Belarus has said it might cooperate with Uralkali, in the first sign the two sides might work together since the Russian potash producer broke off their business alliance in 2013.
If the class action goes ahead, it will affect almost every gold mine in South Africa, including their parent companies, covering their conduct over the last 50 years.
Rumours follow Rio's decision to group its least loved units — coal, uranium salt, borates and its Iron Ore Co. of Canada — under a new umbrella branded as the “energy and minerals” business.
Chief executive Andrew Mackenzie believes the iron ore market will take longer to balance out than other commodities due to an excess of supply coming on stream in the next few years.
Andrew Harding, once tipped as the most likely person to take the company’s reins, is being replaced by Chris Salisbury, currently leading the copper and coal division.