, while the executive committee is composed of the heads of major operational groups.
- Board of Directors
- Executive Directors
- Non-Executive Directors
- Megan Clark
- Hinda Gharbi
- Simon McKeon
- Simon Henry
- Jennifer Nason
- Sam Laidlaw
- Ngaire Woods
Rio Tinto engages professional lobbyists to represent its interests in various jurisdictions. In South Australia, the company in represented by DPG Advisory Solutions.
Operations
Rio Tinto's main business is the production of raw materials including copper, iron ore, bauxite, diamonds, uranium and industrial minerals including titanium dioxide, salt, gypsum and borates. Rio Tinto also performs processing on some of these materials, with plants dedicated to processing bauxite into alumina and aluminium, and smelting iron ore into iron. The company also produces other metals and minerals as by-products from the processing of its main resources, including gold, silver, molybdenum, sulphuric acid, nickel, potash, lead and zinc. Rio Tinto controls gross assets of $81 billion in value across the globe, with main concentrations in Australia (35%), Canada (34%), Europe (13%) and the United States (11%), and smaller holdings in South America (3%), Africa (3%) and Indonesia (1%).
Product | Amount | World ranking |
---|---|---|
Iron ore | 153.4 million tonnes | 2nd |
Bauxite | 034.987 million tonnes | 1st |
Alumina | 009.009 million tonnes | 2nd |
Aluminium | 004.062 million tonnes | 2nd |
Copper (mined) | 000,698,500 tonnes | 4th |
Copper (refined) | 000,321,600 tonnes | N/A |
Molybdenum | 000,010,600 tonnes | 3rd |
Gold | 000,0013 tonnes (460,000 ounces) | 7th |
Diamonds | 000,004 tonnes (20.816 million carats) | 3rd |
Coal | 160.3 million tonnes | N/A |
Uranium | 000,006,441 tonnes (14.2 million pounds) | 3rd |
Titanium dioxide | 001.524 million tonnes | N/A, but at least 3rd |
Borates | 000,610,000 tonnes | 1st |
Iron ore: Rio Tinto Iron Ore
See also: Pilbara Iron and Iron Ore Company of CanadaThe Australian operations of Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) comprises an integrated iron ore operations in the Pilbara, Western Australia. The Pilbara iron ore operations include 16 iron ore mines, four independent port terminals, a 1,700-kilometre rail network and related infrastructure. The corporation also has had a majority stake in Iron Ore Company of Canada since its 2000 hostile takeover of North Limited.
Copper and by-products: Rio Tinto Copper
Copper was one of Rio Tinto's main products from its earliest days operating at the Rio Tinto complex of mines in Spain. Since that time, the company has divested itself from its original Spanish mines, and grown its copper-mining capacity through acquisitions of major copper resources around the world. The copper group's main active mining interests are Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia, Kennecott Utah Copper in the United States, and Minera Escondida in Chile. Most of these mines are joint ventures with other major mining companies, with Rio Tinto's ownership ranging from 30% to 80%; only Kennecott is wholly owned. Operations typically include mining of ore through to production of 99.99% purified copper, including extraction of economically valuable by-products. Together, Rio Tinto's share of copper production at its mines totalled nearly 700,000 tonnes, making the company the fourth-largest copper producer in the world.
Rio Tinto Copper continues to seek new opportunities for expansion, with major exploration activities at the Resolution Copper project in the United States, Winu in Australia, and Oyu Tolgoi underground mine in Mongolia. In addition, the company is seeking to become a major producer of nickel, with exploration projects currently underway in the United States and Indonesia.
Although not the primary focus of Rio Tinto Copper's operations, several economically valuable by-products are produced during the refining of copper ore into purified copper. Gold, silver, molybdenum and sulphuric acid are all removed from copper ore during processing. Due to the scale of Rio Tinto's copper mining and processing facilities, the company is also a leading producer of these materials, which drive substantial revenues to the company.
