Rio Tinto has reported an 18% increase in its earnings for 2000 to $1.5 billion.
In Namibia, the company’s Rossing uranium mine (in which it has a 68.5% stake) produced 2195t U308 (1861tU) in 2000, just 1% up on 1999.
Rio Tinto’s Energy Group has contributed 17% of net earnings in 2000.
The company expanded its uranium business by the acquisition of North, which is the parent company of Energy Resources of Australia.
