18th Jan 2008 07:01
Rio Tinto PLC18 January 2008 Rio Tinto and Komatsu to develop autonomous haulage system for Pilbara iron oreoperations 18 January 2008 Rio Tinto has embarked on a ground-breaking programme to develop a world-leadingsystem to automate its Pilbara iron ore operations. A significant component of this ambitious venture is the formation of analliance with Komatsu to develop and deploy advanced Autonomous Haulagesolutions to support Rio Tinto Iron Ore's operations in Western Australia. Rio Tinto and Komatsu have agreed to work together to establish an autonomousmining operation in the Pilbara that will feature the industry-leading KomatsuAutonomous Haulage System. The system will be commissioned before the end of2008. This autonomous mining system will be more widely deployed in new andexisting Rio Tinto Iron Ore operations by 2010. Tom Albanese, chief executive Rio Tinto, said, "Komatsu has been the Rio TintoGroup's preferred supplier of haulage equipment for over ten years. Komatsu isour partner of choice in the development and deployment of autonomous haulagesolutions and this alliance marks an important extension to our successfulbusiness relationship." "Rio Tinto is committed to the development and deployment of integratedautonomous mine-to-port operations. We are closely focussed on supporting ourPilbara iron ore expansion through the application of world-leading automationtechnologies." About Rio Tinto Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK,combining Rio Tinto plc, a London listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, whichis 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, Australia Media Relations, LondonAmanda Buckley Christina MillsOffice: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627 Office: +44 (0) 20 8080 1306Mobile: +61 (0) 419 801 349 Mobile: +44 (0) 7825 275 605Ian Head Nick CobbanOffice: +61 (0) 3 9283 3620 Office: +44 (0) 20 8080 1305Mobile: +61 (0) 408 360 101 Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 041 003 Media Relations, AmericasNancy IvesMobile: +1 619 540 3751 Investor Relations, Australia Investor Relations, LondonDave Skinner Nigel JonesOffice: +61 (0) 3 9283 3628 Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 2049Mobile: +61 (0) 408 335 309 Mobile: +44 (0) 7917 227365Simon Ellinor David OvingtonOffice: +61 (0) 7 3867 1607 Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 2051Mobile: +61 (0) 439 102 811 Mobile: +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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