Rio Tinto PLC

Regulatory Filings • Jul 21, 2021

National Storage Mechanism | Additional information

RNS Number : 9479F

Rio Tinto PLC

21 July 2021

21 July 2021

Richards Bay Minerals shuts furnace as engagement continues

Rio Tinto's Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operation in South Africa will shut one of its four furnaces due to the depletion of available feedstock at the plant. This is the result of mining operations being halted following an escalation in the security situation at the operations which significantly hampered the mine's ability to operate safely. Rio Tinto declared Force Majeure on our customer contracts at RBM on 30 June 2021.

The four furnaces at RBM are dependent on a stockpile of feedstock, which is being steadily depleted. RBM's decision to shut one furnace will reduce the call on the stockpile and limit the long-term impacts of a shutdown on the RBM's furnaces.

Rio Tinto chief executive Minerals, Sinead Kaufman, said: "Shutting a furnace has a major impact on the business and broader community and it not a decision we have taken lighty. However, we will not put production ahead of the safety of our people and there are still fundamental criteria that must be met before we can resume operations in a sustainable manner.

"We continue to work with national and provincial governments as well as community structures to find a lasting solution to the current situation so that operations can resume as soon as it is possible to safely do so."

RBM will regularly reassess the situation to make further decisions on any potential restart or the shutting of the other furnaces, depending on when the safety and security position improves.

RBM is one of the largest businesses in KwaZulu-Natal, with a workforce of some 5,000 people and the largest taxpayer in KwaZulu-Natal. The company contributed R8 billion to the national economy in 2020.

All operations at RBM remain halted until further notice.

Contacts	Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, UK Illtud Harri M +44 7920 503 600 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Americas Matthew Klar T +1 514 608 4429 Investor Relations, UK Menno Sanderse M: +44 7825 195 178 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Clare Peever M +44 7788 967 877	Media Relations, Australia Jonathan Rose M +61 447 028 913 Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Jesse Riseborough M +61 436 653 412 Investor Relations, Australia Natalie Worley M +61 409 210 462 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948
Rio Tinto plc 6 St James's Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885	Rio Tinto Limited Level 7, 360 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404

This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary.

riotinto.com

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