Rio Tinto to double thermal coal by 2015
Rio Tinto says it plans to double Australian thermal coal output by 2015 as it ramps up production at its Hunter Valley operations and removes infrastructure constraints. The mining giant, which is fending off a takeover proposal by BHP Billiton, also plans to aggressively increase production at its Rossing uranium mine in Namibia. Rio Tinto wants to increase coal production to meet global demand, particularly from China, which is shifting to become a large net importer rather than exporter of thermal coal.