Queensland Government and Rio Tinto partnership to support Gladstone’s Boyne Smelters

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Queensland Government and Rio Tinto will work together to safeguard a pillar of the State’s heavy industrial manufacturing base around Gladstone under a partnership to support investment in renewable energy projects.

The agreement announced today represents an important step towards securing a long-term future for Australia's second-largest aluminium smelter, Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) and thousands of jobs in central Queensland supported by the operations.

The partnership supports Queensland's vision to establish Gladstone as a renewable energy hub and strengthens the electricity grid as Australia transitions to a cleaner energy future. The cooperation between Rio Tinto and the Queensland Government will complement ongoing policy development by the Australian Government to support a decarbonised aluminium industry as part of its Future Made in Australia Plan.

Highlights of the agreement between the Queensland Government and Rio Tinto include:

• Economic Support: Through its “Energy and Jobs Plan’, the Queensland Government will support BSL’s financial viability from 2029 as the smelter transitions to renewable energy.
• Operational Commitments & Employment: Rio Tinto will invest to maintain BSL's full operational capacity, supporting Australia’s ambition to remain a major exporter of aluminium. This ensures BSL, which has an annual production capacity of more than 500,000 tonnes of aluminium and directly employs more than 1000 people, will continue to be a significant contributor to the local, Queensland and national economy. Rio Tinto will also work to expand its coastal shipping capacity, to add a fifth domestically crewed vessel to its existing fleet of four. These ships transport bauxite from the company's Gove and Weipa mines to operations in Gladstone.
• Renewable Energy Investment: Rio Tinto commits to additional sustainable energy investments in Queensland, building on its existing commitments to Australia's largest solar and wind projects across the State.
• Gladstone Transformation: Support for Queensland's vision to establish Gladstone as a renewable energy hub, with BSL to develop capabilities to manage power consumption during times of peak demand and strengthen the electricity grid.

The agreement remains contingent on the completion of Rio Tinto's energy contracting activities, relevant joint venture approvals, and the establishment of an Australian Government pathway for a decarbonised aluminium industry.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Australia Kellie Parker said: "This agreement with the Queensland Government represents one of the most significant partnerships in our long history of operations in the State.

“It paves the way for a competitive, green-energy powered BSL, supporting employment and lowering Australia’s carbon footprint. The partnership will support Australia’s status as a leading, global supplier of aluminium at a time when the world needs the metal for the green energy transition.

“While this is a critical part of the puzzle, we have more to do. We will continue to engage with the Federal Government on supportive industry policy to help sustain Australia’s green aluminium sector for the future."

About Rio Tinto and Boyne Smelters Limited

Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) has been operating since 1982 and is Australia’s second largest aluminium smelter. Located at Boyne Island in central Queensland, BSL’s activities include manufacturing carbon anodes in the carbon plant, aluminium production (smelting) in reduction lines, and casting of molten metal into aluminium products ready to ship. The smelter is adjacent to, and connected via a conveyor belt, to the Queensland Alumina Limited refinery for the supply of alumina.

Rio Tinto's integrated aluminium production chain in Queensland is a significant economic driver, employing over 4500 people directly and supporting thousands more Australian livelihoods. The company's operations in Gladstone alone account for more than 3000 jobs, with 1000 of those at the BSL. Additionally, Rio Tinto's bauxite operations in Weipa employ more than 1300 people, supplying raw materials to the Gladstone manufacturing facilities.
Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to [email protected]

Media Relations,
United Kingdom
Matthew Klar
M +44 7796 630 637
David Outhwaite
M +44 7787 597 493

Media Relations,
Australia
Matt Chambers
M +61 433 525 739
Alyesha Anderson
M +61 434 868 118
Michelle Lee
M +61 458 609 322

Media Relations,
Americas
Simon Letendre
M +1 514 796 4973
Malika Cherry
M +1 418 592 7293
Vanessa Damha
M +1 514 715 2152

Investor Relations,
United Kingdom
David Ovington
M +44 7920 010 978
Laura Brooks
M +44 7826 942 797

Investor Relations,
Australia
Tom Gallop
M +61 439 353 948
Amar Jambaa
M +61 472 865 948

Rio Tinto plc
6 St James’s Square
London SW1Y 4AD
United Kingdom
T +44 20 7781 2000
Registered in England
No. 719885

Rio Tinto Limited
Level 43, 120 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
Australia
T +61 3 9283 3333
Registered in Australia
ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com

Category - General