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A world leader Rio Tinto is a world leader in mining. We aim to be one of the world’s most successful businesses.
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Wherever Rio Tinto operates, health and safety is our first priority.
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Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a world leader in finding, mining and processing the earth’s mineral resources. The Group’s worldwide operations supply essential minerals and metals that help to meet global needs and contribute to improvements in living standards. In order to deliver superior returns to shareholders over time, Rio Tinto takes a long term and responsible approach to the Group’s business. We concentrate on the development of first class orebodies into large, long life and efficient operations, capable of sustaining competitive advantage through business cycles.
Major products include aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy products (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borates, titanium dioxide, salt, talc), and iron ore. The Group’s activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa. Wherever Rio Tinto operates, the health and safety of our employees is our first priority. We seek to contribute to sustainable development. We work as closely as possible with our host countries and communities, respecting their laws and customs. We minimise adverse effects and strive to improve every aspect of our performance. We employ local people at all levels and ensure fair and equitable transfer of benefits and enhancement of opportunities.
Front cover: Bingham Canyon copper mine, US.
Underground drilling, Diavik diamond mine, Canada.
Walking dragline, Antelope coal mine, US.
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Northparkes copper mine processing facilities, Australia.
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Origins of the Group The Rio Tinto Company was formed by investors in 1873 to mine ancient copper workings at Rio Tinto in southern Spain. The Consolidated Zinc Corporation was incorporated in 1905, initially to treat zinc bearing mine waste at Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. The RTZ Corporation (formerly The Rio Tinto-Zinc Corporation) was formed in 1962 by the merger of The Rio Tinto Company and The Consolidated Zinc Corporation. CRA Limited (formerly Conzinc Riotinto of Australia) was formed at the same time by a merger of the Australian interests of The Consolidated Zinc Corporation and the Rio Tinto Company. Between 1962 and 1995, RTZ and CRA discovered important mineral deposits, developed major mining projects and also grew through acquisition.
A front loader loads a 25 ton truck with ‘lump’ ore that is 69 per cent iron, at Corumbá, Brazil. 3
A world leader
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RTZ and CRA were unified in December 1995 through a dual listed companies (DLC) structure. Directed by a single board, this is designed to place the shareholders of both companies in substantially the same position as if they held shares in a single enterprise owning all of the assets of both companies. In June 1997, The RTZ Corporation became Rio Tinto plc and CRA Limited became Rio Tinto Limited, together known as the Rio Tinto Group. Following the merger, the Group has continued to invest in developments and acquisitions in keeping with its strategy.
Members of the community prepare thatching grass for sale as part of a sustainability project at the Rössing uranium mine in Namibia.
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Rio Tinto’s mining interests are diverse both in geography and product.
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Corporate strategy Rio Tinto’s objective is to maximise profit to investors by operating responsibly and sustainably in finding, mining and processing minerals - areas of expertise in which the Group has a competitive advantage. Our strategy is to invest in large, long life and cost competitive mines driven by the quality of opportunity, not choice of commodity. Rio Tinto’s mining interests are diverse both in geography and product. We either own or share an interest in many of the world’s largest mineral deposits. This ensures that current production levels of essential minerals and metals are sustainable for 20 or more years. The majority of our production sites are close to the Pacific Basin, making us particularly well placed to supply customers in Asia, including the increasingly important China market.
Rio Tinto works with its customers to satisfy their raw materials needs. This involves appropriate technical support and research to match product quality with customer requirements; ensuring that end products will be safe to use; applying innovation to develop new applications for mineral products; and providing reliable on time deliveries with agreed mineral quality. Headquarters Rio Tinto Group headquarters are in London. The Australian representative office of the Rio Tinto Group is in Melbourne. It provides support for Australian based operations, services investor relations and other external relations requirements while fulfilling Australian statutory obligations.
Above: Coal train loading at the Antelope mine, US. Right: Aerial cable bucket carrying 1400kg of talc from Trimouns Mine, Pyrenees, France to the processing plant at Luzenac, 5km below.
