Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay Aluminium Smelter Operations Secured Through 2031

According to reports on October 1, global miner Rio Tinto announced an agreement with the Australian and Tasmanian governments to secure the continued operation of its Bell Bay Aluminium smelter in northern Tasmania through the end of 2031. Under the agreement, Hydro Tasmania will supply electricity to Bell Bay Aluminium until December 2031, with the Australian and Tasmanian governments providing additional support to sustain operations. Rio Tinto stated that the existing power supply arrangement between Bell Bay and Hydro Tasmania is set to expire on December 31, 2026; the additional support will help maintain the smelter's international competitiveness and its contribution to the Tasmanian economy. This support package for Bell Bay follows a series of government interventions aimed at backing energy-intensive metal and manufacturing assets. In August, the Australian and New South Wales governments pledged A$2.5 billion to help secure the power supply beyond 2028 for Tomago Aluminium, a facility backed by Rio Tinto. The Bell Bay Aluminium smelter began operations in 1955 and produces approximately 190,000 tonnes of aluminium annually.