Global diversified miner Rio Tinto said March 10 it was cutting relationships with Russian businesses due to the country's actions in Ukraine.
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Register NowThe action followed a string of Western companies cutting links with Russia or Russian entities due to the war.
"Rio Tinto is in the process of terminating all commercial relationships it has with any Russian business," a spokesperson said in an emailed statement, without further elaboration.
Rio Tinto, headquartered in London and Melbourne and with the bulk of its mining assets in Australia, operates in around 35 countries and is a major producer of iron ore, bauxite, aluminum, copper and other minerals.
It does not have operational assets in Russia but does have a joint venture asset with major Russian aluminum producer Rusal in Australia.
Rio Tinto owns 80% in Australian alumina refinery Queensland Alumina, in which Rusal owns 20%, according to the companies' websites.
It was unclear what Rio Tinto will do with Rusal's stake, and how the situation will develop at the refinery.
The Financial Times reported March 10 that Rio had taken legal advice on how to resolve the ownership structure of the asset in light of its decision regarding Russian-linked commercial relationships.
Reports that Rio Tinto has recently sold bauxite to Rusal's Aughinish alumina refinery were not confirmed by either company.
According to specialist mining press reports, Rio is also looking for alternative fuel sources for its Mongolian copper operations at Oyu Tolgoi, which buys fuel from Russia.
No Russian interests for BHP
Diversified miner BHP, headquartered in Australia, said in a statement sent to S&P Global Commodity Insights March 10 that it does not sell into Russia nor does it have any investments or commercial arrangements in Russia or with Russian organizations.
"The humanitarian consequences occurring in Ukraine are tragic. We are focused on how we can assist employees in our global business who may be impacted in different ways, and on how we can best support the humanitarian response," BHP said.
"We are double-matching employee contributions to a number of relief agencies and assessing how BHP may be able to further support the humanitarian response."