Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay aluminium smelter secures five-year extension with $200m support

Rio Tinto, the Tasmanian and Australian governments agreed to keep the Bell Bay aluminium smelter operating until 2031. The deal includes a five-year power supply agreement with Hydro Tasmania and a AU$200 million support package. The smelter produces 190,000 tons of aluminium annually and contributes AU$260 million to the local economy. Rio Tinto also recently acquired the Aurukun bauxite project in Queensland.

Rio Tinto and Hydro Tasmania finalized a five-year power deal for the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter, supported by a $200 million government bailout. The funding covers a $60 million annual shortfall, securing 550 jobs and injecting $5 billion into the Tasmanian economy over five years, according to government statements.

Governments in Australia have provided significant financial support to heavy industry. The federal and Tasmanian governments committed $200 million to keep the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter, owned by Rio Tinto, operational for five years. Since 2025, Rio Tinto's facilities have received almost $5 billion in bailouts, including $2.5 billion for the Tomago smelter and $2 billion for the Boyne smelter. Whyalla steelworks has also received $2.9 billion in funding.

Rio Tinto's Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania received a $200 million government bailout, securing its operations until 2031. This brings total taxpayer funding for Rio Tinto's manufacturing operations to nearly $5 billion. The smelter, operating since 1955, employs about 550 people and faced uncertainty due to electricity contract negotiations.

The Australian government has provided a $200 million support package to secure a five-year power deal for Bell Bay Aluminium, owned by Rio Tinto. This ensures the smelter's operations and 550 direct jobs, plus 1,000 indirect jobs, for the next five years. The deal resolves a dispute over electricity prices between Rio Tinto and Hydro Tasmania. According to officials, the funding supports local jobs, aluminium production, and national sovereignty.

Tasmania's Bell Bay Aluminium smelter, owned by Rio Tinto, secured a $200 million joint government support package to keep 550 jobs and support 1,000 more indirectly. The five-year deal includes a power agreement with Hydro Tasmania, aiming to inject $5 billion into the local economy. The smelter produces 190,000 tonnes of aluminium annually, mostly for export.