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Rio Tinto companies around the world have their own local corporate identities.
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Management Rio Tinto is global in outlook, while sensitive and responsive to national and local issues; efficient and able to capture the benefits of scale; and organised in a way that streamlines decision making. The chairman of the board focuses on corporate governance, the Group’s business strategy and relations with key stakeholders, complementing the skills and management responsibilities of the chief executive.
The chief executive of each unit reports to the chief executive of Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto companies around the world have their own local corporate identities. Local managements have a wide degree of operating autonomy, balanced with proper accountability. Local people are employed as much as possible at all levels in our operations. Training, development and mobility around the Group promotes the transfer and best use of skills, technology and ideas.
The executive management structure is designed to bring a clear focus on business performance and the Group’s objectives. It is based on principal product and support units: Aluminium Copper (includes gold) Diamonds Energy Exploration Industrial Minerals Iron Ore, and Technology
Above: In the surface control room for underground operations. Control room supervisors monitor all underground activities on the computers and closed circuit television monitors. Palabora, South Africa. Left: The service team at the maintenance facility at Coal & Allied’s Bengall Mine in the Hunter Valley, Australia.
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Product groups Iron Ore Rio Tinto is the world’s second largest producer of iron ore and accounts for 20 per cent of traded iron ore. Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) owns Hamersley Iron in Western Australia, which in turn owns five mines and operates the 60 per cent owned Channar mine, and the new 54 per cent owned Eastern Ranges mine. A 50 per cent interest in development of six new mines at Hope Downs was acquired in 2005. RTIO also operates the Iron Ore Company of Canada, in which Rio Tinto has a 59 per cent interest, the HIsmelt iron making plant in Western Australia which uses a new smelting technology largely developed by Rio Tinto, and expansion projects in Brazil (Corumbá) and West Africa (Simandou). ®
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Energy Rio Tinto accounts for four per cent of traded thermal coal, four per cent of metallurgical coking coal, and 13 per cent of uranium, ranking the company fifth, seventh and third respectively in world terms. The Energy group is represented in coal by Rio Tinto Energy America’s seven operations in the US, by Rio Tinto Coal Australia in Queensland, which supplies Asian, European and South American customers, and Coal & Allied Industries in New South Wales, Australia. They supply Asian, South American, European, US and Australian thermal and metallurgical markets. The group also includes Rössing in Namibia and Energy Resources of Australia. Both companies supply uranium oxide for use in electricity generation.
Industrial Minerals Rio Tinto is the world’s number one supplier of borates, talc and titanium dioxide feedstock, accounting respectively for 45 per cent, 27 per cent and 29 per cent of market share. The group is the leading supplier of traded salt to the Asian market. It also accounts for ten per cent of the zircon market with a number two ranking. Products are marketed worldwide. Rio Tinto's industrial minerals businesses comprise Rio Tinto Borax (borates) and Luzenac (talc) operations in North America and Europe, Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium interests in Canada, South Africa, Madagascar and Dampier Salt in Australia.
Pilbara Iron manages Hamersley Iron’s mines, Robe River Iron Associates’ two mines in Western Australia which supply steel mills in Asia, Europe and the US, and the Hope Down mines. Robe River is an unincorporated joint venture between Rio Tinto (53 per cent), Mitsui (33 per cent), Nippon Steel (10.5 per cent) and Sumitomo Metal Industries (3.5 per cent).
Right: Copper pour at the Garfield smelter, Kennecott Utah Copper, US. Below: Aluminium stacked at Anglesey Aluminium, UK.
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Aluminium Rio Tinto’s Aluminium group comprises its wholly owned, integrated aluminium subsidiary, Comalco, based in Australia, and Anglesey Aluminium (Rio Tinto 51 per cent) in the United Kingdom. Comalco is engaged in bauxite mining in Australia and in Guinea, West Africa, and alumina refining and aluminium smelting in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The group accounts for three per cent of market share in aluminium and alumina, ranking eighth in the world for both commodities.
