Tiwai Aluminium Smelter. PHOTO: LUISA GIRAOThe government has suspended talks over the Bluff aluminium smelter until it gets environmental commitments over cleaning up its landfill and spent cell-liner waste. It has been negotiating since September over how New Zealand Aluminium Smelters will shut the plant down in late 2024. Now, Finance Minister Grant Robertson has told the majority owner Rio Tinto's chief executive Alf Barrios they needed to provide more information. In a letter released to RNZ and sent last week, Robertson criticised Rio's approach at talks in January.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 09, 2021 01:30 UTC