Rio Tinto ready to talk with New Zealand Government on extending operations at Tiwai aluminium smelter

The world’s second-largest metal and mining corporation, Rio Tinto communicated that it was willing to continue talks with the Government of New Zealand on extending operations at its Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, as offered by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on 28^th September’20.

Jacinda Ardern and energy spokesperson Megan Woods announced the plan, with negotiations focused on establishing a fair price for the transmission costs paid to Transpower by the smelter.

Kellie Parker, Managing Director, Rio Tinto’s Pacific Operations communicated: “We are always open to continuing conversations that would see fairer costs established for the smelter.”

“The on-going uncertainty for our team at Tiwai and the Southland community is very hard but it is encouraging both major parties have now committed to working with us on a post-election decision.”

Jacinda Ardern also said that if she gets re-elected she would seek to extend the smelter between three to five years through a new power transmission deal, which Rio Tinto plans to pull down permanently in August 2021.

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