23 Jan 2009

Smelter job cuts can't be ruled out - Rio Tinto

8:25 pm on 23 January 2009

Rio Tinto says it can't rule out job cuts at its Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

More than 800 people work at the plant, near Bluff.

The giant mining company intends to axe more than 14,000 jobs worldwide.

While there have been no job cuts at the Bluff smelter so far, a company spokesperson says nothing can be ruled out in the current economic climate.

Earlier BHP Billiton, the biggest mining group in the world, announced it is cutting 6000 jobs.