Copper The Copper group comprises the integrated mine and smelter complex at Kennecott Utah Copper in the US, as well as interests in the Palabora mine and smelter in South Africa, and the copper mines of Escondida in Chile, Grasberg in Indonesia, and Northparkes in Australia. The group includes Kennecott Minerals in the US, and Kennecott Land. The group produces six per cent of world copper, ranking it fourth in the world, and three per cent of mined gold, making it the seventh largest producer.
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Diamonds Rio Tinto Diamonds includes Diavik Diamonds in Canada, which started production in 2003, Argyle Diamonds, and the Murowa diamond project in Zimbabwe. Rio Tinto is the third largest supplier of diamonds in the world. Exploration The Exploration group is organised into four geographically based teams and a fifth group that searches for industrial minerals on a global basis. Additionally, a small focused project generation team covers the world for new opportunities.
An Argyle pink diamond, Australia.
Rio Tinto spends US$100 million per year exploring in 30 countries for a broad range of commodities including copper, diamonds, nickel, industrial minerals, gold, bauxite, iron ore and coal.
Technology The Technology group provides technical assistance to the product groups and their businesses, supports corporate policy development, and advises executive management. Key tasks are to improve safety and environmental performance, maximise efficiency and add value across Rio Tinto. Technology staff include experienced professionals covering all industry related disciplines, while the Office of Rio Tinto’s Chief Technologist manages the Group’s involvement in external and collaborative research.
Stacking iron ore in a blending stockpile at Hamersley Iron’s Yandicoogina mine, Western Australia.
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A world leader
In the search for diamonds in Canada, geophysical surveys are completed to measure the magnetic and electromagnetic properties of the bedrock.
The Antelope coal mine rescue team in the US is licensed to respond to most emergencies off site and often works in the surrounding communities.
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Rio Tinto has committed US$1.6 billion to iron ore mine, rail and port expansion projects in Australia.
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Projects Rio Tinto has a number of projects under construction, representing an increased interest in certain commodities.
Also in Australia, commissioning of an iron making plant at a cost of US$200 million was underway in 2005. Using new HIsmelt technology, it is more efficient than conventional processes and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. ®
Rio Tinto has embarked on its largest development project of recent times with US$1.6 billion committed to iron ore mine, rail and port expansion projects in Western Australia to meet strong demand from China. The investment will lift iron ore production capacity in Australia to 170 million tonnes per year by 2006.
Kennecott Utah Copper, owner of 37,000 hectares of land adjacent to its mining and smelter complex at Salt Lake City in the US, formed Kennecott Land to develop 4,000 hectares for residential use. The first stage, Project Daybreak, is costing US$50 million.
The US$750 million Comalco alumina refinery project at Gladstone in Australia is making Rio Tinto a major player in the traded alumina market. The new refinery started shipping product in early 2005 with an initial capacity of 1.4 million tonnes per year and with options to expand to 4.2 million tonnes. In energy products, the US$255 million Hail Creek project in Australia, together with the expansion of its existing Kestrel mine, will make Rio Tinto a significant supplier of hard coking coal. The first shipments of coal were made in October 2003.
®
The HIsmelt iron making plant at Kwiuana, Western Australia.
Workers on construction of the Comalco Alumina Refinery (CAR). the first new alumina refinery to be built anywhere since 1985.
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Our approach is to implement at all levels of the business an umbrella of corporate policies.
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Social and environmental responsibility Rio Tinto not only produces a substantial amount of the world’s metals and minerals, it strives to be a good neighbour to communities and host governments where it operates. Due to the long term nature of our mining assets, it is vital we practice good social and environmental responsibility. Our approach is to implement at all levels of the business an umbrella of corporate policies. These are described in The way we work, our statement of business practice which all our businesses follow. We have also embarked on integrating sustainable development concepts into our business in order to help satisfy global and community needs and aspirations, whether economic, social or environmental.