Sales of copper generated 8% of the company's 2008 revenues, and copper and by-product operations accounted for 16% of underlying earnings. Rio Tinto exclusively provided the metal to produce the 4,700 gold, silver and bronze medals at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This was the second time Rio Tinto had done so for Olympic medals, having previously provided the metals for the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. Together, Rio Tinto's share of copper production at its mines totalled nearly 700,000 tonnes, making the company the fourth-largest copper producer in the world. Rio Tinto was the naming rights sponsor of Utah Soccer Stadium until 2022.
Aluminium
Main article: Aluminium division of Rio TintoRio Tinto consolidated its aluminium-related businesses into its aluminium product group (originally named Rio Tinto Alcan), formed in late 2007, when Rio Tinto purchased the Canadian company Alcan for $38.1 billion. Combined with Rio Tinto's existing aluminium-related assets, the new aluminium division vaulted to the world number-one producer of bauxite, alumina and aluminium. Aluminium division kept key leadership from Alcan, and the company's headquarters remain in Montreal.
Rio Tinto divides its Aluminium operations into three main areas—bauxite, alumina and primary metal. The Bauxite and Alumina unit mines raw bauxite from locations in Australia, Brazil and Africa. The unit then refines the bauxite into alumina at refineries located in Australia, Brazil, Canada and France. The Primary Metal business unit's operations consist of smelting aluminium from alumina, with smelters located in 11 countries around the world. The Primary Metal group also operates several power plants to support the energy-intensive smelting process.
The aluminium division has interests in seven bauxite mines and deposits, six alumina refineries and six speciality alumina plants, 26 aluminium smelters, 13 power plants and 120 facilities for the manufacture of speciality products. The acquisition of Alcan operations in 2007 substantially increased Rio Tinto's asset base, revenues and profits: in 2008, 41% of company revenues and 10% of underlying earnings were attributable to the aluminium division.
Uranium: Rio Tinto Energy
Rio Tinto Energy is a business group of Rio Tinto that was dedicated to the mining and sale of uranium. Rio Tinto's uranium operations were located at two mines: the Ranger Uranium Mine of Energy Resources of Australia and the Rössing uranium mine in Namibia. The unit is now focused on mine rehabilitation. The company was the third-largest producer of uranium in the world. According to Rio Tinto's website, the company instituted strict controls and contractual limitations on uranium exports, limiting uses to peaceful, nonexplosive uses only. Such controls are intended to limit use of the company's uranium production to use as fuel for nuclear power plants only, and not for use in the production of nuclear weapons. Rio Tinto Energy was responsible for 12% of revenues and 18% of underlying earnings in 2008.
Rio Tinto has divested or closed its remaining uranium operations since 2019. In 2019 it sold its remaining holdings in the Rössing uranium mine to China National Uranium Corporation Limited (CNUC) for an initial cash payment of $6.5 million plus a contingent payment of up to $100 million.
Mining finished at Ranger in late 2012 and the mine plant processed stockpiled ore until January 2021. Rio has tenure and access to the site, principally for rehabilitation activities, until 8 January 2026.
Diamonds: Rio Tinto Diamonds
Rio Tinto Diamonds operates two diamond mines: the Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada (60% ownership) and the Murowa diamond mine located in Zimbabwe (78% ownership). Together, these two mines produce 20% of the world's annual production of rough diamonds, making Rio Tinto the world's third-largest producer of mined diamonds.
Rio Tinto formerly operated the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia (100% ownership).
The diamond business unit's most advanced exploration project is the Falcon Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, where Rio Tinto owns 60% of the project in a joint venture with Star Diamond Corp. Rio Tinto Diamonds generated 1% of revenues and earnings for Rio Tinto in 2008.
Industrial minerals: Rio Tinto Minerals
Rio Tinto Minerals is a diverse business group with mining and processing interest in borates, salt and gypsum. Rio Tinto Borax, with operations in California, supplies nearly one-third of the world's annual demand for refined borates. The Minerals group is also majority owner of Dampier Salt, which produces over 9 million tonnes of salt and 1.5 million tonnes of gypsum annually from its three facilities in north-west Australia. Rio Tinto Minerals accounted for 6% of company revenues, and contributed 3% to earnings in 2008.
