In exchange for this deal, National would require a plan from Rio Tinto for the clean-up of the site and dealing with the waste when it closed. Dianne Manson/Getty Images Rio Tinto has announced it plans to close the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter in August 2021. Over the past decade Rio Tinto had spent nearly $4 billion in the New Zealand economy, with more than $3 billion of that going towards the electricity market. ‘’On transmission costs alone, Rio Tinto has paid $610 million over the past 10 years,’’ Parker said. From left are National Party Southland electorate candidate Joseph Mooney, National Party energy spokesman Jonathan Young, Collins, National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee and National Party Invercargill electorate candidate Penny Simmonds.

Source: Stuff August 28, 2020 00:32 UTC