Wherever we operate, good relations with our neighbours are fundamental to our success. Knowing that each local community is different, our policy is for each operation to strive to understand and interact constructively with local communities. We seek to assist their development in ways that reflect mutual respect, active partnership and long term commitment. We support international human rights values, especially where they assist local communities. We conduct Rio Tinto’s business with integrity, honesty and fairness at all times, building from a foundation of compliance with the relevant laws and regulations wherever we operate.
The safety of our employees in the workplace is of paramount importance. Our goal is zero injuries and the elimination of occupational disease. We are committed to minimising our disturbance of the environment. We manage our developments by implementing high environmental standards.
One of many timber bridges built by Rio Tinto near its mining project in Madagascar.
The closed Ridgeway gold mine, US, is now a nature park, comprising wetlands, rich vegetation, flora and fauna.
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A world leader
Rice ripening near Fort Dauphin, Madagascar.
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Rehabilitation of newly mined dunes at Richards Bay Minerals, South Africa. The biodegradable windbreaks protect the young casuarina trees.
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Fact sheets in this series comprise: A world leader Global business, local neighbour Mining and the environment Engagement through partnership Aluminium Copper Diamonds Energy Industrial Minerals Iron Ore Exploration Technology
For further information please contact: Rio Tinto plc 6 St. James’s Square London SW1Y 4LD United Kingdom
Rio Tinto Limited 55 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3001 Australia
Telephone +44 (0)20 7930 2399
Telephone +61 (0)3 9283 3333
Fax +44 (0)20 7930 3249
Fax +61 (0)3 9283 3707
www.riotinto.com Currency: All $ values refer to US dollars unless stated otherwise. For convenience, the expression Rio Tinto is used to describe both Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited and companies within the Group, even though these companies are generally separate and independently managed. Ownership: Where Rio Tinto is not the sole owner of a company, the percentage interest is shown. © Rio Tinto 2006
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A world leader Rio Tinto is a world leader in mining. We aim to be one of the world’s most successful businesses.
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Wherever Rio Tinto operates, health and safety is our first priority.
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Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a world leader in finding, mining and processing the earth’s mineral resources. The Group’s worldwide operations supply essential minerals and metals that help to meet global needs and contribute to improvements in living standards. In order to deliver superior returns to shareholders over time, Rio Tinto takes a long term and responsible approach to the Group’s business. We concentrate on the development of first class orebodies into large, long life and efficient operations, capable of sustaining competitive advantage through business cycles.
Major products include aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy products (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borates, titanium dioxide, salt, talc), and iron ore. The Group’s activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa. Wherever Rio Tinto operates, the health and safety of our employees is our first priority. We seek to contribute to sustainable development. We work as closely as possible with our host countries and communities, respecting their laws and customs. We minimise adverse effects and strive to improve every aspect of our performance. We employ local people at all levels and ensure fair and equitable transfer of benefits and enhancement of opportunities.
Front cover: Bingham Canyon copper mine, US.
Underground drilling, Diavik diamond mine, Canada.
Walking dragline, Antelope coal mine, US.
1
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Northparkes copper mine processing facilities, Australia.
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Origins of the Group The Rio Tinto Company was formed by investors in 1873 to mine ancient copper workings at Rio Tinto in southern Spain. The Consolidated Zinc Corporation was incorporated in 1905, initially to treat zinc bearing mine waste at Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. The RTZ Corporation (formerly The Rio Tinto-Zinc Corporation) was formed in 1962 by the merger of The Rio Tinto Company and The Consolidated Zinc Corporation. CRA Limited (formerly Conzinc Riotinto of Australia) was formed at the same time by a merger of the Australian interests of The Consolidated Zinc Corporation and the Rio Tinto Company. Between 1962 and 1995, RTZ and CRA discovered important mineral deposits, developed major mining projects and also grew through acquisition.
