Non-managed operations

Gladstone Power Station

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

The Gladstone Power Station (GPS) in Queensland, Australia, is a world-class facility providing customers with safe, reliable, low-cost electricity.

The GPS was built by the Queensland Government and started operating in 1976. Today, GPS is Queensland’s largest single power station and an important generating facility in the National Electricity Market.

GPS is operated by NRG Gladstone Operating Services. Rio Tinto owns 42.125 % of the station along with NRG Energy Inc. (37.5%), Southern Cross GPS Pty Ltd (8.25%), Ryowa II GPS II Ltd (7.125%) and YKK GPS (Qld) Pty Ltd (4.75%).

Environment

GPS ensures that it minimises the environmental impacts related to its operation through a range of programs and by ensuring that waste products are recycled or treated, monitored and controlled.

GPS participates in the Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program, a joint arrangement with other industries to monitor water quality of the Port Curtis Waterway and the Clean and Healthy Air for Gladstone program to monitor air quality in the local region.

GPS conducts regular environmental awareness training and encourages all employees to consider energy consumption and protection of the environment.

Queensland Alumina Limited

Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) in Gladstone, Queensland, began operations in 1967.

Today, it is one of the world’s largest alumina refineries, producing approximately 3.7 million tonnes of the world’s best smelter-grade alumina per year.

QAL is an independently managed joint venture owned by Rio Tinto (80%) and Rusal (20%).

In 2018, QAL announced a 5-year, $260 million investment in the refinery as part of a 5-Year Environmental Strategy, developed to improve QAL’s environmental performance, including air quality, odour, noise, employee culture, land and water management. Now that most of the 60 projects are defined, the program is estimated to see an investment of $480 million. See QAL’s progress.

Our contribution to the broader Gladstone community is through Here for Gladstone, which is supported by Rio Tinto Yarwun, Boyne Smelters Limited and QAL. Here For Gladstone's formal programs are governed by a Board made up of community and business leaders. 

Since we started with our formal community programs in 2002, Rio Tinto Here for Gladstone has invested A$7.2 million into the Gladstone community across a wide range of projects to improve the health, livelihood and welfare of the Gladstone community.

For example, feedback showed the Gladstone community were concerned about economic development and diversification. So, in consultation with the community, we launched the Here for Business program in late 2017 that provides free business coaching and interest-free micro-finance loans to new or expanding businesses.

Tomago

TOMAGO, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA

Product: Aluminium

Tomago Aluminium in Tomago, New South Wales in Australia, has been operating since 1983 and today is Australia’s largest aluminium smelter, producing up to 590,000 tonnes of aluminium per year.

Tomago Aluminium is an independently managed joint venture owned by Rio Tinto (51.55%), Gove Aluminium Finance Limited (36.05%) and Hydro Aluminium (12.40%).

The company contributes $2.2 billion annually to the Australian economy, of which $800 million is spent locally. The smelter produces 590,000 tonnes of aluminium every year, which is 37% of Australia’s primary aluminium. 90% of the product made at Tomago is exported to the Asia-Pacific region.

Innovation at Tomago

Tomago’s emissions are among the lowest recorded by any aluminium smelter in the world. Emissions created during the smelting process pass through ducting to treatment plants, known as dry scrubbers, where impurities are removed.

Tomago has a comprehensive environmental management program, focusing on emissions control and incorporating one of the world’s most advanced pollution-control and environmental protection systems.

Among the emissions carried to the dry scrubbers are fluorides, which, with other fumes and dust, form particles that are captured in large filter bags. These particles are returned to the smelter as feed material. This process is more than 99% effective in removing fluoride from the gases collected. <

Tomago community

At Tomago, we have an out-of-pay donation scheme by which employee donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by the company. In 2023, our Workplace Giving Program raised $130,000 with $80,000 donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and the rest being split between The Starlight Foundation, Jenny's Place, Calvery Mater Haematology Unity and Hunter Melanoma Foundation.

Sourcing locally

Tomago contributes $2.2 billion annually to the Australian economy, of which $800 million is spent locally.

Tomago has partnerships with more than 500 suppliers from the Hunter Region, and works with them to deliver results through continuous improvement and innovation.

Tomago employs 1000+ staff (full time equivalent) as well as 200 contractors. Our staff are drawn from a significant geographic area throughout the Hunter Valley and Central Coast, travelling from as far as 100 kilometres south, 80 kilometres north and 50 kilometres west of the plant. Ensuring that our people are safe while they are at work is one of the main drivers of our business.

Repowering the smelter

Tomago uses 950MW of constant power, which is 12% of New South Wales’s demand – the largest load in Australia. We’re aiming for more than 50% renewable electricity by 2030, and aspire to 100% renewables by 2035.