Rio Tinto pulls the plug on Tiwai, wiping $2.8b off gentailers

Rio Tinto pulls the plug on Tiwai, wiping $2.8b off gentailers
Dan Brunskill
Energy stocks sank in early trading after Rio Tinto said it will shut the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point next year, wiping more than $2.8 billion off the value of the country's five biggest electricity generator-retailers. New Zealand Aluminium Smelter - a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Chemical - has given Meridian Energy notice to terminate the smelter’s power contract when it ends in in August next year, by which time operations will be shut. Meridian shares sank 18 percent when trading opened on the NZX, and were recen...

More Infrastructure

NZX edges lower as Infratil, profit-taking weigh
Finance Market close

NZX edges lower as Infratil, profit-taking weigh

S&P/NZX 50 Index slips with Infratil, Blackpearl and Heartland in focus.

Andy Macdonald 13 Nov 2025
Infratil adds $250m to its billion-dollar asset sale target
Infrastructure

Infratil adds $250m to its billion-dollar asset sale target

Most of the cash will come from sale of mobile tower business Fortysouth.

Fletcher exits Pūhoi toll road investment
Infrastructure

Fletcher exits Pūhoi toll road investment

The $20.2m sale ends Fletcher’s equity role in the Pūhoi to Warkworth toll road.

Staff reporters 10 Nov 2025
EPA’s Allan Freeth sets record straight
Primary Sector

EPA’s Allan Freeth sets record straight

Resignation news a simple case of "bad timing", says environment watchdog CEO.

Pattrick Smellie 07 Nov 2025