A front loader loads a 25 ton truck with ‘lump’ ore that is 69 per cent iron, at Corumbá, Brazil. 3
A world leader
Page 5
RTZ and CRA were unified in December 1995 through a dual listed companies (DLC) structure. Directed by a single board, this is designed to place the shareholders of both companies in substantially the same position as if they held shares in a single enterprise owning all of the assets of both companies. In June 1997, The RTZ Corporation became Rio Tinto plc and CRA Limited became Rio Tinto Limited, together known as the Rio Tinto Group. Following the merger, the Group has continued to invest in developments and acquisitions in keeping with its strategy.
Members of the community prepare thatching grass for sale as part of a sustainability project at the Rössing uranium mine in Namibia.
12995_World Leader_12pp.qxd
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Rio Tinto’s mining interests are diverse both in geography and product.
Page 6
Corporate strategy Rio Tinto’s objective is to maximise profit to investors by operating responsibly and sustainably in finding, mining and processing minerals - areas of expertise in which the Group has a competitive advantage. Our strategy is to invest in large, long life and cost competitive mines driven by the quality of opportunity, not choice of commodity. Rio Tinto’s mining interests are diverse both in geography and product. We either own or share an interest in many of the world’s largest mineral deposits. This ensures that current production levels of essential minerals and metals are sustainable for 20 or more years. The majority of our production sites are close to the Pacific Basin, making us particularly well placed to supply customers in Asia, including the increasingly important China market.
Rio Tinto works with its customers to satisfy their raw materials needs. This involves appropriate technical support and research to match product quality with customer requirements; ensuring that end products will be safe to use; applying innovation to develop new applications for mineral products; and providing reliable on time deliveries with agreed mineral quality. Headquarters Rio Tinto Group headquarters are in London. The Australian representative office of the Rio Tinto Group is in Melbourne. It provides support for Australian based operations, services investor relations and other external relations requirements while fulfilling Australian statutory obligations.
Above: Coal train loading at the Antelope mine, US. Right: Aerial cable bucket carrying 1400kg of talc from Trimouns Mine, Pyrenees, France to the processing plant at Luzenac, 5km below.
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Rio Tinto companies around the world have their own local corporate identities.
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Management Rio Tinto is global in outlook, while sensitive and responsive to national and local issues; efficient and able to capture the benefits of scale; and organised in a way that streamlines decision making. The chairman of the board focuses on corporate governance, the Group’s business strategy and relations with key stakeholders, complementing the skills and management responsibilities of the chief executive.
The chief executive of each unit reports to the chief executive of Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto companies around the world have their own local corporate identities. Local managements have a wide degree of operating autonomy, balanced with proper accountability. Local people are employed as much as possible at all levels in our operations. Training, development and mobility around the Group promotes the transfer and best use of skills, technology and ideas.
The executive management structure is designed to bring a clear focus on business performance and the Group’s objectives. It is based on principal product and support units: Aluminium Copper (includes gold) Diamonds Energy Exploration Industrial Minerals Iron Ore, and Technology
Above: In the surface control room for underground operations. Control room supervisors monitor all underground activities on the computers and closed circuit television monitors. Palabora, South Africa. Left: The service team at the maintenance facility at Coal & Allied’s Bengall Mine in the Hunter Valley, Australia.
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Product groups Iron Ore Rio Tinto is the world’s second largest producer of iron ore and accounts for 20 per cent of traded iron ore. Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) owns Hamersley Iron in Western Australia, which in turn owns five mines and operates the 60 per cent owned Channar mine, and the new 54 per cent owned Eastern Ranges mine. A 50 per cent interest in development of six new mines at Hope Downs was acquired in 2005. RTIO also operates the Iron Ore Company of Canada, in which Rio Tinto has a 59 per cent interest, the HIsmelt iron making plant in Western Australia which uses a new smelting technology largely developed by Rio Tinto, and expansion projects in Brazil (Corumbá) and West Africa (Simandou). ®
Page 8
Energy Rio Tinto accounts for four per cent of traded thermal coal, four per cent of metallurgical coking coal, and 13 per cent of uranium, ranking the company fifth, seventh and third respectively in world terms. The Energy group is represented in coal by Rio Tinto Energy America’s seven operations in the US, by Rio Tinto Coal Australia in Queensland, which supplies Asian, European and South American customers, and Coal & Allied Industries in New South Wales, Australia. They supply Asian, South American, European, US and Australian thermal and metallurgical markets. The group also includes Rössing in Namibia and Energy Resources of Australia. Both companies supply uranium oxide for use in electricity generation.
