The concerns center around the production of aluminum, raising questions for another key industry about alleged human rights abuses in its supply chain.

Rio's move effectively cuts Rusal's access to production and management at the refiner under an Australian ban against exporting alumina and aluminum ores.

“Copper is sleepwalking towards a stockout,” analysts say.

Rio was asked by the QAL management to step in and take full control of the asset.

Unlike a number of other Russian companies, Rusal is not the target of sanctions, although its billionaire founder Oleg Deripaska is.

Europe and the US need more aluminum. China, it seems, is going to supply it, writes Andy Home.

An electric car is a clean car, right? If only it were so simple.