The
first instalment of a fleet of new generation locomotives has
arrived in Dampier to haul iron ore on Rio Tinto’s 1,300
kilometre Pilbara rail network.
The
10 locomotives mark the beginning of a major investment in
rail infrastructure and rolling stock to keep pace with rapid
mine expansions and increases in port
capacity.
Rio
Tinto will progressively upgrade its locomotive fleet to the
new General Electric model, which will produce significantly
lower emissions than existing diesel
engines.
The
first 10 locomotives will immediately boost Rio Tinto’s rail
capacity following the ahead-of-schedule start of mining at
Hope Downs in November 2007.
Rio
Tinto intends to purchase a further 30 GE Evolution® Series
locomotives in 2008, of which 12 will replace the Dash 7 and
Dash 8 locomotives purchased by Hamersley Iron and Robe River,
which are now more than 30 years old. The remainder will cater
for expanding production.
The
new locomotives use a 12-cylinder, 4,500 horsepower engine
that offers improved fuel efficiency and more flexible maintenance requirements.
The
upgrade of the locomotive fleet is in tandem with the addition
of 1,200 new ore cars in 2008, about 500 to cater for
expansion and another 700 to replace the ageing cars that have
been operating for up to 40 years. As with the locomotives,
fleet maintenance and performance will be significantly
improved with the investment.
Managing
Director of Robe River and Pilbara Infrastructure, Jack Sato
said their arrival added to the business’s increasingly
efficient and sustainable mining operations.
“The
new locomotives represent a significant investment for our
rail operations and a vital cog in our expansion of Pilbara
operations,” he said.
“The
first 10 will be used to help support the increase in annual
port capacity to 220 million tonnes of ore next year. The
additional eco-friendly locomotives will significantly advance
our build-up to annual port capacity of 320 million tonnes by
2012, and 420 million tonnes after that.”
General
Manager Railways Division Richard Cohen said the locomotives
will be brought into operation quickly.
“An
early-production opportunity has enabled us to take delivery
of the next 15 locomotives ahead of schedule. By the end of
2008 our fleet will have expanded from 86 to well over a
hundred locomotives, with significant positive flow-on effects
arising from a more modern fleet,” he
said.
“Along
with innovations such as Automatic Train Operation and the
Remote Operations Centre, the new locomotives demonstrate how
our rail system, which is one of the largest privately owned
heavy haulage networks in the world, is at the cutting edge of
technological advancement.”
Note to editors:
Photographs
of the locomotives arriving in Dampier are available on
request.
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
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.
Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted
to mean that future earnings per share of Rio Tinto plc or Rio
Tinto Limited will necessarily match or exceed its historical
published earnings per share.
Subject to the requirements of the Takeover Code,
none of Rio Tinto, any of its officers or any person named in
this announcement with their consent or any person involved in
the preparation of this announcement makes any representation
or warranty (either express or implied) or gives any assurance
that the implied values, anticipated results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied in forward-looking
statements contained in this announcement will be
achieved.
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