en.Wedoany.com Reported - Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott said at the company's annual general meeting in Perth, Australia, that the company will deepen its global restructuring and cost-cutting efforts, focusing on simplifying operations and improving productivity to strengthen its strategic mineral layout required for the energy transition.

The company plans to generate $5 billion to $10 billion in proceeds through operational efficiency improvements and asset divestment optimization. Since Trott took office in August 2025, Rio Tinto has initiated an internal restructuring, consolidating into three major business units: Iron Ore, Aluminum & Lithium, and Copper, aiming to reduce complexity and bring decision-making closer to operations.

Although Trott did not directly respond to rumors of a potential 20% reduction in administrative staff in Perth, he confirmed the company is advancing its simplification process and emphasized that production and safety-related positions will be protected. Rio Tinto's global restructuring focuses on efficiency, with Trott stating: "This is about building a stronger, simpler company, reducing complexity and clarifying responsibilities."

Rio Tinto adheres to a diversified model, targeting minerals related to electrification and the energy transition. Trott pointed out that assets such as iron, copper, aluminum, and lithium help capture long-term structural demand. This strategy comes at a time when global competition for critical minerals is intensifying and supply chains are being affected by geopolitical influences.

Rio Tinto Chairman Dominic Barton warned that global fragmentation and deteriorating trade are exacerbating raw material supply pressures, with countries racing to secure local access to strategic minerals, revealing a competitive landscape. This has further propelled Rio Tinto's business restructuring.

Rio Tinto's restructuring reflects a broader trend in the mining industry: major miners are accelerating cost-cutting, corporate simplification, portfolio optimization, and strengthening their critical mineral positioning. Trott reiterated: "We want the company to be simpler, with decisions made closer to the point of impact." Minerals such as copper, lithium, and aluminum are solidifying their strategic role in the energy transition, making Rio Tinto's industrial restructuring timely.

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