On 31 January 2010, the management of US Borax locked out its hourly workforce, replacing the workers with nonunion workers and managers from other Rio Tinto operations. The 560 International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30 members immediately began a fireside vigil that garnered national and international labour attention. ILWU filed several unfair labour practices against the company, including an illegal lock-out claim.
Iron products and titanium: Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium
Titanium dioxide is mined at three locations: in Lac Allard Quebec Canada, South Africa and Mandena mine, Madagascar, and refined at QIT-Fer et Titane's Canadian facilities.
A media report in October 2013 revealed that the corporation plans to establish a fully automated railroad system for the transportation of iron ore across the Australian outback by 2015, thereby replacing the corporation's train drivers. The United Kingdom-based transport historian Christian Wolmar stated at the same time that the train drivers are most likely the highest-paid members of the occupation in the world at that time. As part of an overall strategy to increase profit margins, the corporation is spending US$518 million on the project.
Development of autonomous technologies
See also: Hamersley & Robe River railway § Pilbara IronRio Tinto is a global leader in the development of autonomous technologies for use in the mining sector. As of 2018, Rio Tinto's fleet of 80 autonomous Komatsu vehicles had moved over 1 billion tonnes of ore and waste material in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
Furthermore, in late 2017 Rio Tinto announced funding for their Koodaideri Mine in Western Australia, which Rio Tinto had dubbed their "intelligent mine."
Financial results
Rio Tinto's revenues and earnings have grown substantially in 2003–2010, with one of the largest increases attributable to the company's acquisition of Alcan in 2007. Although its operating margin is significantly affected by the market prices of the commodities it produces, it has remained profitable over its recent history.
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gross sales revenue | 09,228 | 014,530 | 020,742 | 025,440 | 033,518 | 058,065 | 044,036 | 060,323 | 060,537 | 050,967 | 051,171 | 047,664 | 034,829 | 033,781 | 040,030 | 040,522 | 043,165 | 044,611 | 063,495 | 055,554 | 054,041 |
Underlying profit before tax | 01,968 | 03,017 | 07,094 | 09,719 | 09,947 | 015,977 | 07,860 | 020,577 | 013,214 | 09,303 | 010,217 | 09,305 | 04,540 | 05,100 | 08,627 | 08,808 | 010,373 | 012,448 | 021,380 | 013,275 | 015,587 |
Underlying net earnings | 01,382 | 02,272 | 04,955 | 07,338 | 07,443 | 010,303 | 06,298 | 013,987 | 05,826 | 0(2,990) | 03,665 | 06,527 | 0(866) | 04,617 | 08,762 | 013,638 | 08,010 | 09,769 | 021,094 | 012,420 | 011,755 |
Cash flow from operations | 03,486 | 04,452 | 08,257 | 010,923 | 012,569 | 020,668 | 013,834 | 023,530 | 027,388 | 016,450 | 020,131 | 018,896 | 012,102 | 011,368 | 016,670 | 015,655 | 019,705 | 021,822 | 033,936 | 023,158 | 020,251 |
Operating margin | 0019% | 0024% | 0037% | 0042% | 0034% | 0032% | 0017% | 0036% | 0023% | 0018% | 0020% | 0020% | 0013% | 0015% | 0022% | 022% | 024% | 028% | 034% | 024% | 029% |
Controversies
Poor working conditions
The United Steelworkers of America has claimed that mine workers at Kennecott Copper Mine worked for eight months without stopping during a labour dispute about how these workers were treated. This dispute ended with a settlement including a six-year labour agreement, only for Rio Tinto to lay off over 120 workers just two days later. Tom Johnson, a spokesperson from United Steelworkers of America said, "Rio Tinto does not make an effort to use technologies that are more sustainable. They do not discuss with local communities their environmental impact. They operate in secret with governments and with groups that are friendly to them."
