(Alliance News) - Rio Tinto PLC upped its annual payout Wednesday, helped by a record final dividend as the miner shrugged off Covid-19 to post a hefty profit rise for 2020.
Revenue in 2020 was up 3.3% to USD44.61 billion from USD43.17 billion. Its pretax profit surged 38% to USD15.39 billion from USD11.12 billion.
The miner raised its annual dividend by 26% to 557.0 US cents from 443.0 cents.
"USD9.0 billion full-year dividend, equivalent to 557 US cents per share and 72% of underlying
earnings, includes USD5.0 billion record final ordinary dividend (309 US cents per share) and USD1.5 billion special dividend (93 US cents per share) declared today," Rio Tinto explained.
Aside from the virus outbreak, Rio Tinto's 2020 will be remembered for outcry and regulatory scrutiny after the company blew up a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal heritage site to expand the Pilbara iron ore mine in Western Australia. Back in January, the miner warned the regulatory impact from that event "remains unknown".
In May, Rio Tinto had blasted rock shelters in the Juukan Gorge in Western Australia's remote Pilbara region, destroying one of the earliest known sites occupied by Australia's indigenous people, in order to expand its iron ore mine.
Following a board review in August, the group said it has engaged extensively with shareholders, some of which had expressed concerns about executive accountability for the failings identified.
It was Rio Tinto's first set of annual results under new Chief Executive Officer Jakob Stausholm.
Stausholm was promoted to CEO from chief financial officer with effect on January 1. He replaced Jean-Sebastian Jacques, who it was announced in September would resign with effect at the end of March, or earlier should a successor be appointed before then.
Stausholm said: "It has been an extraordinary year – our successful response to the Covid-19 pandemic and strong safety performance were overshadowed by the tragic events at the Juukan Gorge, which should never have happened.
"My new executive team and wider leadership of the company are all committed to unleashing Rio Tinto's full potential. We will increase our focus on operational excellence and project development and strengthen our ESG credentials. Working closely with the board, we must earn the right to become a trusted partner for traditional owners, host communities, governments and other stakeholders but we all recognise that this will require sustained and consistent effort."
The company in January announced a new executive team in order to strengthen its environmental, social, and corporate governance credentials and rebuild trust, particularly in Australia.
Chief Commercial Officer Simon Trott is to become Iron Ore chief executive, Copper & Diamonds Chief Executive Arnaud Soirat will become group chief operating officer and Kellie Parker, managing director Pacific Operations Aluminium, will take on the role of chief executive Australia.
Parker will focus on rebuilding trust and strengthening external relationships across Australia, Rio Tinto said in January.
On Wednesday, Rio said it has "almost completed" implementing recommendations from a board review into cultural heritage management.
Looking ahead, the company forecasts capital expenditure of USD7.5 billion in each of 2021 and 2022, up from the previous guidance of USD7.0 billion.
"Each year includes sustaining capex of USD3.0 billion-USD3.5 billion, of which USD1.2 billion-USD1.6 billion is for Pilbara iron ore. The USD500 million increase in 2021 and 2022 from previous guidance is due to the Australian dollar, which is forecast to strengthen from 69 to 77 cents. Around half of our capital expenditure is denominated in Australian dollars," Rio explained.
It left its production guidance unchanged. It did not earmark any number for Covid-19-related costs.
"We will continue to monitor and adjust production levels and product mix to meet customer requirements in line with our value over volume strategy, government-imposed restrictions related to Covid-19 and any other potential Covid-19 related disruptions," Rio Tinto added.
Shares in the company closed up 3.6% to AUD127.47 each in Sydney on Wednesday.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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