Anglo-Australian mining group Rio Tinto has suspended operations at its Western Australian pig iron plant Hismelt, located in Kwinana, due to the falling global demand for pig iron.
The operations are planned to be suspended for three months, during which time the plant's 150 workers will remain on full pay.
The plant is managed by Hismelt Operations, acting as agent for the Kwinana Joint Venture, which is 60 percent owned by Rio Tinto, 25 percent by Nucor Corporation, 10 percent by Mitsubishi and five percent by China's Shougang Steel Group.