London Olympic Games
The metals for the medals for the 2012 Summer Olympics were supplied from the Bingham Canyon Mine located in Utah and the Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia, which caused uproar among many activist groups, especially in Utah due to their concern about the impact to the local cities. One person particularly bothered by this decision was the Commissioner of the London Games, Meredith Alexander, who quit her position and led a coalition of human rights and environmental groups during the "Greenwashed Gold Campaign".
Panguna Mine, Papua New Guinea
In 2000, Rio Tinto faced a federal lawsuit on behalf of Papua New Guinea due to the harm the company's mining operations at the Panguna Mine had to the environment for decades. Local communities filed this suit claiming that the local Kawerong-Jaba river delta was used as a dumping site for "more than one billion tons of mine waste". According to the lawsuit, the citizens are claiming that the mining giant used harmful chemicals and bulldozers to destroy the environment and specifically the rainforest and used their waterways as a dumping site for the chemicals and runoff caused by their mining operations. These citizens believe that Rio Tinto was targeting them due to their race and culture and was even paying what they referred to as "slave wages" to the company's black workers.
Rio Tinto massacre
During the first years of the company's operation in Spain, the company practiced open-air pyrite calcination in blast furnaces. The toxic fumes released by this process had a negative impact on the farmland and the local agriculturists, which led to the company's workers and some local anarchists coming together to protest against this practice. On 4 February 1888, several thousand rank and file—agriculturalists, anarchists and mineworkers—marched to the Rio Tinto town hall (ayuntamiento) to deliver their petitions to the mayor. While the mayor spoke with the crowd's representatives, the Huelva military governor and civil guards watched over the protest. The military governor's attempts to disperse the crowd only incensed it further. The civil guards, under perceived threat of mob violence, fired on the crowd, killing at least 13 and injuring 35.
Interference from Axis powers during World War II
Rio Tinto's status as a mainly British-owned company, located in Spain and producing pyrites—an important material for military applications—created a complicated set of circumstances for the company's operation in the 1930s and 1940s. During the Spanish Civil War, the region in which Rio Tinto's mines were located came under the control of General Franco's Nationalists in 1936. However, Franco increasingly intervened in the company's operations, at times requisitioning pyrite supplies for use by Spain and its Axis allies Germany and Italy, forcing price controls on the company's production, restricting exports, and threatening nationalisation of the mines. Although company management (and indirectly, the British government) managed to counteract some of these efforts by Franco, much of the mine's pyrite production was channelled to Axis powers before and during World War II. Nonetheless, Franco's meddling caused the mine's production and profitability to fall precipitously during and after the war, leading the company to ultimately exit from its Spanish operations in 1954.
Guinean iron ore
In 2015, Rio Tinto was criticised by the Guinean government for the many mining delays at the local Simandou mine. Cece Noramou, government official said the government was "running out of patience". President Alpha Conde himself said that "there have been people at Simandou for 15 years, 20 years, and they've never produced a ton of iron". Even before 2015, the Guinean government had expressed their displeasure and dissatisfaction with Rio Tinto; in 2008, the Guinean government annulled half of the company's Simandou rights and gave them to BSGR, a French–Israeli-owned mining company.
In late 2016, Rio Tinto agreed to sell its stake in the Simandou iron ore mine to Chinalco and exit the deal. The deal was negotiated after the company's case against Vale and BSGR was dismissed at US District Court.
