XML 403 R145.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Property, plant and equipment - Summary of property, plant and equipment (Footnotes) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | $ (3,979) | $ (3,882) |
Average borrowing rate used for capitalisation of interest | 5.30% | 4.90% |
Loans secured by non-current assets collateral | $ 4,540 | $ 4,562 |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs, carrying amount | 2,276 | 2,050 |
Capitalisation of property, plant and equipment | 536 |  |
Capitalisation offset by depreciation | (316) |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs | Property, plant and equipment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs, carrying amount | 1,833 | 1,572 |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs | Investment in equity accounted units [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs, carrying amount | 443 | 478 |
Capitalised production phase stripping costs | Subsidiaries [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | (139) | (134) | $ (194)
Freehold |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Land and buildings carrying amount | 6,377 | 6,240 |
Long leasehold |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Land and buildings carrying amount | $ 26 | 23 |
Buildings | Bottom of range [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 5 years |  |
Buildings | Top of range [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 50 years |  |
Plant and equipment [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | $ (2,869) | $ (2,836) |
Plant and equipment [Member] | Bottom of range [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 3 years |  |
Plant and equipment [Member] | Top of range [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 50 years |  |
Power generating assets | Bottom of range [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 25 years |  |
Power generating assets | Top of range [member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Useful lives of property, plant and equipment | 50 years |  |
Capital works in progress [Member] |  |  |
Disclosure of detailed information about property, plant and equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | $ 0 |  |

X
- Definition The weighted average of interest and other costs that an entity incurs in connection with the borrowing of funds applicable to the borrowings of the entity that are outstanding during the period, other than borrowings made specifically for the purpose of obtaining a qualifying asset. [Refer: Weighted average [member]; Borrowings] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 23 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 26 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=23&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_26_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CapitalisationRateOfBorrowingCostsEligibleForCapitalisation
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of depreciation of property, plant and equipment. [Refer: Depreciation and amortisation expense; Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 73 -Subparagraph e -Clause vii -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_73_e_vii&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 75 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_75_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DepreciationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_DisclosureOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of property, plant and equipment representing land and depreciable buildings and similar structures for use in operations. [Refer: Buildings; Land; Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_37_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_LandAndBuildings
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The non-current portion of non-current secured bank loans received. [Refer: Secured bank loans received] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_NoncurrentPortionOfNoncurrentSecuredBankLoansReceived
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The useful life, measured as period of time, used for property, plant and equipment. [Refer: Property, plant and equipment] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 73 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_73_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_UsefulLifeMeasuredAsPeriodOfTimePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Capitalisation cost. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_CapitalisationCostOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition capitalisation partly offset by depreciation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_CapitalisationPartlyOffsetByDepreciation
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Capitalised production phase stripping costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | rio_CapitalizedProductionPhaseStrippingCosts
Namespace Prefix: | rio_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=rio_CapitalisedProductionPhaseStrippingCostsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfAssetsAxis=rio_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfAssetsAxis=ifrs-full_InvestmentsAccountedForUsingEquityMethodMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=ifrs-full_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=rio_FreeholdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=rio_LongLeaseholdMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=ifrs-full_BuildingsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RangeAxis=ifrs-full_BottomOfRangeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_RangeAxis=ifrs-full_TopOfRangeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=ifrs-full_OtherPropertyPlantAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=ifrs-full_PowerGeneratingAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ClassesOfPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAxis=ifrs-full_ConstructionInProgressMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |