Alumina, aluminium and bauxite

In its mineral form, bauxite, aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. Mined bauxite is refined into alumina which is smelted into aluminium. A modern material and relative newcomer to the family of commercial metals, aluminium is one of the most useful and important metals.

In October 2007, Rio Tinto acquired Alcan Inc. for US$38.1 billion - the biggest ever mining sector takeover up to that time. Rio Tinto Alcan emerged out of Alcan Inc. and Rio Tinto's existing aluminium business.

The combination has created the world number one producer of bauxite and aluminium. It also has a number of projects in place to secure the leading position in alumina production.

Rio Tinto Alcan owns, operates or has interests in seven bauxite mines and deposits, six alumina refineries, six specialty aluminas plants, 26 aluminium smelters and 13 power generating plants, nine of them hydroelectric. 

Within its Engineered Products business group, Rio Tinto Alcan owns 120 production facilities, services centres, and international network offices, covering 32 countries and regions. A fourth business group, Packaging, is set to be divested.

For more information on our operations please visit the Rio Tinto Alcan website.

For more information about the aluminium group operations, visit Our operations.