Racism, bullying and sexual harassment
In 2022, Rio Tinto released a report that described a work culture of bullying, harassment and racism at the global mining giant, including twenty one complaints by women of actual or attempted rape or sexual assault in the past five years. Elizabeth Broderick, who surveyed more than 10,000 of Rio Tinto's 45,000 employees, released an independent report, which found that systemic bullying, sexism and racism were common. According to the report, these harmful behaviours were often tolerated or normalised. "Harmful behaviour by serial perpetrators is often an open secret", Elizabeth Broderick said. On the whole, about 28% of women and 7% of men had experienced sexual harassment at Rio. But this rate rose to 41% for female workers at FIFO sites. Most women who responded had experienced "everyday sexism". Near half of the workforce reported being bullied, and described the resultant loss of confidence, declining performance, anxiety and depression. According to Broderick, LGBTIQ+ employees had experienced "elevated rates of bullying, sexual harassment and racism". A "culture of silence" had kept workers from reporting unacceptable behaviour. People who worked in a country they weren't born in had experienced high rates of racism, while almost 40% of men who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander had endured racism in Australia.
The Australian Human Rights Commission found that, from 2015 and 2020, approximately three in four women had experienced at least some form of sexual harassment while in the mining industry, in part due to a gender imbalance.
Juukan Gorge destruction
Further information: Juukan GorgeIn May 2020, to expand the Brockman 4 mine, Rio Tinto demolished an Australian Aboriginal sacred site in Juukan Gorge, Western Australia, which had evidence of 46,000 years of continual human occupation, and was considered the only inland prehistoric site in Australia to show signs of continual human occupation through the last Ice Age. The company later revealed it had three alternative options to preserve the site, but chose to destroy it without informing the traditional owners of the alternatives. Permission to destroy the site had been given in 2013 under the state Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, which, however, has been under review since 2018. The Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura peoples, who are the local land custodians, had fought the decision. The destruction brought widespread criticism.
On 31 May, Rio Tinto apologised for the distress caused. According to 35 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and human rights organisations, Rio Tinto's qualified apology is "far from an adequate response to an incident of this magnitude".
On 9 June, Reconciliation Australia revoked its endorsement of Rio Tinto as partner in reconciliation action plans, defining the behaviour of the corporation a breathtaking breach of a respectful relationship" which was "devastating for the Traditional Owners and robbed the world of a uniquely valuable cultural heritage site". Also on 9 July, The Corporate Human Rights Benchmark (CHRB) and the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) condemned "the destruction of invaluable cultural heritage at Juukan Gorge", adding that this "incident is a severe adverse impact on cultural rights that has engendered extreme concern and outrage among the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura traditional owners of the site as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their allies". The CHRB and WBA also called "on Rio Tinto to take appropriate action to carry out an independent investigation of the incident, involving affected stakeholders, to provide effective remedy and to prevent similar impacts in the future, in Australia and elsewhere". The statement was attached to the company's listing in the 2019 Benchmark Report.
On 4 August, in its submission to a parliamentary inquiry looking at the destruction of the sacred rock caves, the company said it "missed opportunities" to alter its mine plan. A dig in 2014 and a final report on the archaeological excavations in 2018 underlined the cultural and historical significance of the caves. Rio Tinto said it did not "clearly communicate" its plan for destroying the sacred site to the native land owners. Although no executives were fired, on 24 August the company announced that three senior executives would lose a combined £3.8 million from their expected bonus payments.
On 11 September 2020, it was announced that, as a result of the destruction at Juukan Gorge, CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques and two other Rio Tinto executives would step down. The National Native Title Council welcomed the move, but said that there should be an independent review into the company's procedures and culture to ensure that such an incident could never happen again. Rio Tinto admitted their error, issued an apology via media and on their website, and also committed to building relationships with the traditional owners as well as getting Indigenous people into leadership roles in the company. Jane Crawford Munro comments that "this admission of failure and subsequent acts were precipitated by investors in Rio Tinto." Yet she adds that, "The admission constituted a major leap forward in acknowledgement of the rights and history of Aboriginal peoples in Australia." One analysis of what went wrong in Rio Tinto to allow the destruction to occur suggested that processes failed at several levels, but mainly due to its "segmented organisational structure", a poor reporting structure, and Indigenous relations not being properly represented at a high enough level.
