ORE HELPS RIO TINTO HIT PRODUCTION RECORD

Rio Tinto’s iron ore production hit a record in the first quarter as a result of increased contributions from the Iron Ore Company of Canada and from its Pilbara operations in Australia. The London-based miner also said Tuesday that aluminum production grew six per cent from last year. The change largely reflected resolutions to a lockout at the smelter in Alma and a power outage at Shawinigan. Rio Tinto said its two major growth projects in Pilbara and in Mongolia are on track for production this year and the company is also making progress in achieving cost reduction targets. Production at core aluminum smelters, including those in Canada, increased 14 per cent from last year, while production at Pacific smelters up for sale decreased six per cent.