Melbourne Australia-headquartered global mining giant Rio Tinto Chief Executive Mr Jakob Stausholm said “We strengthened our operational performance at a number of sites, which we will now replicate across the portfolio. The delivery of first ore at Gudai-Darri, our first greenfield mine in the Pilbara for over a decade, increases mine capacity and supports production of our flagship Pilbara Blend. We also fired the first draw bell at the Oyu Tolgoi underground project in June, and started producing scandium and tellurium. These critical minerals are being extracted from existing waste streams at our titanium operation in Quebec and copper operation in Utah, without the need for new mining.”Mr Stausholm added “We are committed to transforming our culture and building better relationships. In May, we signed a Heads of Agreement with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people which will guide the co-management of PKKP country where mining takes place.”He also said “We made progress against our four objectives during the first half and we are determined to further strengthen Rio Tinto while investing to grow in the commodities needed for the energy transition, decarbonise our portfolio, be a partner and employer of choice, maintain our tight capital allocation and continue to pay attractive dividends."April-June 2022Pilbara iron ore shipments (100% basis) - 79.9 million tonnes, up by 5% YoYPilbara iron ore production (100% basis) - 78.6 million tonnes, up by 4% YoYBauxite - 14.1 million tonnes, up by 3% YoYAluminium - 0.73 - million tonnes, down by 10% YoYMined copper -0.13 million tonnes, up by 9% YoYTitanium dioxide slag - 0.29 million tonnes, down by 2% YoYIOC iron ore pellets & concentrate -2.6 million tonnes, down by 4% YoYJanuary-Jun 2022Pilbara iron ore shipments (100% basis) - 151.4 million tonnes, up by 5% YoYPilbara iron ore production (100% basis) -150.3 million tonnes, up by 4% YoYBauxite -27.8 million tonnes, up by 3% YoYAluminium - 1.47 million tonnes, down by 10% YoYMined copper -0.25 million tonnes, up by 9% YoYTitanium dioxide slag -0.57 million tonnes, down by 2% YoYIOC iron ore pellets & concentrate -5 million tonnes, down by 4% YoYGudai-Darri delivered first ore from the main plant in June. As it ramps up, we expect increased production volumes and improved product mix in the second half, with Gudai-Darri capacity to be reached in 2023. Pilbara operations produced 78.6 million tonnes (100% basis) in the second quarter, 4% higher than the second quarter of 2021. While significantly higher than average rainfall in May impacted mine production, continued focus on mine pit health and commissioning of Gudai-Darri supported a stronger second quarter. Shipments were 79.9 million tonnes (100% basis), 5% higher than the second quarter of 2021. Full year shipments guidance remains unchanged at 320 to 335 million tonnes.Bauxite production of 14.1 million tonnes was 3% higher than the second quarter of 2021 due to strong operational performance at Weipa as a result of improved plant reliability at Amrun.Aluminium production of 0.7 million tonnes was 10% lower than the second quarter of 2021 due to reduced capacity at our Kitimat smelter in British Columbia following the strike which commenced in July 2021. A controlled restart began at the end of the second quarter of 2022 with ramp-up progressing subject to plant stability. Production at Boyne smelter in Queensland was impacted due to process instability following COVID-19 related unplanned absences. Production has been stabilised and the cells that have been taken offline are being ramped up over the next 12 months. All of our other smelters continued to have stable performance. Guidance has been lowered to 3.0 to 3.1 million tonnes (previously 3.1 to 3.2 million tonnes).Mined copper production of 126 thousand tonnes was 9% higher than the second quarter of 2021 due to higher material movement and higher grades and recoveries at Kennecott and Escondida, partly offset by lower grades and recoveries at Oyu Tolgoi as a result of planned mine sequencing.
Melbourne Australia-headquartered global mining giant Rio Tinto Chief Executive Mr Jakob Stausholm said “We strengthened our operational performance at a number of sites, which we will now replicate across the portfolio. The delivery of first ore at Gudai-Darri, our first greenfield mine in the Pilbara for over a decade, increases mine capacity and supports production of our flagship Pilbara Blend. We also fired the first draw bell at the Oyu Tolgoi underground project in June, and started producing scandium and tellurium. These critical minerals are being extracted from existing waste streams at our titanium operation in Quebec and copper operation in Utah, without the need for new mining.”Mr Stausholm added “We are committed to transforming our culture and building better relationships. In May, we signed a Heads of Agreement with the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people which will guide the co-management of PKKP country where mining takes place.”He also said “We made progress against our four objectives during the first half and we are determined to further strengthen Rio Tinto while investing to grow in the commodities needed for the energy transition, decarbonise our portfolio, be a partner and employer of choice, maintain our tight capital allocation and continue to pay attractive dividends."April-June 2022Pilbara iron ore shipments (100% basis) - 79.9 million tonnes, up by 5% YoYPilbara iron ore production (100% basis) - 78.6 million tonnes, up by 4% YoYBauxite - 14.1 million tonnes, up by 3% YoYAluminium - 0.73 - million tonnes, down by 10% YoYMined copper -0.13 million tonnes, up by 9% YoYTitanium dioxide slag - 0.29 million tonnes, down by 2% YoYIOC iron ore pellets & concentrate -2.6 million tonnes, down by 4% YoYJanuary-Jun 2022Pilbara iron ore shipments (100% basis) - 151.4 million tonnes, up by 5% YoYPilbara iron ore production (100% basis) -150.3 million tonnes, up by 4% YoYBauxite -27.8 million tonnes, up by 3% YoYAluminium - 1.47 million tonnes, down by 10% YoYMined copper -0.25 million tonnes, up by 9% YoYTitanium dioxide slag -0.57 million tonnes, down by 2% YoYIOC iron ore pellets & concentrate -5 million tonnes, down by 4% YoYGudai-Darri delivered first ore from the main plant in June. As it ramps up, we expect increased production volumes and improved product mix in the second half, with Gudai-Darri capacity to be reached in 2023. Pilbara operations produced 78.6 million tonnes (100% basis) in the second quarter, 4% higher than the second quarter of 2021. While significantly higher than average rainfall in May impacted mine production, continued focus on mine pit health and commissioning of Gudai-Darri supported a stronger second quarter. Shipments were 79.9 million tonnes (100% basis), 5% higher than the second quarter of 2021. Full year shipments guidance remains unchanged at 320 to 335 million tonnes.Bauxite production of 14.1 million tonnes was 3% higher than the second quarter of 2021 due to strong operational performance at Weipa as a result of improved plant reliability at Amrun.Aluminium production of 0.7 million tonnes was 10% lower than the second quarter of 2021 due to reduced capacity at our Kitimat smelter in British Columbia following the strike which commenced in July 2021. A controlled restart began at the end of the second quarter of 2022 with ramp-up progressing subject to plant stability. Production at Boyne smelter in Queensland was impacted due to process instability following COVID-19 related unplanned absences. Production has been stabilised and the cells that have been taken offline are being ramped up over the next 12 months. All of our other smelters continued to have stable performance. Guidance has been lowered to 3.0 to 3.1 million tonnes (previously 3.1 to 3.2 million tonnes).Mined copper production of 126 thousand tonnes was 9% higher than the second quarter of 2021 due to higher material movement and higher grades and recoveries at Kennecott and Escondida, partly offset by lower grades and recoveries at Oyu Tolgoi as a result of planned mine sequencing.
