27th Jun 2006 07:02
Rio Tinto PLC27 June 2006 Rio Tinto Aluminium signs smelter agreement Rio Tinto's Aluminium product group (via its operating company Comalco AluminiumLimited) announced today that it has signed a Heads of Agreement with GeneralHolding Corporation (GHC), a 100 per cent owned entity of the Emirate of AbuDhabi, to undertake detailed studies on the construction of an aluminium smelterin Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Agreement was signed by His Highness Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed al-Nahyan,Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, chairman of the Department ofPlanning and Economy and chairman of GHC, and Sandeep Biswas, managing directorof Comalco Smelting. "We are delighted to have signed this Heads of Agreement with the GeneralHolding Corporation," said Mr Biswas. "This is part of our ongoing global searchfor greenfield smelting opportunities. "The Middle East is fast becoming a key region in the global aluminium smeltingindustry and Abu Dhabi is well placed due to its significant energy resources. "We are very encouraged by the long term potential of this partnership and theopportunities it presents," said Mr Biswas. "Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding some months ago, thecompletion of a preliminary study has indicated a positive outlook. It has nowbeen decided to move to the next, more detailed, feasibility stage. "The Heads of Agreement will allow us to jointly investigate the feasibility ofa world class aluminium smelter in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi," he said. The official signing took place whilst His Highness Sheikh Hamed and his partytoured Comalco's operations in Queensland, Australia. Note to Editors General Holding Corporation General Holding Corporation (GHC) is a 100 per cent government of Abu Dhabiowned industrial holding group. It owns and operates industries in steel,cement, cable, food, oil and gas fabricated process and structures. Rio Tinto Aluminium Rio Tinto Aluminium is an integrated primary aluminium producer with operationslocated in Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Rio Tinto Aluminium is thealuminium product group for Rio Tinto, a world leader in finding, mining andprocessing the earth's minerals. (A photograph of representatives from GHC and Rio Tinto Aluminium after thesigning ceremony is available on request.) For further information, please contact: LONDON AUSTRALIA Media Relations Media RelationsNick Cobban Ian HeadOffice: +44 (0) 20 7753 2305 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101 Investor Relations Investor RelationsNigel Jones Dave SkinnerOffice: +44 (0) 20 7753 2401 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227 365 Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 David Ovington Susie CreswellOffice: +44 (0) 20 7753 2326 Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3639Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978 Mobile: +61 (0) 418 933 792 Website: www.riotinto.comHigh 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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