LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Rio Tinto Plc (RTNTF.PK, RIO, RIO.L, RTPPF.PK) said Rio Tinto Alcan will close the Lynemouth aluminium smelter in Northumberland, England on March 29, 2012. Closure follows an extensive period of consultation with employee representatives, noted the company.
Rio Tinto stated that of the 515 people currently employed at the smelter, 323 will be made redundant in May 2012. Some operational activity in the smelter's carbon and casting plants will continue in 2012. Besides, the company's ship unloading facility at the Port of Blyth will continue to operate for around 18 months and will be used to store and transport raw materials for the Lochaber Smelter in the Scottish Highlands until a more permanent solution is put in place.
A core team of around 60 employees will remain on site beyond the closure of all operations to work on decommissioning, remediation and regional economic development.
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© 2012 AFX News
