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Rio Tinto is in talks with Chinese aluminium giant Chalco about potential joint ventures at its mining and refining operations in far north Queensland. Rio' s potential partnerships with Chalco include the joint development of a bauxite mine at Aurukun or even shared ownership and use of a proposed port at Pera Head.
Chinalco and Alcoa bought a 9% stake in Rio earlier this year, in what many observers saw as a blocking bid for first rights to any aluminium assets that might be carved off if BHP Billiton's $180bn takeover bid for Rio is successful.
Rio's Weipa bauxite mine - the largest...