Rio Tinto Q1 aluminum production updates

Rio Tinto share of production;

 (In 000 tonnes)

Bauxite and Alumina

Bauxite production was broadly in line with the Q1 of 2010 with higher production at Weipa mostly offsetting a ten per cent decline in Gove production.

Alumina production decreased by four per cent compared with the Q1 of 2010, mainly attributable to lower production at Queensland Alumina where the recent floods affected coal quality, impacting production and equipment reliability. Above average rainfall in north eastern Australia also constrained operations at Gove and Weipa.

Aluminum

Aluminum production was marginally higher than the same quarter of 2010. Production at Kitimat was reduced due to the closures of lines 7 and 8 in September 2010 in preparation for the modernization project. Other movements included higher production at NZAS following curtailments in the Q1 of 2010 and a gradual return to full capacity at the operating UK smelters.

2011 production guidance

In 2011, Rio Tinto’s share of bauxite, alumina and aluminum production is expected to be 36.5 million tonnes, 9.4 million tonnes and 3.9 million tonnes respectively.