In response to this disaster, the Western Australian government introduced the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021. After being repealed, Rio Tinto wrote to traditional owners to make promises not to backtrack. Rio Tinto was one of thirteen ASX 20 companies in support for the Yes campaign for the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum.
2021 Serbian protests
During 2021, a series of mass protests broke out in Serbia against the construction of a lithium mine in Western Serbia by the Rio Tinto corporation. Protesters blocked major roads and bridges in Belgrade and other major cities. In the town of Šabac, there was an incident when a member of the ruling party attacked the protesters with an excavator, and then the protesters were beaten by an armed group of hooligans. The Jadar lithium project is driven by a "significant" supply gap for lithium, as demand for the metal used in electric vehicles (EV) and green technologies continues to soar, particularly in North America and Europe. The project would make Serbia the biggest producer of lithium globally, and provide raw materials to more than 1 million electric cars.
As of 11 December 2021, protests are still ongoing with demands to stop and permanently prohibit any mining-related activity in Jadar region. An activist from Ekološki Ustanak (Environmental Uprising), one of the prominent organisers of the protests, told to the local media that "protests will be continued until the basic demand is met, which is the expulsion of Rio Tinto from Serbia and the adoption of a law banning lithium exploitation in Serbia".
In December 2021, Rio Tinto said it was considering the concerns of residents in western Serbia after Loznica's municipal assembly scrapped a plan to allocate land for a lithium project.
In June 2024, the constitutional court reverted the government's decision to remove Rio Tinto from the project, and the president of Serbia announced that he was expecting the company to reveal their final plans for the mine in July and that the mine might be built by 2028. The Serbian public was not pleased with that turn of events, despite the president stating multiple times that the company, alongside the EU, was guaranteeing a higher level of environmental safety, following the protests in 2021. In June a protest against Rio Tinto was held in Loznica and one was held in Belgrade in July. On 16 July 2024, the prime minister of Serbia said in an interview that cancelling the project was a mistake and that the fact that the company was present in Serbia was the previous government's fault.
Misplaced radioactive capsule
Further information: Western Australian radioactive capsule incidentIn January 2023, the company announced that it had misplaced a capsule of radioactive material that was being transported from their Gudai-Darri mine in Western Australia. The capsule is a 8 by 6 mm cylinder containing a 19-gigabecquerel caesium-137 ceramic source. It has the capability of causing serious illness if it is not handled correctly. According to the company, the capsule was lost somewhere between Newman and Perth, a distance of 1,400 km. The company launched an investigation into the disappearance and are working alongside authorities.
Later the same month the capsule was recovered by investigators and verified by the Australian Defence Forces.
Environment
Mining
Rio Tinto has been widely criticised by environmental groups and at least one national government for the environmental impacts of its mining activities. The most high-level environmental criticism to date has come from the government of Norway, which divested itself from Rio Tinto shares and banned further investment due to environmental concerns. Claims of severe environmental damages related to Rio Tinto's engagement in the Grasberg mine in Indonesia led the Government Pension Fund of Norway to exclude Rio Tinto from its investment portfolio. The fund, which is said to be the world's second-largest pension fund, sold shares in the company valued at 4.85 billion kr (US$855 million) to avoid contributing to environmental damages caused by the company.
Exclusion of a company from the Fund reflects our unwillingness to run an unacceptable risk of contributing to grossly unethical conduct. The Council on Ethics has concluded that Rio Tinto is directly involved, through its participation in the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, in the severe environmental damage caused by that mining operation.
— Kristin Halvorsen, Norwegian Minister of Finance
Rio Tinto disputes the claims of environmental damage at the Grasberg mine, and states that the company has long maintained an excellent record on environmental issues.
After the former Panguna copper and gold mine in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, which was abandoned by Rio Tinto in 1989, caused flooding, pollution of water wells and river poisoning, residents of the region filed a request for investigation with the Australian government in September 2020.
