Rio Tinto Appoints Two Environmental Consultants To Conduct EIA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 -- Australia's Rio Tinto Alumimium Ltd has appointed two environmental consultants, Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd and URS Australia Pty Ltd, to conduct an environmental impact asessment on its proposed US$2 billion aluminium smelter in Sarawak. Rio Tinto recently signed a heads of agreement with Malaysian conglomerate, Cahya Mata Sarawak (CMS), to begin feasibility studies, which is expected to take 15 months, Rio Tinto and CMS said in a joint statement here today. The proposed smelter, to be known as Sarawak Aluminium Company or Salco, is located in Similajau with CMS having a 40 percent stake and Rio Tinto taking up 60 percent. According to the two companies, the assessment will include air quality, noise, flora and fauna as well as land use and social impact studies while waste management, transport, surface water and groundwater impacts will also be included in the comprehensive studies. The outcome from the assessment will be used to optimise the design of the smelter and will form the basis for the preparation of environment management plans for Salco's construction and operation, they said.