Rio Tinto acquires high

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MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rio Tinto has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the Platina Scandium Project, a high-grade scandium resource in New South Wales, from Platina Resources Limited (ASX: PGM) for $14 million.

The project, near Condobolin in central New South Wales, comprises a long life, high-grade scalable resource that could produce up to 40 tonnes per annum of scandium oxide, for an estimated period of 30 years.

Rio Tinto currently produces scandium oxide from titanium dioxide production waste streams at Sorel-Tracy in Quebec. Once operational, the Platina Scandium Project would enable Rio Tinto to more than double its annual scandium production.

This acquisition aligns with Rio Tinto’s strategic goal to grow in materials essential for the low-carbon transition.

Scandium is a rare, versatile and useful mineral for the green economy and energy transition. It is considered a critical mineral by the United States, Canada, Australia and many other countries.

Scandium is one of the most effective elements able to strengthen aluminium, while also offering improved flexibility and resistance to heat and corrosion. As a result, it is used to produce high-performance aluminium alloys for applications that need to be light, strong and heat resistant, including in aerospace, automotive, heat exchangers, sporting goods, 3D printing and energy transmission applications.

Scandium oxide is also used to improve the performance of solid oxide fuel cells used as a green power source for buildings, medical facilities and data processing centres, as well as in niche products such as lasers and lighting.

Rio Tinto Minerals Chief Executive Sinead Kaufman said “This acquisition supports our commitment to critical minerals and finding better ways to provide materials the world needs.

“It will enable us to further develop and grow with the global scandium market, complementing our existing scandium production in Quebec, where we have the expertise, technology and capacity to produce pure, highly reliable scandium through sustainable methods.”

With its world-class aluminium business, Rio Tinto is also well positioned to produce more high-performance aluminium-scandium alloys to meet global customers’ needs. To learn more, visit www.elementnorth21.com.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230427005401/en/

Please direct all enquiries to [email protected] Relations,United KingdomMatthew KlarM +44 7796 630 637David OuthwaiteM +44 7787 597 493Media Relations,AustraliaMatt ChambersM +61 433 525 739Jesse RiseboroughM +61 436 653 412Alyesha AndersonM +61 434 868 118Media Relations,AmericasSimon LetendreM +1 514 796 4973Malika CherryM +1 418 592 7293Investor Relations,United KingdomMenno SanderseM +44 7825 195 178David OvingtonM +44 7920 010 978Clare PeeverM +44 7788 967 877Investor Relations,AustraliaTom GallopM +61 439 353 948Amar JambaaM +61 472 865 948Rio Tinto plc6 St James’s SquareLondon SW1Y 4ADUnited KingdomT +44 20 7781 2000Registered in EnglandNo. 719885Rio Tinto LimitedLevel 43, 120 Collins StreetMelbourne 3000AustraliaT +61 3 9283 3333Registered in AustraliaABN 96 004 458 404Category: General

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Source: Rio Tinto