Prosperity
We are committed to responsibly managing the business to enhance economic viability, improve return to shareholders and contribute to the development of the communities in which we operate.
Our commitment to our customers and suppliers
We are a fully integrated primary aluminium producer, supplying bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium metal. Approximately 90 per cent of the bauxite mined at Weipa is used to supply Rio Tinto Aluminium refineries. Most of the output from our refineries goes into Rio Tinto Aluminium smelters and the balance is placed in the traded alumina market. Our smelters supply primary aluminium to downstream manufacturing customers in the form of billet, rolling slab and remelt ingot and t-bar. The aluminium is used in a diverse range of applications including aerospace, motor vehicles, window and door frames, drinking cans and electronic equipment.
As a primary aluminium producer, we need to deliver high quality products that meet or exceed performance expectations of our customers. We work closely with customers and suppliers to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits. We have done this successfully over recent years and have introduced a number of initiatives including dunnage recycling, plastic strapping and educative tools for downstream customers about safe handling of molten metal.
We continuously seek to improve our product quality and delivery performance. We are responsive to customer enquiries and work closely with customers to meet their needs. We continue to initiate projects that deliver social, economic and environmental benefits.
Our commitment to operational excellence
Fundamental to our business is the 100 per cent owned Weipa bauxite deposit located on Cape York in far north Queensland, Australia. Bauxite from Weipa is shipped to Queensland Alumina Limited and Rio Tinto Aluminium Yarwun in Gladstone, Queensland. Alumina from the refining process is used at Rio Tinto Aluminium smelters located in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Technical support for process improvement and research into new and more efficient technologies is provided by our research and technology groups, Rio Tinto Aluminium Technology in Melbourne and the Alumina Technical Support team based at Yarwun.
At Rio Tinto Aluminium, we operate large, cost competitive assets that deliver high quality products. Our strategy is to maximise shareholder return by committing to excellence in health, safety and environmental performance, maximising value generated from existing assets and opportunitistically growing the bauxite, alumina and aluminium portfolio. We use a dedicated business improvement programme called Lean Six Sigma to solve operational problems, improve process stability and eliminate waste.
Rio Tinto Aluminium's sustainability as a business depends on the balance of social, environmental and economic priorities. Our business strategy reflects this balance and we seek to realise value for stakeholders by applying a long term approach, pursuing growth without compromising the future. We have integrated economic, social and environmental objectives into our business planning cycle and our decision making processes.