Rio Tinto’s Tomago Aluminium Smelter at Risk of Shutdown

Rio Tinto’s large-scale aluminium smelter in Tomago, New South Wales, is reportedly on the brink of closure.Located approximately 13 kilometres west of Newcastle, the Tomago facility directly employs around 1,000 workers. However, any suspension in operations could have a broader impact, potentially affecting up to 5,000 additional jobs throughout the Hunter Valley region.Rio Tinto, which owns a 51.6 per cent stake in the smelter, produces roughly 590,000 tonnes of aluminium annually at the site—accounting for approximately 37 per cent of Australia’s total aluminium output.According to multiple sources, the company is engaged in urgent negotiations with both state and federal governments, seeking financial support to prevent a shutdown.