Rio Tinto curtails activity in South Africa and Canada

The FTSE 100 company said all mining at its Richards Bay Minerals operation in South Africa would cease by midnight on 26 March for three weeks. In Canada the miner is working with the authorities to reduce its business activity after an order from the premier of Quebec.

Rio Tinto will put its Richards Bay furnaces on care and maintenance to avoid damage. The company said it was too early to talk about when activity would resume or 2020 guidance. Resumption of the company's Zulti South project will be delayed.

South Africa's president Cyril Ramaphosa imposed a three-week clampdown on Monday night in an attempt to avoid what he said would be a "catastrophe of huge proportions" as Covid-19 cases increased rapidly in the country of 56m people.

Quebec has ordered the closure of non-essential businesses from midnight on 24 March until 13 April. Industrial complexes including the aluminium and mining sectors are classed as essential but those businesses must reduce activity to a minimum, Rio Tinto said.

Rio Tinto's chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques said "The health and safety of our people is Rio Tinto's key priority and we are supportive of the action being taken by various governments to address the threat of Covid-19. We will continue to work with our employees, customers, communities and suppliers to minimise any impact of action being taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19."