Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our business
We operate in 35 countries where our 60,000 employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our purpose in action
Continuous improvement and innovation are part of our DNA
Innovation
The need for innovation is greater than ever
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
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
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Enabling ESG transparency
Our START™ initiative tracks traceability and responsible production of Rio Tinto materials.
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Reports 2024
Download our 2024 suite of reports, including our 2024 Taxes and Royalties Paid Report, detailing $8.4 billion of taxes and royalties paid globally during the year
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
Refuelling the mining industry
How can we power the world’s biggest machines with new fuel solutions?
Forging a low-carbon future
How we're working to decarbonise iron ore and steel
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
We are a major contributor to the regional economy on the Western Cape, including significant investment in local infrastructure to support the Weipa Township. We work alongside Traditional Owners to create long-term mutual value, investing in education, employment, training, and cultural heritage management.
We are committed to the sustainable development and growth of local signatory communities. The Fund is a formalised, multi-year partnership program that provides long term, impactful investment with a transparent approach through co-design and collaboration.
The Western Cape Community Development Fund focuses investment across 4 themes which have been identified through socioeconomic baseline data and community plans:
Ongoing expressions of interest are invited via email to RTAWeipaFeedback@riotinto.com, after which a Rio Tinto representative will be in contact to work with you and your project application. To be eligible, your project must link to one of the Fund's focus areas and:
It is also beneficial if you can demonstrate that you have considered:
For a partnership project to be eligible, the main purpose of funding must not be used for:
In addition to the Western Cape Community Development Fund, we run a localised community contribution program focused on sponsorships and donations. This is a separate program that supports local programs that enrich the community and ensures the region remains a vibrant place to live and work.
The catchment area for Rio Tinto's community contributions program includes Weipa, Napranum, Aurukun, Mapoon and NPA. Please note, local programs can also apply for non-financial, in-kind support through the community contributions program. This can include capacity building, use of company-owned assets and employee volunteering.
In addition to our community contribution, we are a major contributor to the regional economy through our investment in local infrastructure in Weipa. The Weipa Town Authority manages the township with the support of local Traditional Owners under the Weipa Township Agreement. The Authority is made up of elected community representatives, a Traditional Owner representative and an appointed Rio Tinto Aluminium Weipa representative. Our operation's biggest contribution to the Western Cape community is through employee wages, taxes and royalties.
As the region’s largest employer, providing career opportunities for Indigenous people is a priority for us; in fact, 25% of our workforce is made up of Indigenous Australians. We are committed to improving quality employment outcomes for Indigenous employees, and also to developing existing and potential local Indigenous leaders across our Weipa operations.
Established in 2005, our partnership with the local school, the Western Cape College, continues to thrive. This award-winning partnership supports our Indigenous employment focus and boosts employability for local students through school-to-work pathways.
To support employment in the region beyond the mining industry, Rio Tinto is a signatory to the Western Cape Regional Partnership Agreement (RPA), which brings together representatives from industry, 3 levels of government and Indigenous stakeholders of the Western Cape.
Our ethos at our Weipa operations is to buy local and employ local. Our Amrun Project has set a benchmark in supporting local and regional suppliers; we have made more than A$2.1 billion in purchases from more than 1,200 Australian suppliers - more than 800 from the state of Queensland. Western Cape York businesses alone have supplied more than A$240 million worth of goods and services.
We have long been advocates for Indigenous rights in Australia, and today are proud supporters of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. We have agreements in place across all our operations to ensure local Indigenous people have a say in how the benefits of mining are used in their community.
We work with Traditional Owners to make sure culture is shared and respected, and important heritage sites are looked after properly. Some of the ways we do this are by providing cultural awareness training for our employees and contractors, as well as holding cultural camps on country with Traditional Owners to record important sites and help Elders pass on knowledge to younger generations. And at the Amrun village, we co-designed an area named "Chivarri" with Traditional Owners which includes a historical timeline and a fire pit to share stories around in the evenings. Across the mine, infrastructure – like the Chith export facility – and even blocks of land in the mine plan are named in traditional language.
Rio Tinto was the first mining company to embrace Indigenous land rights in Australia in 1995. Agreements recognise Native Title rights and the interests of Traditional Owner groups and also provide monetary and non-monetary inter-generational benefits. They also allow us to secure our ongoing operations and the expansion of our business.
Our mining leases on Western Cape York are spread over almost 4,000 km2, including traditional Indigenous land.
Our Weipa operations have 3 Aboriginal Agreements with 12 Traditional Owner groups. These agreements - the Western Cape Communities Co-existence Agreement (WCCCA), the Ely Bauxite Mining Project Agreement (EBMPA) and the Weipa Township Agreement - ensure local Indigenous people have a say in how the benefits of mining are used to support current and future generations. And that is not just financial benefits, but education, training, cultural heritage protection and employment too.
We aim to thoughtfully steward the land on which we operate.