EX-99.9 10 ex09d20kennecottcopper2.htm EX-99.9
Notice to ASX/LSE Rio Tinto invests to strengthen copper supply in US 20 June 2023 Rio Tinto is investing in its Kennecott operation near Salt Lake City, Utah, to strengthen its supply of copper in the United States by increasing production from underground mining and improving the health of key assets. $498 million1 of funding has been approved to deliver underground development and infrastructure for an area known as the North Rim Skarn2 (NRS). Production from the NRS will commence in 2024 and is expected to ramp up over two years, to deliver around 250 thousand tonnes of additional mined copper over the next 10 years3 alongside open cut operations. As the above production target is in part underpinned by Inferred Resources, we note in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.16.4 that there is a low level of geological confidence associated with Inferred Mineral Resources and there is no certainty that further exploration work will result in the determination of Indicated Mineral Resources or that the production target itself will be realised. In September 2022, Rio Tinto approved development capital totalling $55 million to start underground mining in an area known as the Lower Commercial Skarn (LCS). Underground production within LCS started in February 2023, and is expected to deliver a total of around 30 thousand tonnes of additional mined copper through the period to 20274. These two investments will support Kennecott in building a world class underground mine which will leverage battery electric vehicle (BEV) technology, following a successful trial in 2022. BEV’s create a safer and healthier workplace for employees underground, increase the productivity of the mine and reduce emissions from operations. A $300 million rebuild is also underway at the Kennecott smelter. The rebuild is the largest in Kennecott’s history and commenced in May 2023. A further $120 million is being invested to upgrade the refinery tank house structure and update Kennecott’s molybdenum flotation circuit with a state-of-the art, fully automated system. As the second largest copper producer in the US, this will allow Kennecott to continue to deliver a high quality product to customers. Rio Tinto Copper chief operating officer Clayton Walker said: “We are investing to build a world class underground mine at Kennecott and strengthen our processing facilities, to meet the growing demand for copper in the United States, a key material for domestic manufacturing and the energy transition. This investment will position Kennecott to continue the strong contribution it has made as part of the Salt Lake Valley community for 120 years, injecting about $1.5 billion annually to the local Utah economy.” 1 All dollar values are in USD. 2 The NRS Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, together with the Lower Commercial Skarn (LCS) Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, form the Underground Skarns Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. 3 This production target for 2023 to 2033 is underpinned as to 25% by Probable Ore Reserves, 9% by Indicated Resources, and 66% by Inferred Resources. Mined copper is reported as total recoverable metal. These estimates of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves were reported in a release dated 20 June 2023 titled “Rio Tinto Kennecott Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves” (Table 1 Release) which is available on Rio Tinto's website at resources & reserves (riotinto.com), and have been prepared by Competent Persons in accordance with the requirements of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 (JORC Code) and the ASX Listing Rules. 4 This production target is reported as total recoverable metal and is underpinned as to 100% by Probable Ore Reserves. These estimates of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves were reported in a release to the ASX dated 27 September 2022 titled ”Rio Tinto Kennecott Mineral Resource and Ore Reserves” and have been prepared by Competent Persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code and the ASX Listing Rules. EXHIBIT 99.9

Notice to ASX/LSE 2 / 4 Studies to inform decisions on the next phases of expanding underground production continue in parallel with work that is being advanced to extend open pit mining at Kennecott beyond 2032. All the above investments are already included in Rio Tinto’s share of capital investment guidance for 2023 to 2025. Kennecott Underground Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves The NRS has updated Indicated Mineral Resources of 10.8 Mt at 2.93 % copper, 1.20 g/t gold, 65.97 g/t silver, 0.008 % molybdenum, and Inferred Mineral Resources of 7.7 Mt at 3.13 % copper, 0.96 g/t gold, 18.41 g/t silver, and 0.005 % molybdenum identified based on additional drilling and an initial Probable Ore Reserve of 3.0 Mt at 2.39 % copper, 1.77 g/t gold, 18.59 g/t silver, and 0.010 % molybdenum5. Mineral Resources are reported in addition to Ore Reserves. Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves are quoted on a 100 per cent basis. 5 These Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves have been reported in accordance with the JORC Code and the ASX Listing Rules in the Table 1 Release. The Competent Person responsible for the information in that release that relates to Mineral Resources is Mr Ryan Hayes, a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM). The Competent Person responsible for the information in that release that relates to Ore Reserves is Mr Stephen McInerney, a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (MAusIMM). Rio Tinto confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the Table 1 Release, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the Table 1 Release continue to apply and have not materially changed, and that the form and context in which the Competent Persons’ findings are presented have not been materially modified.