As part of a rider of the National Defense Authorization Act, the United States agreed in 2014 to hand over Oak Flat in Arizona to a joint venture of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton to build the Resolution Copper mine. The proposal has faced significant backlash from environmentalists and the Apache tribe, arguing that the project, if it goes forward, would collapse a region two miles (3.2 km) wide around Oak Flat into a sinkhole 1,100 feet (340 m) deep, destroying sacred and ecologically sensitive land. The project would also deplete and contaminate Arizona's already limited groundwater supply. US Representative Raúl Grijalva has introduced on four occasions a proposal for the land transfer to be halted, most recently in March 2021 after the Joe Biden administration paused the land transfer.
Carbon dioxide emissions
According to The Guardian, Rio Tinto is one of the top 100 industrial greenhouse gas producers in the world, accounting for 0.75 per cent of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions between 1988 and 2015. In 2016, Rio Tinto estimated to have produced 32 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in its own climate change report.
In March 2018, Rio Tinto was urged by institutional investors to set new rules requiring the company to adhere to the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, including detailed plans to reduce scope 1 to 3 emissions. Rio Tinto's top executives rejected the resolution, arguing that the company had made a lot of progress in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and that appropriate plans were in place to deal with climate change.
Rio also argued that scope 3 emissions, those of its customers, were beyond the firm's control. Nevertheless, the corporation in September 2019 signed a partnership with Chinese steelmaker China Baowu Steel Group to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from steel making, in an attempt to tackle the scope 3 issue.
In 2021, Rio unveiled plans to spend $7.5 billion in direct capital expenditure on efforts to decarbonise, announcing new targets of cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions (from their 2018 baseline) by 15% before 2025 and by 50% by 2030 and scope 3 emissions by 30% before 2030. This is to be achieved through 5 GW of wind and solar projects for the Boyne Island and Tomago smelters and 1 GW for Pilbara mining, full electrification of the Pilbara system including all trucks, mobile equipment and rail operations, replacing gas, and investments into green steel and aluminium, joining fellow iron ore giants Fortescue Metals and BHP in the effort to transition to renewable powered operations.
Rio Tinto reported Total CO2e emissions (Direct + Indirect) for the twelve months ending 31 December 2020 at 31,500 Kt (+100/+0.3% y-o-y).
Dec 2014 | Dec 2015 | Dec 2016 | Dec 2017 | Dec 2018 | Dec 2019 | Dec 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
34,300 | 32,000 | 32,500 | 31,000 | 32,600 | 31,400 | 31,500 |
Labour and human rights
Academic observers have also expressed concern regarding Rio Tinto's operations in Papua New Guinea, which they allege were one catalyst of the Bougainville separatist crisis. The British antipoverty charity War on Want has also criticised Rio Tinto for its complicity in the serious human rights violations which have occurred near the mines it operates in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
On 31 January 2010, Rio Tinto locked out nearly 600 workers from a mine in Boron, California, USA.
Rio Tinto was also accused of planning and funding the murder of RTI activist Shehla Masood in Bhopal, India. Apparently, she was protesting illegal diamond mining done by Rio Tinto in connivance with government officers. The case was, however, solved and no connection to Rio Tinto was established, though popular opinion still perceives them as the possible culprit.
Rio Tinto is not, however, universally condemned for its ethical behaviour. The company has won an award for ethical behaviour, the Worldaware Award for Sustainable Development in 1993. The award, although given by an independent committee, is sponsored by another multinational corporation (in this case, the sponsor was Tate and Lyle). Rio Tinto has, in turn, sponsored its own WorldAware award, the Rio Tinto Award for Long-term Commitment. The British charity Worldaware ceased to exist in March 2005. These awards, awarded to extractive industries which make some environmental commitments to deflect the more general criticisms of their operations, are referred to by corporate watchdog groups as "greenwashing".
Corruption allegations
In China
Main article: Rio Tinto espionage caseIn 2009, Chinese authorities began investigating allegations against Rio Tinto. These included bribing executives from 16 of China's biggest steel mill companies to get hold of secret information. On 29 March 2010 four Rio Tinto employees including Australian citizen Stern Hu were found guilty of these charges and of accepting millions of dollars in bribes. They were ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, and sentenced to 7 to 14 years in jail.
