03:49 PM EDT, 05/20/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Rio Tinto (RIO) has declared "force majeure" on alumina shipments from its Queensland, Australia refineries due to gas shortages, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing people familiar with the situation.

The company notified clients of the decision on Monday, the people told Bloomberg.

The shortage has affected the mining company's Yarwun refinery and Queensland Alumina, a joint venture it owns with Russia's United Co. Rusal International, Bloomberg said.

The force majeure will impact only third-party alumina sales, with Rio Tinto's own aluminum operations remaining unaffected, the sources noted.

Neither Rio Tinto nor United Co. Rusal International immediately responded to requests for comments by MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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