Rio Tinto welcomes Federal Court decision on rail access

Rio Tinto welcomes Federal Court decision on rail access

Rio Tinto welcomes Federal Court decision on rail access

The Full Court of the Federal Court has today handed down a decision endorsing the decision of the Australian Competition Tribunal not to declare the Hamersley rail line. The Full Court also ruled that the Tribunal’s decision to declare the Robe line should be set aside.

Rio Tinto considers, as the Tribunal noted, that the potential disruption and diseconomy costs would dwarf whatever benefits might exist in mandating third party access on our rail network. Rio Tinto remains steadfastly of the view that our integrated operations would be severely impacted if third parties were permitted to run trains on our rail network, and is extremely pleased that as a result of this decision no part of our network is declared.

Sam Walsh, Rio Tinto chief executive – Iron Ore and Australia, said today “We are very pleased that, as a result of today’s decision, the damaging effects that such access would have on rail flexibility and efficiency, and on expansions and innovation, can be avoided. We are pleased that we can continue with our current project to increase the capacity of our integrated network by half as much again over the next four years.”

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.

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