Notice to ASX/LSE 3 / 4 Mineral Resources declaration The Table 1 Release sets out Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources for the underground skarns at the Kennecott Copper operation. A tabulation of the Mineral Resources is provided in Table A. Table A Rio Tinto Kennecott Underground Mineral Resources as at 31 March 2023 Likely mining method1 Measured Mineral Resources Indicated Mineral Resources Inferred Mineral Resources Total Mineral Resources Rio Tinto Interest as at 31 March 2023 as at 31 March 2023 as at 31 March 2023 as at 31 March 2023 Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Copper2 Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag % Mo Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag % Mo Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag % Mo Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag % Mo % Bingham Canyon (US) - Underground Skarns - Lower Commercial Skarn U/G 0.2 2.52 1.27 10.56 0.056 1.1 2.08 0.72 9.43 0.029 6.2 1.84 0.86 11.62 0.011 7.5 1.89 0.84 11.26 0.015 100.0 - North Rim Skarn U/G - - - - - 10.8 2.93 1.20 65.97 0.008 7.7 3.13 0.96 18.41 0.005 18.5 3.02 1.10 46.26 0.007 100.0 Total Underground Skarns 0.2 2.52 1.27 10.56 0.056 12.0 2.85 1.15 60.58 0.010 13.9 2.56 0.91 15.37 0.008 26.0 2.69 1.03 36.16 0.009 1 Likely mining method: U/G = underground. 2 Copper Mineral Resources are stated on a dry in situ weight basis. Ore Reserves declaration The Table 1 Release also sets out additional Probable Ore Reserves at the Kennecott Copper operation, with the first time reporting of Ore Reserves associated with the NRS. A tabulation of the Ore Reserves is provided in Table B. Table B Rio Tinto Kennecott Underground Ore Reserves as at 31 March 2023 Type of mine1 Probable Ore Reserves Total Ore Reserves Average mill recovery % Rio Tinto Interest Rio Tinto share as at 31 March 2023 as at 31 March 2023 Recoverable Metal Tonnage Grade Tonnage Grade Copper2 Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag % Mo Mt % Cu g/t Au g/t Ag % Mo Cu Au Ag Mo % Mt Cu Moz Au Moz Ag Mt Mo Bingham Canyon (US) - Underground Skarns - Lower Commercial Skarn U/G 1.7 1.90 0.71 10.07 0.044 1.7 1.90 0.71 10.07 0.044 90 71 76 71 100 0.030 0.028 0.421 0.001 - North Rim Skarn U/G 3.0 2.39 1.77 18.59 0.010 3.0 2.39 1.77 18.59 0.010 93 69 64 45 100 0.066 0.117 1.149 0.000 Total Underground Skarns 4.7 2.21 1.39 15.50 0.022 4.7 2.21 1.39 15.50 0.022 0.096 0.144 1.569 0.001 1 Type of mine: U/G = underground. 2 Copper Ore Reserves are reported as dry mill feed tonnes.

Notice to ASX/LSE 4 / 4 Contacts Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com Media Relations, United Kingdom Matthew Klar M +44 7796 630 637 David Outhwaite M +44 7787 597 493 Media Relations, Australia Matt Chambers M +61 433 525 739 Jesse Riseborough M +61 436 653 412 Alyesha Anderson M +61 434 868 118 Media Relations, Americas Simon Letendre M +1 514 796 4973 Malika Cherry M +1 418 592 7293 Investor Relations, United Kingdom Menno Sanderse M +44 7825 195 178 David Ovington M +44 7920 010 978 Danielle Smith M +44 7788 190 672 Investor Relations, Australia Tom Gallop M +61 439 353 948 Amar Jambaa M +61 472 865 948 Rio Tinto plc 6 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4AD United Kingdom T +44 20 7781 2000 Registered in England No. 719885 Rio Tinto Limited Level 43, 120 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Australia T +61 3 9283 3333 Registered in Australia ABN 96 004 458 404 This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Steve Allen, Rio Tinto’s Group Company Secretary. riotinto.com