Rio Tinto Headquarters and Contact Number
Where is Rio Tinto Headquarters?
Rio Tinto is located at 6 St. James’s Square, London SW1Y 4AD, United Kingdom, Great Britain Get directions
Customer Service:
Phone: +44 207 781 1623
Fax: +44 207 781 1800
Website: www.riotinto.com
Where did Rio Tinto originate?
Rio Tinto is also the name of the river that rises in the Sierra Morena mountains of the autonomous community of the Andalusian province of Huelva in south-western Spain. Literally meaning “red river,” it is a place flowing red since mining began about 5,000 years ago due to acid mine drainage. The mining site was rediscovered by the Spanish government in 1556. Its mining operations resumed in 1724. The company was officially registered and launched as Rio Tinto Company in 1873.
What is Rio Tinto?
What type of business is Rio Tinto?
Rio Tinto is an Anglo-Australian international company engaged in the industrial metals and mining industry. It is a world leader in the mining, refining and production of major metals and elements such as iron ore, talc, zircon, bauxite, copper, uranium, aluminium and diamonds.
Rio Tinto conducts major operations in iron ore and supplies the global seaborne iron ore trade. Moreover, its aluminium business includes bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting.
The company also operates its mining activities in the copper and diamonds division in Australia, United States, Mongolia and Indonesia. Finally, Rio Tinto’s energy and minerals segment include the mining, refining and marketing of minerals across six sectors: iron ore, salt, titanium dioxide, borates, coal and uranium.
History
Official operations of the mining company started with the establishment of Rio Tinto Mine at the end of 1880s. It improved its mining facilities, pioneered new mining methods and techniques and expanded its mining operations.
In a span of 14 years from 1877 to 1891, Rio Tinto became the world’s leading producer of copper. It financial success continued to soar until 1914. However, the company experienced a major setback at the onset of World War I. In the subsequent years until 1925 the business continued to decline also due to the lack of product diversity in its portfolio, which only focused on copper and pyrite.
A change of authority helped the company recover eventually, when Sir Aukland Geddes succeeded Lord Alfred Milner as chairman of the company.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Geddes wasted no time to diversify Rio Tinto’s products, reform the company’s marketing strategies and forge partnerships and joint ventures. Rio Tinto invested heavily in copper mines through an alliance in 1929 with mining companies in Northern Rhodesia and Zambia, later to be known as the Rhokana Corporation.
In 1962 the company merged with Consolidated Zinc to form the Rio Tinto – Zinc Corporation (RTZ). This merger turned out to be the defining point of success of the company.
The joint partnership led to the dual listing of the company for equal distribution of shareholder interests. It also led to the official establishment of the name of the company from Rio Tinto Group to simply Rio Tinto.
In 1968 the growing mining company acquired U.S. Borax, the leading producer of borax. In the succeeding years it continued to venture into the copper industry with the acquisition of Kennecott Utah Copper and BP Australia’s copper assets. It further diversified its portfolio by developing its iron ore business through the acquisition of North Limited in 2000. Finally in 2007 Rio Tinto procured Alcan, a Canadian-based aluminium company.
Founders
Rio Tinto was founded by Hugh Matheson, a Scottish industrialist and trader during the 19th century. He was also the founder of the Matheson and Company trading house. He purchased the mining company from the Spanish government in 1873.
Jean-Sebastien Jacques is currently the President and CEO of Rio Tinto.
Company Profile
Rio Tinto is a multinational materials and mining company based in London and Australia. It aims to “pioneer progress for a better future,” producing minerals and materials which are essential for smartphones and other technological devices, commercial vehicles and in places like hospitals and homes as well.
“Operating with a pioneering spirit,” Rio Tinto focuses on the responsible production of essential minerals and industrial materials such as iron ore, talc, copper, aluminium and diamonds.
Its operations include open pit and underground mining, mills, refineries, power stations and smelters, as well as research and service facilities.
Rio Tinto has also recently forged strong partnerships and alliances with the auto industry leaders to generate and produce next-generation fuel-efficient vehicles powered by cutting-edge technology.
The company is listed in the London Stock Exchange, Australian Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange and Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index.
How large is Rio Tinto?
Rio Tinto conducts its operations in around 35 countries globally. It has made it to the Top 5 largest mining companies in the world by revenue and is the third largest mining company globally, with a total of $40.5 billion of consolidated sales revenue last 2018.
Rio Tinto Projects
Major projects and operations for different minerals and materials are being conducted in its headquarters mainly in Australia.
- Aluminium
- Amrun – for the production of bauxite
- Bell Bay Aluminium – for aluminium smelting operations
- Boyne Smelters Limited – for aluminium smelting operations as well
- Gladstone Power Station – for energy and power production
- Gove Operations – for the production of high-grade bauxite
- Queensland Alumina Limited – for the production of alumina
- Copper and Diamonds
- Argyle – for the production of diamonds
- Energy & Minerals
- Dampier Salt
- Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. – for the production of uranium
- Iron Ore
- Pilbara – for the production of iron ore
In how many countries does Rio Tinto operate?
Rio Tinto operates in five major countries, namely Australia, Canada, China, Japan and Mongolia. In some of its operations in other minerals such as the energy and minerals segment, it conducts its operations in over 10 other countries. Its aluminium business also operates in Guinea, Brazil and Australia.
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