Rio Tinto reviewing future of Tiwai Point smelter

Wed, 23 Oct 2019

Global mining giant Rio Tinto is reviewing the future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, including possibly closing the site near Bluff.The plant, which employs about 990 staff and contractors, makes more than 340,000 tonnes of aluminium annually and is the country’s biggest electricity user. It restarted its fourth pot line a year ago as part of a bid to improve its viability but has since suffered from a combination of low aluminium prices and sustained high electricity prices.Meridian Energy supplies the smelter and completed a new four-y...

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