Smelter talks resume between Meridian Energy and Rio Tinto

Smelter talks resume between Meridian Energy and Rio Tinto
By Pattrick Smellie Dec. 7 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand's largest electricity producer, Meridian Energy, has resumed talks with Rio Tinto Alcan, the majority owner of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, over Rio's request for changes to 18-year contracts for power supply that kick in on Jan. 1. Meridian chief executive Mark Binns told the company's annual public meeting in Wellington that Rio had recently come back to Meridian to resume discussions after Meridian set out what it was and wasn't prepared to renegotiate in the contracts, which we...