Industrial Minerals Rio Tinto is the world’s number one supplier of borates, talc and titanium dioxide feedstock, accounting respectively for 45 per cent, 27 per cent and 29 per cent of market share. The group is the leading supplier of traded salt to the Asian market. It also accounts for ten per cent of the zircon market with a number two ranking. Products are marketed worldwide. Rio Tinto's industrial minerals businesses comprise Rio Tinto Borax (borates) and Luzenac (talc) operations in North America and Europe, Rio Tinto Iron & Titanium interests in Canada, South Africa, Madagascar and Dampier Salt in Australia.
Pilbara Iron manages Hamersley Iron’s mines, Robe River Iron Associates’ two mines in Western Australia which supply steel mills in Asia, Europe and the US, and the Hope Down mines. Robe River is an unincorporated joint venture between Rio Tinto (53 per cent), Mitsui (33 per cent), Nippon Steel (10.5 per cent) and Sumitomo Metal Industries (3.5 per cent).
Right: Copper pour at the Garfield smelter, Kennecott Utah Copper, US. Below: Aluminium stacked at Anglesey Aluminium, UK.
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Aluminium Rio Tinto’s Aluminium group comprises its wholly owned, integrated aluminium subsidiary, Comalco, based in Australia, and Anglesey Aluminium (Rio Tinto 51 per cent) in the United Kingdom. Comalco is engaged in bauxite mining in Australia and in Guinea, West Africa, and alumina refining and aluminium smelting in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The group accounts for three per cent of market share in aluminium and alumina, ranking eighth in the world for both commodities.
Copper The Copper group comprises the integrated mine and smelter complex at Kennecott Utah Copper in the US, as well as interests in the Palabora mine and smelter in South Africa, and the copper mines of Escondida in Chile, Grasberg in Indonesia, and Northparkes in Australia. The group includes Kennecott Minerals in the US, and Kennecott Land. The group produces six per cent of world copper, ranking it fourth in the world, and three per cent of mined gold, making it the seventh largest producer.
Page 9
Diamonds Rio Tinto Diamonds includes Diavik Diamonds in Canada, which started production in 2003, Argyle Diamonds, and the Murowa diamond project in Zimbabwe. Rio Tinto is the third largest supplier of diamonds in the world. Exploration The Exploration group is organised into four geographically based teams and a fifth group that searches for industrial minerals on a global basis. Additionally, a small focused project generation team covers the world for new opportunities.
An Argyle pink diamond, Australia.
Rio Tinto spends US$100 million per year exploring in 30 countries for a broad range of commodities including copper, diamonds, nickel, industrial minerals, gold, bauxite, iron ore and coal.
Technology The Technology group provides technical assistance to the product groups and their businesses, supports corporate policy development, and advises executive management. Key tasks are to improve safety and environmental performance, maximise efficiency and add value across Rio Tinto. Technology staff include experienced professionals covering all industry related disciplines, while the Office of Rio Tinto’s Chief Technologist manages the Group’s involvement in external and collaborative research.
Stacking iron ore in a blending stockpile at Hamersley Iron’s Yandicoogina mine, Western Australia.
7
A world leader
In the search for diamonds in Canada, geophysical surveys are completed to measure the magnetic and electromagnetic properties of the bedrock.
The Antelope coal mine rescue team in the US is licensed to respond to most emergencies off site and often works in the surrounding communities.
12995_World Leader_12pp.qxd
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2:23 am
Rio Tinto has committed US$1.6 billion to iron ore mine, rail and port expansion projects in Australia.
