Performance
Strategy
The Energy & Minerals group's core purpose is to maximise the value it creates from supplying the world's mineable energy and minerals needs. The group focuses its resources on excellence in operations; large scale, long life, cost competitive assets; the quality of investment opportunities; and operating in a responsible and sustainable manner.
A key part of the Energy & Minerals group's strategy is to ensure it is a leading advocate of, and investor in, the sustainable future uses of coal. In 2008 the group continued to dedicate resources and funds to the development of low emission coal technology through Hydrogen Energy, its joint venture with BP, through COAL21 in Australia, and in several low emission coal research organisations in the US and Australia.
With a global nuclear power resurgence under way driven in large part by the need for baseload electricity generation that minimises emissions of greenhouse gases, Rio Tinto aims to maintain its position as one of the world's leading uranium suppliers to power this growth.
At both Namibia's Rössing and Energy Resources of Australia's (ERA) Ranger mine, a number of opportunities for further low cost brownfield expansion are under consideration. ERA also owns the Jabiluka deposit, one of the world's largest undeveloped uranium deposits. In addition to the significant and sustainable operating assets at Rössing and ERA, Rio Tinto has increased uranium exploration activity around the world.
Its minerals strategy is market driven and focuses on optimising volumes and product mix to create value by directing resources toward high value growth sectors in both mature and emerging markets. Market differentiation requires technical and marketing expertise so the group maintains R&D facilities in Europe, Canada and the US to develop new products and support customers.
It focuses on meeting customers' needs for consistent quality, on time delivery and responsiveness; by providing technical support to customers on the use of minerals in consumer products; setting and meeting aggressive business improvement targets; and establishing stock points to supply demand growth in emerging economies.
