By Ian Walker 
 

Rio Tinto PLC (RIO.LN) said Monday that it has initiated the process to restart operations at Richards Bay Minerals in South Africa, with full operation expected in early January and regular production early next year.

The London and Australian-listed mining company added that once operations at Richards Bay has normalized it expects to review restarting the Zulti South project.

Rio Tinto halted operations earlier this month following an escalation in violence in communities around its Richards Bay Minerals operations.

It said Monday that it has decided to restart operations after talks with the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala, to address the issues in the community and provide the stable environment necessary for the mine to resume operations.

Rio reiterated that titanium dioxide slag production for 2019 is now expected to be at the bottom end of 2019 guidance of between 1.2 million and 1.4 million metric tons.

 

Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 30, 2019 02:32 ET (07:32 GMT)

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