Rain & flooding impact west P

RNS Number : 4235N

Rio Tinto PLC

17 February 2009

 



Heavy rain and flooding impact west Pilbara iron ore operations 

17 February 2009

A severe low-pressure system and associated trough has resulted in prolonged heavy rain across the west Pilbara region in Western Australia from the weekend. The rain and subsequent flooding has had a significant impact on Rio Tinto's iron ore operations. 

Further rain is expected across the region and all necessary precautions are in place. Rio Tinto's priority throughout has been on safety, and remains so. No injuries have been reported to date.

Many roads are impassable and all employees have been advised to exercise extreme caution. Ten people stranded at Yarraloola station, west of Pannawonica, were evacuated safely by helicopter to Karratha as water rose.

All operations at Pannawonica and Brockman/Nammuldi have been suspended, and pit operations at Tom Price and Paraburdoo have been suspended. Operations at Marandoo and the east Pilbara mines (Yandicoogina, West Angelas and Hope Downs) have not been significantly impacted at this stage.

Most rail movements have been suspended due to flooding, and a comprehensive assessment is being carried out to ensure that operations will be able to resume safely. Track inspections and recovery plans are underway. 

Coastal operations at Dampier and Cape Lambert have also been significantly impacted. Customers have been advised of the event and situation updates will be provided as appropriate. Shipping movements, impeded or curtailed since before the weekend, are expected to resume later today. 

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 Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products 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 North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

 Forward-Looking Statements    

This announcement includes 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to Rio Tinto's products, production forecasts and reserve and resource positions), are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rio Tinto, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Rio Tinto's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Rio Tinto will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause Rio Tinto's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of demand and market prices, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economic conditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors, activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or regulation and such other risk factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the 'Takeover Code'), the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Rio Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

  For further information, please contact:

Media Relations, Australia  Gervase Greene Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Amanda Buckley  Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Media Relations, London  Christina Mills Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Nick Cobban Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
Media Relations, Americas  Nancy Ives Mobile: [phone]
Investor Relations, Australia Dave Skinner Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Simon Ellinor Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone] Investor Relations, North America Jason Combes Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]	Investor Relations, London Nigel Jones Office: [phone]  Mobile: [phone] David Ovington Office: [phone] Mobile: [phone]

Email:  [e-mail]

Website:  www.riotinto.com

High resolution photographs available at: www.newscast.co.uk

 

END

 

 

STRDGGMZKNLGLZG