Rio Tinto Alcan unveils a new research partnership with the Ouranos
consortium on regional climatology and adaptation to climate change

MONTREAL, Nov. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - Rio Tinto Alcan will invest $500,000 in a new research partnership with Ouranos, a consortium working to better understand the impact of climate change on the Lac Saint-Jean basin in Quebec, Canada over the coming years.

"In becoming this organisation's first private-sector research partner, Rio Tinto Alcan is highlighting the importance of cooperation between public and private organisations. This also reinforces our commitment towards furthering research about climate change in Quebec, and the future impacts of these changes on water management," said Étienne Jacques, vice-president, Primary Metal - Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Rio Tinto Alcan. "This joint effort will help produce a clearer picture of the future regional climate in the Lac Saint-Jean basin area, and the research projects all aim to better understand the impact of climate change on Rio Tinto Alcan water resource management operations."

The research projects on the impact of climate change will be under the joint responsibility of the Ouranos consortium on regional climatology and adaptation to climate change and Rio Tinto Alcan hydrology experts.

"Through these new partnerships, Rio Tinto Alcan and its Power Operations division confirm their commitment to research adaptation to climate change in Quebec and Canada. These projects will help to strengthen our leadership position in water management as well as improve our hydrological forecasting in the short and long term," added Serge Bouchard, manager, Rio Tinto Alcan Power Operations division.

Ouranos is a non-profit research organisation focused on regional climatology and adaptation to climate change. It is a joint initiative of the Quebec government, Hydro-Québec, Environment Canada, the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Université Laval, McGill University, and INRS University.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

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