Rio Tinto Puts Richards Bay Minerals and Global Assets Under Strategic Review
Rio Tinto Launches Strategic Review of South African, Canadian, and U.S. Mining Operations
Mining giant Rio Tinto has placed its Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) operations in KwaZulu-Natal, along with its Canadian iron and titanium operations and U.S. borates mine, under strategic review as part of a broader operational restructuring led by new CEO Simon Trott.
On Wednesday, the company unveiled a new operating structure consolidating its activities into three business units and assigning the Borates and Iron & Titanium divisions to COO Alf Barrios for review.
RBM, a leading producer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) slag, rutile, zircon, and pig iron, is Rio Tinto’s most significant South African asset.
The Zulti South project, suspended in 2019 due to community unrest, remains central to RBM’s long-term plans.
Without the expansion, Rio Tinto has warned, RBM’s current operations could decline, reducing production capacity and affecting local employment.
Rio Tinto’s Iron and Titanium business also includes its RTIT operations in Quebec and QIT Madagascar Minerals.
Titanium operations have faced challenges, with output dropping 11% to 990,000 tonnes in 2024 amid weaker demand.
Last year, the company ran six of nine furnaces in Quebec and three of four at RBM. In the first half of 2025, Rio Tinto produced 500,000 tonnes of TiO2 slag, and full-year guidance remains 1–1.2 million tonnes.
The Borates division operates the Boron mine in California, producing a mineral critical for fertilizers, glass, and wood protection.
Rio Tinto confirmed that updates on the outcome of the strategic review will be provided “in due course.”
“Throughout this review process, these businesses will continue to focus on running safely and profitably to meet customer commitments,” the company said.