Page 10
Projects Rio Tinto has a number of projects under construction, representing an increased interest in certain commodities.
Also in Australia, commissioning of an iron making plant at a cost of US$200 million was underway in 2005. Using new HIsmelt technology, it is more efficient than conventional processes and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. ®
Rio Tinto has embarked on its largest development project of recent times with US$1.6 billion committed to iron ore mine, rail and port expansion projects in Western Australia to meet strong demand from China. The investment will lift iron ore production capacity in Australia to 170 million tonnes per year by 2006.
Kennecott Utah Copper, owner of 37,000 hectares of land adjacent to its mining and smelter complex at Salt Lake City in the US, formed Kennecott Land to develop 4,000 hectares for residential use. The first stage, Project Daybreak, is costing US$50 million.
The US$750 million Comalco alumina refinery project at Gladstone in Australia is making Rio Tinto a major player in the traded alumina market. The new refinery started shipping product in early 2005 with an initial capacity of 1.4 million tonnes per year and with options to expand to 4.2 million tonnes. In energy products, the US$255 million Hail Creek project in Australia, together with the expansion of its existing Kestrel mine, will make Rio Tinto a significant supplier of hard coking coal. The first shipments of coal were made in October 2003.
®
The HIsmelt iron making plant at Kwiuana, Western Australia.
Workers on construction of the Comalco Alumina Refinery (CAR). the first new alumina refinery to be built anywhere since 1985.
A world leader
8
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Our approach is to implement at all levels of the business an umbrella of corporate policies.
Page 11
Social and environmental responsibility Rio Tinto not only produces a substantial amount of the world’s metals and minerals, it strives to be a good neighbour to communities and host governments where it operates. Due to the long term nature of our mining assets, it is vital we practice good social and environmental responsibility. Our approach is to implement at all levels of the business an umbrella of corporate policies. These are described in The way we work, our statement of business practice which all our businesses follow. We have also embarked on integrating sustainable development concepts into our business in order to help satisfy global and community needs and aspirations, whether economic, social or environmental.
Wherever we operate, good relations with our neighbours are fundamental to our success. Knowing that each local community is different, our policy is for each operation to strive to understand and interact constructively with local communities. We seek to assist their development in ways that reflect mutual respect, active partnership and long term commitment. We support international human rights values, especially where they assist local communities. We conduct Rio Tinto’s business with integrity, honesty and fairness at all times, building from a foundation of compliance with the relevant laws and regulations wherever we operate.
The safety of our employees in the workplace is of paramount importance. Our goal is zero injuries and the elimination of occupational disease. We are committed to minimising our disturbance of the environment. We manage our developments by implementing high environmental standards.
One of many timber bridges built by Rio Tinto near its mining project in Madagascar.
The closed Ridgeway gold mine, US, is now a nature park, comprising wetlands, rich vegetation, flora and fauna.
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A world leader
Rice ripening near Fort Dauphin, Madagascar.
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Rehabilitation of newly mined dunes at Richards Bay Minerals, South Africa. The biodegradable windbreaks protect the young casuarina trees.
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Page 1
Fact sheets in this series comprise: A world leader Global business, local neighbour Mining and the environment Engagement through partnership Aluminium Copper Diamonds Energy Industrial Minerals Iron Ore Exploration Technology
For further information please contact: Rio Tinto plc 6 St. James’s Square London SW1Y 4LD United Kingdom
Rio Tinto Limited 55 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3001 Australia
Telephone +44 (0)20 7930 2399
Telephone +61 (0)3 9283 3333
Fax +44 (0)20 7930 3249
Fax +61 (0)3 9283 3707
www.riotinto.com Currency: All $ values refer to US dollars unless stated otherwise. For convenience, the expression Rio Tinto is used to describe both Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited and companies within the Group, even though these companies are generally separate and independently managed. Ownership: Where Rio Tinto is not the sole owner of a company, the percentage interest is shown. © Rio Tinto 2006
