11th Feb 2008 07:01
Rio Tinto PLC11 February 2008 New generation locomotives arrive in the Pilbara 11 February 2008 The first instalment of a fleet of new generation locomotives has arrived inDampier to haul iron ore on Rio Tinto's 1,300 kilometre Pilbara rail network. The 10 locomotives mark the beginning of a major investment in railinfrastructure and rolling stock to keep pace with rapid mine expansions andincreases in port capacity. Rio Tinto will progressively upgrade its locomotive fleet to the new GeneralElectric model, which will produce significantly lower emissions than existingdiesel engines. The first 10 locomotives will immediately boost Rio Tinto's rail capacityfollowing the ahead-of-schedule start of mining at Hope Downs in November 2007. Rio Tinto intends to purchase a further 30 GE Evolution(R) Series locomotives in2008, of which 12 will replace the Dash 7 and Dash 8 locomotives purchased byHamersley Iron and Robe River, which are now more than 30 years old. Theremainder will cater for expanding production. The new locomotives use a 12-cylinder, 4,500 horsepower engine that offersimproved fuel efficiency and more flexible maintenance requirements. The upgrade of the locomotive fleet is in tandem with the addition of 1,200 newore cars in 2008, about 500 to cater for expansion and another 700 to replacethe ageing cars that have been operating for up to 40 years. As with thelocomotives, fleet maintenance and performance will be significantly improvedwith the investment. Managing Director of Robe River and Pilbara Infrastructure, Jack Sato said theirarrival added to the business's increasingly efficient and sustainable miningoperations. "The new locomotives represent a significant investment for our rail operationsand a vital cog in our expansion of Pilbara operations," he said. "The first 10 will be used to help support the increase in annual port capacityto 220 million tonnes of ore next year. The additional eco-friendly locomotiveswill significantly advance our build-up to annual port capacity of 320 milliontonnes by 2012, and 420 million tonnes after that." General Manager Railways Division Richard Cohen said the locomotives will bebrought into operation quickly. "An early-production opportunity has enabled us to take delivery of the next 15locomotives ahead of schedule. By the end of 2008 our fleet will have expandedfrom 86 to well over a hundred locomotives, with significant positive flow-oneffects arising from a more modern fleet," he said. "Along with innovations such as Automatic Train Operation and the RemoteOperations Centre, the new locomotives demonstrate how our rail system, which isone of the largest privately owned heavy haulage networks in the world, is atthe cutting edge of technological advancement." Note to editors: Photographs of the locomotives arriving in Dampier areavailable on request. About Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio TintoLimited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Majorproducts are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold,industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore.Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and NorthAmerica with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southernAfrica. Forward-Looking Statements This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning ofSection 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other thanstatements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, withoutlimitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business strategy,plans and objectives of management for future operations (including developmentplans and objectives relating to Rio Tinto's products, production forecasts andreserve and resource positions), are forward-looking statements. Suchforward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties andother factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements ofRio Tinto, or industry results, to be materially different from any futureresults, performance or achievements expressed or implied by suchforward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding RioTinto's present and future business strategies and the environment in which RioTinto will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could causeRio Tinto's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materiallyfrom those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels ofdemand and market prices, the ability to produce and transport productsprofitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices andoperating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economicconditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors,activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or regulationand such other risk factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Reporton Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission(the "SEC") or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC. Forward-looking statementsshould, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue relianceshould not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-lookingstatements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Rio Tinto expresslydisclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law,the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Code"), the UK ListingRules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authorityand the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publiclyany updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein toreflect any change in Rio Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any changein events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that future earningsper share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio Tinto Limited will necessarily match or exceedits historical published earnings per share. Subject to the requirements of the Takeover Code, none of Rio Tinto, any of itsofficers or any person named in this announcement with their consent or anyperson involved in the preparation of this announcement makes any representationor warranty (either express or implied) or gives any assurance that the impliedvalues, anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied inforward-looking statements contained in this announcement will be achieved. For further information, please contact: Media Relations, London Media Relations, AustraliaChristina Mills Ian HeadOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 1154 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101 Nick Cobban Amanda BuckleyOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 1138 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Mobile: +61 (0) 419 801 349 Media Relations, US Media Relations, CanadaNancy Ives Stefano BertolliMobile: +1 619 540 3751 Office: +1 514 848 8151 Investor Relations, London Investor Relations, AustraliaNigel Jones Dave SkinnerOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 2049 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 David Ovington Simon EllinorOffice: +44 (0) 20 7781 2051 Office:+ 61 (0) 7 3867 1068Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978 Investor Relations, North AmericaJason CombesOffice: +1 (0) 801 685 4535Mobile: +1 (0) 801 558 2645 Email: [email protected] Website: www.riotinto.com High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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