Rio Tinto will slash 180 roles at its Yarwun Alumina Refinery in Queensland’s Gladstone as the mining giant plans to reduce production by 40 per cent from October 2026.

The multinational company on Tuesday announced the cuts as its tailings facility – where waste material from mining operations is stored - will reach its capacity by 2031.

The company has plans to extend the refinery's life until 2035 and cutting production will help achieve this while modernising.

Rio Tinto’s managing director of its aluminium operations in the Pacific Armando Torres said the company considered developing a second tailings facility, but this was “not currently economically viable”.

“Reducing production from October 2026 enables us to continue alumina production until 2035 and trial pathways to secure t

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