Yarwun's Rio Tinto alumina refinery production at record levels in 2016

Rio Tinto’s fourth quarter report for 2016 shows that the workers at Yarwun's Rio Tinto refinery achieved alumina production at record levels. For the fourth quarter of 2016, the metals and minerals company produced 2,104,000 tonnes of alumina, five per cent higher than in 2015.

Rio Tinto's alumina refineries situated at Yarwun and Gove turned out 8,192,000 tonnes of alumina in 2016. The alumina refinery had a year-on-year production increase of 11 per cent.

According to Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques, "We have delivered strong operational performance in 2016 underpinned by our drive for efficiency and maximising cash flow.”

“Our disciplined approach remains in place in 2017, with the continued focus on productivity, cost reduction and commercial excellence. “This will ensure that we continue to deliver value for our shareholders.”

Mr Jacques said in the half yearly report that the company had generated $3.2 billion net cash from operating activities and $1.6 billion of underlying earnings.

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“This focus is unrelenting, with further cost reductions achieved in the half and EBITDA margins of 33 per cent... With our strong operating cash flows, tight control over capital expenditure and progress on divestments, the balance sheet remains robust. Having paid the 2015 final dividend of $1.9 billion in April 2016, we reduced net debt during the half to $12.9 billion," Mr Jacques added.

Rio Tinto’s share of production forecasted to reach 48 to 50 million tonnes of bauxite, 8.to 8.2 million tonnes of alumina and 3.5 to 3.7 million tonnes of aluminium in 2017.