Rio cuts jobs at aluminum operations in Australasia

Diversified mining giant Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has announced major job cuts at aluminum operations in both Australia and New Zealand.

Mining Australia reports that Rio has announced job and cost cutting at its Pacific Aluminum subsidiary mine and smelter on the Gove Peninsula in Australia’s Northern Territory, as well as the axing of 100 positions by its New Zealand Aluminum Smelter on the Tiwai Peninsula.

The retrenchments are part of a broad wave of job cuts in an effort by Rio as well as other diversified miners to reduce costs in the face of declining commodities prices.

The announcements arrive less than a week after Rio announced it would slash mid-level management positions at its Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia.

Rio has also recently implemented job cuts at its Sydney and Melbourne offices and its Bowen Basin coal operations.

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