Rio lends a hand to local groups

Mining giant Rio Tinto has expanded its support for Pilbara businesses and not-for-profit organisations by providing rent and utilities bill relief.

Last week it announced it was launching a special relief package for not-for-profit utilities customers to help them recover from the impact of COVID-19.

The package will include a rent waiver for eligible business tenants for an initial three-month period starting from April 1, which may be extended for a further three-month period as required.

Also included in the package was a credit for not-for-profit organisations that could be applied to both electricity and water accounts for 2020, equal to the organisations’ electricity and water bills in 2019.

Rio also announced it would freeze tariff increases for water and electricity charges for all its customers in 2020.

“We’re proud to be able to play our part in supporting our host communities as they respond to and recover from the impact of COVID-19,” Rio Tinto managing director rail, port and core services Ivan Vella said.

The program complements Rio Tinto’s broader support package, which includes a combined $2 million of funding to the Shire of Ashburton and the City of Karratha.