In Guinea
Rio Tinto has been embroiled in a number of corruption allegations over its acquisition of stakes in the Simandou iron ore mine in Guinea. The allegations centre around the payment of a $10.5 million bribe to François de Combret [fr], a French banking consultant who was a friend and adviser of President Alpha Condé.
Rio Tinto launched an internal probe into the matter run by an independent law firm, and on 9 November 2016 announced it would report the findings to the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), the Serious Fraud Office (United Kingdom), the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, and the United States Department of Justice. Rio Tinto also declared they would cooperate with all related investigations and fired two top executives in connection with the matter, one of whom was head of energy and minerals, Alan Davies, who led the Simandou operation in 2011. He was suspended after the investigators discovered suspicious emails discussing contractual payments from that year. Davies claimed that there were no grounds for the termination of his employment.
The President of Guinea, Alpha Condé, denied having any knowledge of the illegal transactions, but recordings obtained by France24 prove otherwise.
Sam Walsh, the retiring CEO of the company, had 80% of his pay withheld while the investigation continue.
Also in early November 2016, Former mining minister of Guinea, Mahmoud Thiam, revealed that the head of Rio Tinto's operation in Guinea offered him a bribe in 2010 to win back control of the Simandou mine, and that his offer was supported by senior members of the company.
Rio Tinto is currently facing at least four class action suits in the US demanding damages over the corruption allegations in Guinea. The suit states that Rio Tinto made "materially false and misleading statements" that "deceived" investors.
In July 2017 the Serious Fraud Office announced the launch of a fraud and corruption investigation into the company's business practices in Guinea. Following the news of the investigation Rio Tinto shares in the US dropped by 1.4%. The Australian Federal Police is also investigating the allegations. Rio Tinto has announced it would cooperate fully. After the Serious Fraud Office investigation announcement, and amid a search for a new CEO, Rio director John Varley was forced to resign from his role in the company.
On 6 March 2023, the US SEC announced charges against Rio Tinto plc for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) arising out of a bribery scheme involving a consultant in Guinea. The company has agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty to settle the SEC's charges.
SEC Investigation
The Securities & Exchange Commission investigated a $3 billion impairment charge against Rio Tinto regarding a coal deal it made in Mozambique. Rio acquired Riversdale Mining, an Australian coal mining company with significant interests in Mozambique, in 2011 for $2.9 billion in an all-cash deal. Two years later they wrote down the value of the assets by $3 billion. Following the impairment charge, which included an additional $11 billion in asset write-downs, chief executive officer of Rio Tinto, Tom Albanese stepped down from his post and left the company. Rio later sold the assets for $50 million.
See also
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{{cite web}}
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Further reading
- Avery, David (1974). Not on Queen Victoria's Birthday; the Story of the Rio Tinto Mines. London: Collins. OCLC 1086684067.
- Harvey, Charles E. The Rio Tinto Company: an economic history of a leading international mining concern, 1873–1954. (Alison Hodge, 1981).
External links
- Official website
- Business data for Rio Tinto:
- Rio Tinto Coal Australia (RTCA) corporate website
- Rio Tinto (corporation) companies grouped at OpenCorporates
- MBendi Rio Tinto information page, including a detailed list of related companies and Rio Tinto activity worldwide
- Unsustainable: The Ugly Truth about Rio Tinto
- Rio Tinto (corporation)
- Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange
- Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
- British companies established in 1873
- Multinational companies
- Diamond mining companies
- Mining companies of Australia
- Mining companies of the United Kingdom
- Dual-listed companies
- Companies based in Melbourne
- Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange
- Companies in the FTSE 100 Index
- Companies in the S&P ASX 50
- 1873 establishments in Spain
- Rothschild & Co
- Iron ore mining in Western Australia