Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Purpose & Values
The drive for innovation and continuous improvement is at the heart of our purpose
Business Strategy
Climate change is at the heart of our business strategy
Innovation
Finding better ways to do things is in our DNA
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
Iron ore is the primary raw material used to make steel
7 things the world will need for a low-carbon future
Wind, sun and water – what else do you need to make renewable energy work?
Sustainability – the expectation, not the exception
Shaping our aluminium product offering to meet demand for greener metals
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Look inside a mine of the future
Our most intelligent mine yet is pioneering new mining technologies
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Sustainability Reporting 2023
As temporary custodians of the land where we operate, we are entrusted with accessing the world’s essential materials and making them available for society’s use
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Tailings
We’ve launched a new interactive map of our tailings facilities
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Reports 2023
Download our 2023 Annual Report, Climate Change Report, Sustainability Fact Book and Taxes Paid Report
Get the latest news, stories and updates
Things you can't live without
Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
A new way to decarbonise steel
Tackling a global challenge
Tackling it all
A short documentary series with the Queensland Reds is inspiring working women everywhere
Discover more about life at Rio Tinto
Graduates and students
If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it
Empowering families with flexibility
Supporting new parents of any gender with equal access to parental leave
Available jobs
Join our team
Product
Production
Ownership
Started
2023 figures
Our Bell Bay Aluminium smelter began operating in 1955 and holds a unique place in Tasmanian and Australian history as the first aluminium smelter in the Southern Hemisphere.
We use leading technology at our smelter to find new ways to increase productivity and reduce our use of natural resources.
For example, we have been working with carbon baking technology to run our furnace at a lower intensity. Gas consumption has decreased by 30% in the furnace sections using this technology.
We have embraced smart technology and our 2 autonomously guided vehicles (AGVs) transport approximately 40,000 tonnes of aluminium a year from the cast house to the warehouse each day.
In 2019, the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) granted its Performance Standard and Chain of Custody certifications to our Bell Bay aluminium smelter. ASI certification means customers can be assured that the aluminium they purchase has been produced to the highest environmental, social and governance standards, ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to human rights.
We have a long and proud history in Tasmania of supporting our community and are committed to building enduring relationships built on mutual respect, collaboration, and genuine partnership.
In 2017, we were a founding member of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone Ltd (BBAMZ), an industry based economic development group. BBAMZ’s strategic vision is to secure the economic prosperity of the region by working in partnership with industry, community and government on business diversification, investment attraction, skills, and workforce development. Since 2018, we have partnered with the George Town Council and the Australian Government to develop the George Town Mountain Bike Trails. By providing access to land owned by the smelter for a significant portion of the Mt George and the Tippogoree Hills trails network, we are supporting our local community and improving the liveability of the region while attracting more visitors to the George Town municipality.
Generations of Tasmanians have benefited from our apprenticeship program that combines quality training and mentorship in electrical and mechanical disciplines.
We also recruit, train and mentor top graduates from all over Australia. Our graduates are offered a variety of challenging work with opportunities to develop leadership and technical skills.
Since 2022, we we’ve been working with the Tasmanian Government to jointly investigate how the smelter’s manufacturing capability and electricity demand can help support job creation, the development of new industries and more renewable energy supply in the region.
Bell Bay’s annual community grants program offers financial support to organisations based in Tasmania that positively support the Tasmanian community in key social, environmental, and economic focus areas. The next annual grant round will be advertised on our Facebook page.
At Bell Bay, we collaborate with other organisations and businesses to find better ways to minimise our waste and repurpose the by-products of the smelting process.
For example, in partnership with Cement Australia in Northwest Tasmania, we transport 10,000 tonnes of Spent Cell Lining, a by-product of our process, in a purpose-built trailer. This by-product is used by Cement Australia as a fuel source for the kilns at their Railton operation.
Together with local schools in our community, we hold an annual tree-planting event. To date, more than 33,000 trees have been planted in the Launceston and Tamar Valley region in Tasmania. We donate the trees for the event which are grown by Sustainable Timber Tasmania and include oak, eucalypt, swamp paperbark and banksia trees. The initiative is an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of tree planting for the environment and their local community.
We strive to use local suppliers for goods and services and, wherever possible, provide local companies the opportunity to participate in major projects. In 2019, our 300-tonne power transformer arrived at the smelter. It was manufactured and delivered by a Victorian-based company, Wilson Transformers. The value of this project is estimated at A$6.5 million with an approximate spend of A$1.5 million with Tasmanian contractors and suppliers who have worked on the installation with Bell Bay and Wilson Transformers.
Bell Bay Rd Bell Bay TAS 7253 Australia
T: +61 3 6382 5111
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With the exception of the use of cookies, Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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