Rio Tinto Alcan has completed the sale of its 50% equity share of the Alcan Ningxia aluminium joint venture in China to Qingtongxia Aluminium Group Co Ltd for gross cash consideration of USD 125 million.

In addition, Rio Tinto Alcan received USD 13 million for the cancellation of an option right to expand at the Qingtongxia smelter complex. Alcan Ningxia joint venture owns a 160,000 tonne per year potline in Qingtongxia.

Mr Dick Evans CEO of Rio Tinto Alcan said that "Despite the challenges of the current market, we have completed a transaction that creates clear value both for Rio Tinto Alcan and QTX. We have sold our stake in Alcan Ninxgia after being approached by our partner QTX in late 2007, to further our business model of investing in low cost, large scale and long term assets.”

Rio Tinto Alcan's sale of its stake in Alcan Ningxia is in line with Rio Tinto's global divestment strategy and the Rio Tinto Group's commitment to preserving value for shareholders by conserving cashflow and reducing levels of debt in response to global economic conditions.